Director/PDMR Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
10 April 2007

NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS, PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL
RESPONSIBILITY OR CONNECTED PERSONS

This form is intended for use by an issuer to make a RIS notification required
by DR 3.1.4R(1).


(1)      An issuer making a notification in respect of a transaction relating to the shares or debentures
         of the issuer should complete boxes 1 to 16, 23 and 24.
(2)      An issuer making a notification in respect of a derivative relating to the shares of the issuer
         should complete boxes 1 to 4, 6, 8, 13, 14, 16, 23 and 24.
(3)      An issuer making a notification in respect of options granted to a director/person discharging
         managerial responsibilities should complete boxes 1 to 3 and 17 to 24.
(4)      An issuer making a notification in respect of a financial instrument relating to the shares of
         the issuer (other than a debenture) should complete boxes 1 to 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 23 and
         24.



Please complete all relevant boxes in block capital letters.



1. Name of the issuer

Provident Financial plc

....................................



2. State whether the notification relates to (i) a transaction notified in
accordance with DR 3.1.4R(1)(a); or

(ii) DR 3.1.4(R)(1)(b) a disclosure made in accordance with section 324 (as
extended by section 328) of the Companies Act 1985; or

(iii) both (i) and (ii)

This relates to (i)

....................................



3. Name of person discharging managerial responsibilities/director

Stephen Raymond Ford

....................................



4. State whether notification relates to a person connected with a person
discharging managerial responsibilities/director named in 3 and identify the
connected person

Not applicable

....................................



5. Indicate whether the notification is in respect of a holding of the person
referred to in 3 or 4 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest

In respect of person named in 3 above

....................................



6. Description of shares (including class), debentures or derivatives or
financial instruments relating to shares

Ordinary shares of 10 4/11p

....................................



7. Name of registered shareholders(s) and, if more than one, the number of
shares held by each of them

Stephen Raymond Ford

....................................

....................................



8 State the nature of the transaction

Stephen Raymond Ford acquired 17,500 ordinary shares of 10 4/11p at an exercise
price of 702.5p through the exercise of share options pursuant to the Provident
Financial plc Unapproved Senior Executive Share Option Scheme (1996).  16,621
shares were sold at 784.5p per share.

....................................

....................................



9. Number of shares, debentures or financial instruments relating to shares
acquired

17,500

....................................



10. Percentage of issued class acquired (treasury shares of that class should
not be taken into account when calculating percentage)

0.0068%

....................................



11. Number of shares, debentures or financial instruments relating to shares
disposed

16,621

....................................



12. Percentage of issued class disposed (treasury shares of that class should
not be taken into account when calculating percentage)

0.0064%

....................................



13. Price per share or value of transaction

Exercise prices 702.5p

Sale price 784.5p

....................................



14. Date and place of transaction

5 April 2007

London Stock Exchange

....................................



15. Total holding following notification and total percentage holding following
notification (any treasury shares should not be taken into account when
calculating percentage)

929 shares

0.0003%

....................................



16. Date issuer informed of transaction

5 April 2007

.................................



If a person discharging managerial responsibilities has been granted options by
the issuer complete the following boxes



17 Date of grant



....................................



18. Period during which or date on which it can be exercised



....................................



19. Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



....................................



20. Description of shares or debentures involved (class and number)



....................................

....................................



21. Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is to be
fixed at the time of exercise



....................................



22. Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following
notification



....................................



23. Any additional information



....................................



24. Name of contact and telephone number for queries

Emma G Versluys

Assistant Company Secretary

Tel:  [phone] ext. 2569

....................................



Name and signature of duly authorised officer of issuer responsible for making
notification

Emma G Versluys

Assistant Company Secretary

....................................



Date of notification

10 April 2007

....................................

END



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