AGM Statement on Trading

Provident Financial PLC
27 April 2000


Mr John van Kuffeler, Chairman of Provident Financial plc, told shareholders
at the Company's AGM in Bradford today:

'In UK Home Credit, we continue with our growth strategy to satisfy untapped
potential and both agent and customer numbers are increasing as planned. 
Collections' performance, the leading indicator of bad debt, which showed an
improving trend throughout the whole of the second half of 1999 in response to
actions taken, has continued to improve throughout the first quarter of this
year.  This reinforces our confidence that the bad debt charge as a percentage
of credit issued will stabilise at around 8.5% for the year.

Internationally, we continue to generate substantial growth.  Customer numbers
have increased from 149,000 at the end of 1999 to 210,000 currently and are
now increasing at an average weekly rate of 4,000.  Our nationwide
infrastructure is already in place in the Czech Republic.  In Poland our
planned branch opening programme for 2000, 18 further branches, is complete.

The motor insurance division continues its excellent performance, with both
premiums and volumes still increasing.'

As previously announced, Peter Fryer, the Financial Services Director, retires
from the Board today and Robin Ashton, Deputy Chief Executive, today assumes,
in addition to his other duties, responsibility for the insurance division.

Enquiries:  David Stevenson, Communications Manager - 01274 731111