Purchase of Own Securities - Replacement

Provident Financial PLC
28 February 2000

                               
The issuer has made the following amendment to the Purchase of Own Securities
announcement released on 24 February 2000 at 17.37 under RNS No 1943G.

The following extract from the first sentence should read 'at a price of 518p
per share through Dresdner Kleinwort Benson on 24 February 2000.' and not 'at a
price of 518p per share through Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.' as previously
stated.

All other details remain unchanged.

The full corrected version is shown below.
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                       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 purchased a further 400,000
ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 518p per share
through Dresdner Kleinwort Benson on 24 February 2000.  This 
purchase represents approximately 0.155 per cent. of the Company's
issued ordinary share capital and brings the aggregate number
of shares purchased by the Company since 26 October 1999 to 5,900,486.

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