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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5
                                                                       ---------


                            Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
                          555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
                            Washington, D.C.  20004
                                 202/637-5600



                                 May 27, 1999


Board of Directors
First Coastal Corporation
36 Thomas Drive
Westbrook, Maine 04092

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We are acting as special counsel to First Coastal Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with its Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission relating to an additional 130,000 shares of common
stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Shares"), issuable in connection with the
Company's 1996 Stock Option and Equity Incentive Plan, as amended by Amendment
No. 1 ("Amendment No. 1") to First Coastal Corporation 1996 Stock Option and
Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the "Plan").  This letter is furnished to you
at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of
Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. (S) 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration
Statement.

          For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of the
following documents:

          1.   An executed copy of the Registration Statement.

          2.   The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
               amended, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of
               Delaware on May 18, 1999 and as certified by the Secretary of the
               Company on the date hereof as then being complete, accurate and
               in effect.

          3.   The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as certified by
               the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as then being
               complete, accurate and in effect.
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Board of Directors
First Coastal Corporation
May 27, 1999
Page 2


          4.   A copy of the Plan, as certified by the Secretary of the Company
               on the date hereof as then being complete, accurate and in
               effect.

          5.   Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on
               May 2, 1996, April 2, 1999 and May 18, 1999, as certified by the
               Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as then being
               complete, accurate and in effect, relating to authorization of
               the Plan (including Amendment No. 1).

          6.   Resolutions of the stockholders of the Company adopted on June
               11, 1996 and May 18, 1999, as certified by the Secretary of the
               Company on the date hereof as then being complete, accurate and
               in effect, relating to stockholder approval and adoption of the
               Plan (including Amendment No. 1).

          In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the
authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, and
the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as
certified, telecopied, photostatic, or reproduced copies.  This opinion letter
is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

          This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.  We express no
opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, regulations or ordinances.

          Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the
opinion that following (i) issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the
Plan and (ii) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares
contemplated by the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
amended.

          We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing
subsequent to the delivery of this opinion letter.  This opinion letter has been
prepared solely for your use in connection with the filing of the Registration
Statement on the date of this opinion letter and should not be quoted in whole
or in
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Board of Directors
First Coastal Corporation
May 27, 1999
Page 3

part or otherwise be referred to, nor filed with or furnished to any
governmental agency or other person or entity, without the prior written consent
of this firm.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to
the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit
that we are an "expert" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  /s/ Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.

                                                  HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.