Pre-close briefing statement

Provident Financial PLC
29 June 2004



2004 FIRST HALF RESULTS PRE-CLOSE BRIEFING

Provident Financial is a leading international provider of consumer credit, car
finance and motor insurance with 3.5 million customers in the UK, Republic of
Ireland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Mexico.



Group

The group is expected to report good results for the first half of the year.



UK Consumer credit

The UK home credit business continues to operate in an increasingly competitive
market for small sum credit and the reduction in customer numbers and credit
issued that we reported in our recent AGM statement has continued.  Customer
numbers and credit issued for the first five months are both 5% lower than in
the same period in the previous year.  As a consequence, we expect a small
reduction in the profits from UK home credit at the half-year.



Yes Car Credit, which provides larger loans for the purchase of used cars, had
very strong sales growth in the first quarter followed by a quieter April and
May.  Overall, the volume of cars sold increased by 22% for the five months to
May 2004, as compared to the same period last year, and the business is on
course to report increased profits at the half-year stage.



The market test of credit cards at Vanquis Bank is continuing.



Motor insurance

We have continued with our policy of pricing for profit and, as planned,
policyholder numbers and written premium have continued to reduce.  During the
first five months of 2004 we have seen a moderation in the cost of personal
injury claims and this has generated an improvement in the combined ratio.  As a
result, profits for the insurance division for the first half are now expected
to be higher than those for the first half of 2003.



International

International division is performing very well.  Customer numbers are up by 28%
and credit issued by 29% as compared to the same period last year.  The division
is on track to deliver excellent results for the first half of this year.



Enquiries:

Media
David Stevenson           01274 731111

Investor relations
Helen Waggott             01274 731111






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