Purchase of Own Securities

Provident Financial PLC
6 December 1999

Share repurchase
                                              
Provident Financial plc (the 'Company')
announces that, pursuant to the authority
conferred at the Annual General Meeting on 29
April 1999, it has today purchased 38,488
ordinary shares for cancellation at an average
price of 670.56p per share through Dresdner
Kleinwort Benson.  This purchase represents
approximately 0.015 per cent. of the Company's
issued ordinary share capital and brings the
aggregate number of shares purchased by the
Company since 26 October 1999 to 4,190,933.

Enquiries to:
Mrs R J Marshall Smith          Tel: [phone] 
Assistant Company Secretary