Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
15 April 2005


Provident Financial plc ('the company') has been informed that on 15 April 2005
John Arthur Harnett exercised a senior executive share option and sold shares
(to fund the exercise and associated tax liabilities and costs).


John Arthur Harnett acquired 87,500 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 an exercise price of 520p per
share.  75,750 shares were sold at 680.5p per share.


He now holds 43,216 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p in the company (representing
0.016% of the issued share capital).



Emma G Versluys
Assistant Company Secretary
15 April 2005




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