Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
28 February 2003


Provident Financial Trustees (Performance Share Plan) Limited purchased 21,134
ordinary shares of 10 4/11p in Provident Financial plc on 27 February 2003 at a
price of 585p.



Pursuant to the terms of the Provident Financial Performance Share Plan ('the
Plan'), the establishment of which was approved by ordinary resolution of the
Company on 1 May 2002, the legal and beneficial interest in the shares set out
below has been transferred to the executive directors on 27 February 2003, in
satisfaction of basic and matching awards granted subject to and in accordance
with the rules of the Plan on 27 February 2003.




                    Shares Allocated                        % of issued    Total beneficial  % of issued share
                                                           Share Capital        holding           capital
                                                                            (following the
                                                                              allocation)
                    Basic Award   Matching    Total Award
                                    Award

R J Ashton             1,693        1,693        3,386         0.001%           43,058            0.017%

J A Harnett            3,247        3,247        6,494         0.003%           14,494            0.006%

C C Johnstone          2,799        2,799        5,598         0.002%           103,188           0.041%

D R Swann              2,828        2,828        5,656         0.002%           59,294            0.023%






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