Holding(s) in Company

Provident Financial PLC
08 March 2006

                                  SCHEDULE 10

                   NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES



1. Name of company


Provident Financial plc



2. Name of shareholder having a major interest


The Capital Group Companies Inc. on behalf of its affiliates including Capital International Inc., Capital Guardian
Trust Company, Capital International S.A. and Capital International Limited



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


Notification in respect of shareholder 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


Capital Guardian Trust Company:
Chase Nominees Limited                                                                         1,708,700
Nortrust Nominees                                                                              2,270,645
Total                                                                                          3,979,345
Percentage of issued share capital                                                                1.558%

Capital International Limited:
State Street Nominees Limited                                                                    391,000
Bank of New York Nominees                                                                      5,703,582
Northern Trust                                                                                 2,083,651
Chase Nominees Limited                                                                         4,563,400
Midland Bank plc                                                                                 240,200
Bankers Trust                                                                                     89,600
Barclays Bank                                                                                     67,700
Citibank London                                                                                1,208,800
Morgan Guaranty                                                                                  329,100
Nortrust Nominees                                                                              3,157,300
Royal Bank of Scotland                                                                         1,335,100
MSS Nominees Limited                                                                             162,100
State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                                                    912,500
National Westminster Bank                                                                        200,300
Lloyds Bank                                                                                       88,400
Citibank NA                                                                                       23,300
Deutsche Bank AG                                                                               1,284,900
Chase Manhattan Nominee Limited                                                                   61,000
HSBC Bank plc                                                                                  1,326,600
Mellon Bank N.A.                                                                                 159,100
Northern Trust AVFC                                                                               66,400
KAS UK                                                                                           118,800
Bank One London                                                                                  303,800
Clydesdale Bank plc                                                                               52,500
HSBC                                                                                              12,700
JP Morgan Chase Bank                                                                              14,200
Total                                                                                         23,956,033
Percentage of issued share capital                                                                9.376%

Capital International S.A.:
State Street Nominees Limited                                                                     14,200
Bank of New York Nominees                                                                         11,100
Chase Nominees Limited                                                                           908,700
Credit Suisse London Branch                                                                       27,600
Midland Bank plc                                                                                  98,400
Barclays Bank                                                                                     13,900
Pictet & Cie, Geneva                                                                               5,800
Nortrust Nominees                                                                                 12,400
Morgan Stanley                                                                                    13,400
Royal Bank of Scotland                                                                           200,300
J.P.  Morgan                                                                                   1,083,979
National Westminster Bank                                                                         50,800
Lloyds Bank                                                                                       54,200
RBSTB Nominees Limited                                                                            52,300
Deutsche Bank AG                                                                                  64,600
HSBC Bank plc                                                                                    447,900
Total                                                                                          3,059,579
Percentage of issued share capital                                                                1.198%

Capital International Inc.:
Bank of New York Nominees                                                                          4,600
Nortrust Nominees                                                                                291,903
HSBC Bank plc                                                                                    120,200
Total                                                                                            416,703
Percentage of issued share capital                                                                0.163%



5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired


Not disclosed



6. Percentage of issued class (any treasury shares held by company should not be
taken into account when calculating percentage)


Not disclosed



7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed


-



8. Percentage of issued class (any treasury shares held by company should not be
taken into account when calculating percentage)


-



9. Class of security


Ordinary shares of 10 4/11p



10. Date of transaction


6 March 2006





11. Date company informed


7 March 2006



12. Total holding following this notification


31,411,660



13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification (any
treasury shares held by company should not be taken into account when
calculating percentage)


12.295%



14. Any additional information


-



15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries


Emma G Versluys

01274 731111 ext. 2569



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


Emma G Versluys

Assistant Company Secretary



Date of notification


8 March 2006



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