**Exhibit 23.1**

 

**Consent of Independent Auditors**

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the followingRegistration Statements of our report dated January 31, 2003, with respect tothe consolidated financial statements of Pacific Northwest Bancorp andsubsidiaries included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year endedDecember 31, 2002.

 
| **Form** |   | **Registration  Statement No.** |   | **Purpose**                                                                                                                 |
|----------|--------|---------------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 33-99742                        |   | InterWest Bancorp, Inc. 1993 Incentive & Non-Incentive Stock  Option Plans for Outside Directors                        |
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 333-13191                       |   | Central Bancorporation 1992 Employee Stock Option Plan & Central  Bancorporation Director Stock Option Plan             |
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 333-24525                       |   | InterWest Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Outside Directors Stock Options-For-Fees  Plan                                                 |
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 333-50685                       |   | First National Bank Of Port Orchard 1990 Employee & Director  Stock Option Plan                                         |
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 333-57679                       |   | Pacific Northwest Bank 1988 Stock Option Plan & Pioneer Bancorp,  Inc. Amended And Restated Incentive Stock Option Plan |
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 333-76014                       |   | Amended and Restated Pacific Northwest Bancorp Salary Deferral 401(k)  Plan                                                 |
|     |   |                            |   |                                                                                                                        |
| S-8      |   | 333-101193                      |   | Bank of the Northwest Restated 1996 Stock Incentive Plan & Bank  of the Northwest 1996 Executive Warrant Plan           |

 

 
|   | /s/ Ernst & Young LLP |   |
|--------|---------------------------|--------|

 

Seattle, WashingtonMarch 21, 2003

 

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