Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
02 March 2004


Provident Financial plc ('the company') has been informed that on 2 March 2004
John Philip de Blocq van Kuffeler, Chairman of the company, acquired 5,769
ordinary shares of 10 4/11p through the exercise of share options pursuant to
the Provident Financial plc Senior Executive Share Option Scheme (1995) at an
exercise price of 520p per share; and 108,496 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p
pursuant to the Provident Financial plc Unapproved Senior Executive Share Option
Scheme (1996) at exercise prices of 520p and 638.5p.  112,265 shares were
subsequently sold at 762p per share on 2 March 2004.

In addition, on 2 March 2004 options over 85,147 shares granted under the
Provident Financial plc Unapproved Senior Executive Share Option Scheme (1996)
were released for nil consideration.  John Philip de Blocq van Kuffeler has now
exercised or released all options held by him and will not, as non-executive
Chairman, be granted any further options by the company.

He now holds 18,000 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p in the company (representing
0.007% of the issued share capital).

Rosamond J Marshall Smith
Company Secretary
2 March 2004

Tel:  [phone] extension 2356


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