Analysts' Briefing

Provident Financial PLC
17 September 2002




                  Provident Financial plc - 17 September 2002

          Analysts' Briefing on Central European Home Credit Business


The company will today announce the following information to analysts visiting
its Central European operations.

In the two months from 30 June to 31 August 2002, customer numbers in the
International division increased by 28,265 (3.5%) to 833,862. This comprised the
following: Poland up by 15,081 (2.7%) from 560,866 to 575,947; Czech Republic up
by 3,172 (1.5%) from 205,736 to 208,908; Hungary up by 6,368 (23.6%) from 26,952
to 33,320 and Slovakia up by 3,644 (30.3%) from 12,043 to 15,687.



Name of contact and telephone number for queries:

Rosamond J Marshall Smith; 01274 731111 ext. 2356

Company Secretary


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange