Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
04 July 2003


          NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS



1. Name of company


Provident Financial plc



2. Name of director


David Richard Swann



3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding
of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest
or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's
spouse or children under the age of 18 or in respect of a non-beneficial
interest


Notification in respect of director named in 2 above



4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of
shares held by each of them (if notified)


Share Nominees Limited



5. Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with the
director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)


Notification in respect of director named in 2 above



6. Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please
indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary


Purchase of shares for discretionary single company PEP



7. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired


17



8. Percentage of issued class


0.000007%



9. Number of shares/amount of stock disposed


-



10. Percentage of issued class


-



11. Class of security


Ordinary shares of 10 4/11p



12. Price per share


638.5p



13. Date of transaction


1 July 2003



14. Date company informed


3 July 2003



15. Total holding following this notification


59,364



16. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification


0.023%



If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes.



17. Date of grant


-



18. Period during which or date on which exercisable


-



19. Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option


-



20. Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number


-



21. Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is to be
fixed at time of exercise


-



22. Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this
notification


-



23. Any additional information


-



24. Name of contact and telephone number for queries


Rosamond J Marshall Smith

01274 731111 ext. 2356



25. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making
this notification


Rosamond J Marshall Smith

Company Secretary



Date of Notification: 4 July 2003


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