Purchase of Own Securities

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL PLC
26 October 1999

                       Share repurchase
                              
Provident Financial plc (the 'Company') announces that,
pursuant to the authority conferred at the Annual General
Meeting on 29 April 1999, it has today purchased 2,627,445
ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 675p per share
through Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.  This purchase represents
approximately 1.0 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary
share capital.

Enquiries to:
Mrs R J Marshall Smith            Tel: [phone]
Assistant Company Secretary