Directors' Dealings

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL PLC
5 August 1999


Schedule 11 - Notification of interests of Directors and Connected Persons

1   Name of company:
Provident Financial plc

2   Name of director:
Howard James Bell

3   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of     
holding of the director named in 2 above or holding of that person's spouse or
children under the age of 18 or in respect of a non- beneficial interest:
Notification in respect of director named in 2 above.

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

5   Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with  
the director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s):
Notification in respect of director named in 2 above.

6   Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please  
indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary:
Exercise of option over 11,029 shares at 81.6p per share pursuant to the
Provident Financial plc Savings-Related Share Option Scheme

7   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
11,029

8   Percentage of issued class:
0.00420

9   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed:
-

10  Percentage of issued class:
-

11  Class of security:
10 4/11p ordinary shares

12  Price per share:
81.6p

13  Date of transaction:
5 August 1999

14  Date company informed:
5 August 1999

15  Total holding following this notification:
221,932

16  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification:
0.08442

If a director has been granted options by the company, please complete the
following fields:

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  Contact name for queries:
Mrs R J Marshall Smith

24  Contact telephone number:
01274 731111 extension 2356

25  Name of company official responsible for making notification:
Mrs R J Marshall Smith


Additional Information: