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                                                                   Exhibit 23(a)


                        Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following registration
statements of our report dated January 20, 1998, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of CoreStates Financial Corp for the year
ended December 31, 1997 incorporated by reference in this 1997 Annual Report
(Form 10-K):

   (a) The Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 33-5874), in Post-Effective
       Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 2-91176),
       the Registration Statement (Form S-8, 33-28808) and in the related
       prospectuses, each pertaining to the CoreStates Financial Corp Long-Term
       Incentive Plan,

   (b) The Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 33-32934) and prospectus
       relating to shares of the Corporation's Common Stock issuable under the
       CoreStates Employee Stock Ownership and Savings Plan,

   (c) The Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 33-50324) pertaining to the
       CoreStates Financial Corp. 1992 Long-Term Incentive Plan,

   (d) The Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 33-57034) and prospectus and
       prospectus supplement pertaining to $1,000,000,000 in aggregate amount of
       Debt Securities issuable by CoreStates Capital Corp and the related
       guarantees of the Corporation, and Preferred Stock, Depository Shares,
       Common Stock and Capital Securities, issuable by the Corporation,

   (e) The Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 33-54049) and prospectus and
       prospectus supplement pertaining to $1,000,000,000 in aggregate amount of
       Debt Securities and warrants issuable by CoreStates Capital Corp and the
       related guarantees of the Corporation and Preferred Stock, Depository
       Shares and Common Stock issuable by the Corporation,

   (f) The Registration Statement (Form S-4, as amended by Form S-8, No.
       33-48422) and prospectus relating to shares of the Corporation's Common
       Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, the obligations in
       respect to which were assumed by the Corporation in connection with the
       acquisition of First Peoples Corporation,


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   (g) The Registration Statement (Form S-4, as amended by Form S-8, No.
       33-51429) and prospectus relating to shares of the Corporation's Common
       Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, the obligations in
       respect to which were assumed by the Corporation in connection with the
       acquisition of Constellation Bancorp,

   (h) The Registration Statement (Form S-4, as amended by Form S-8, No.
       33-53539) and prospectus relating to shares of the Corporation's Common
       Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, the obligations in
       respect to which were assumed by the Corporation in connection with the
       acquisition of Independence Bancorp, Inc.,

   (i) The Registration Statement (Form S-4, as amended by Form S-8, No.
       33-55505) and prospectus relating to shares of the Corporation's Common
       Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, the obligations in
       respect to which were assumed by the Corporation in connection with the
       acquisition of Germantown Savings Bank,

   (j) The Registration Statement (Form S-4, as amended by Form S-8, No.
       33-300067) and prospectus relating to shares of the Corporation's Common
       Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, the obligations in
       respect to which were assumed by the Corporation in connection with the
       acquisition of Meridian Bancorp, Inc.,

   (k) The Registration Statements (Form S-3, Nos. 33-54049 and 333-2297) and
       prospectus and prospectus supplement pertaining to $1,750,000,000 in
       aggregate amount of Debt Securities issuable by CoreStates Capital Corp
       and the related guarantees of the Corporation and Preferred Stock,
       Depository Shares and Common Stock issuable by the Corporation,

   (l) The Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 033-40717) and prospectus
       relating to shares of the Corporation's Common Stock issuable under the
       Dividend Reinvestment Plan,

   (m) The Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-16569) and prospectus
       relating to shares of the Corporation's Common Stock issuable under the
       QuestPoint Savings Plan,

   (n) The Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-41083) and prospectus
       relating to shares of the Corporation's Amended and Restated Long-Term
       Incentive Plan (1997),

   (o) The Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 33-27725) and prospectus
       relating to shares of the Corporation's Amended and Restated Stock
       Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (1997).


                                                /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 27, 1998


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