Directors' Dealings

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL PLC
9 September 1999


Schedule 11 - Notification of interests of Directors and Connected Persons

1   Name of company:
Provident Financial plc

2   Name of director:
Peter William Bretherton

3   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of     
holding of the director named in 2 above or 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 and his spouse Anne Alice
Bretherton

4   Name of registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of 
shares held by each of them (if notified):
IRG Trustees Limited 11,029 shares
Redmayne Nominees PEP Limited 1,302 shares

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 and his spouse Anne Alice
Bretherton

6   Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please  
indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary:
Peter William Bretherton acquired 601 shares and his spouse, Anne Alice
Bretherton, acquired 701 shares as a result of Redmayne Nominees PEP Limited
purchasing shares for discretionary single and general company PEPS.
Peter William Bretherton exercised an option over 11,029 shares pursuant to
the Provident Financial plc Savings-Related Share Option Scheme


7   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
12,331

8   Percentage of issued class:
0.00469

9   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed:
-

10  Percentage of issued class:
-

11  Class of security:
10 4/11p ordinary

12  Price per share:
PEPs 800.5p per share             Share option 81.6p per share

13  Date of transaction:
PEPs 7 September 1999             Share option 9 September 1999

14  Date company informed:
9 September 1999

15  Total holding following this notification:
166,560

16  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification:
0.06336

If a director has been granted options by the company, please complete the
following fields:

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  Contact name for queries:
Mrs R J Marshall Smith

24  Contact telephone number:
01274 731111 extension 2356

25  Name of company official responsible for making notification:
Mrs R J Marshall Smith

Additional Information: