Directorate Change

Provident Financial PLC
14 November 2006


                      BOARD CHANGE AT PROVIDENT FINANCIAL

Board change

The Board of Provident Financial announces today that Robin Ashton will be
stepping down from the Board as Chief Executive by mutual agreement at the end
of 2006.  Thereafter he will assist the Board as required before leaving the
Group in April 2007.  The Board wishes to thank him for his dedication and hard
work and wishes him well for the future.


From the end of the year, the Company's three executive directors will report
directly to the Chairman, John van Kuffeler, until the demerger of the
International Division takes place.


Current trading

For the 10 months to October, the group as a whole is trading in line with
expectations despite Vanquis trading slightly below plan.  In Hungary, we
believe that we have completed substantially all the changes required by the
PSZAF, the Hungarian financial supervisory authority, and we are in discussion
with them regarding their approval to recommence writing new business.  We have
now started the final two key trading months of the year and the normal
pre-close trading statement will be made in the middle of December.


John van Kuffeler, Chairman, said: 'Provident Financial has two fundamentally
strong businesses in the UK and International and the Board is committed to
delivering additional value for shareholders from the businesses.  The Board,
including Robin, agree that new skills and leadership will enable our businesses
to capture the next phase of growth.  Robin has proved to be a dedicated and
hard-working chief executive and the Board wishes him well as he pursues new
challenges.'


Robin Ashton said: 'I am proud to have led Provident Financial and to have
helped build and develop the businesses, particularly outside the UK, where the
International business has expanded successfully from start-up loss to a
substantial profitable business operating in six countries.  I believe that both
the UK and International businesses have excellent futures.  There is a
formidable team of people at Provident Financial and I thank them all.'


Enquiries:          John van Kuffeler, Chairman - 020 7404 5959

                    Nigel Prideaux/Eilis Murphy, Brunswick - 020 7404 5959

                    John Moulding, Provident Financial:

                         Today - 020 7404 5959

                        Thereafter - 01274 731111


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