Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
8 August 2001

                                 SCHEDULE 11

         NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS

1) Name of company

Provident Financial plc



2) Name of director

Christopher Charles Johnstone



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 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest

-



4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
number of shares held by each of them (if notified)
-


5) Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)
-


6) Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
discretionary
-


7) Number of shares/amount of
stock acquired
-


8) Percentage of issued class
-


9) Number of shares/amount
of stock disposed
-


10) Percentage of issued class
-


11) Class of security
-


12) Price per share
-


13) Date of transaction
-


14) Date company informed
-


15) Total holding following this notification
-


16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
-


If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes

17) Date of grant
-


18) Period during which or date on which exercisable
-


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


20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number
-


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


22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
following this notification
-


23) Any additional information
On 8 August 2001 Christopher Charles Johnstone cancelled an option for 1,422
shares which had been granted on 5 September 2000 pursuant to the company's
savings-related share option scheme.


24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries
Mrs Rosamond J Marshall Smith


25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
making this notification
Mrs Rosamond J Marshall Smith

Company Secretary


Date of Notification 8 August 2001