<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.1
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>g70057ex23-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


         We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of F.N.B. Corporation for the registration of 3,000,000
shares of the common stock pertaining to F.N.B. Corporation's 2001 Incentive
Plan of our report dated February 5, 2001, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of F.N.B. Corporation and Subsidiaries incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Birmingham, Alabama
June 12, 2001




</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
