Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
04 March 2004

Provident Financial plc ('the company') has been informed that on 4 March 2004
two directors exercised senior executive share options and sold shares (to fund
the exercise and associated tax liabilities and costs).



Robin Ashton



Robin James Ashton 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
54,232 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p pursuant to the Provident Financial plc
Unapproved Senior Executive Share Option Scheme (1996) at exercise prices of
450p and 520p.  48,001 shares were sold at 747.5p per share.



He now holds 56,516 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p in the company (representing
0.022% of the issued share capital).



David Swann



David Richard Swann acquired 82,218 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p through the
exercise of share options pursuant to the Provident Financial plc Unapproved
Senior Executive Share Option Scheme (1996) at exercise prices of 450p, 520p and
638.5p.  70,175 shares were subsequently sold at 747.5p per share.



He now holds 86,694 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p in the company (representing
0.034% of the issued share capital).





Rosamond J Marshall Smith

Company Secretary

4 March 2004



Tel:  [phone] extension 2356




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