Purchase of Own Securities

Provident Financial PLC
19 November 1999

                    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL PLC
                               
                       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 1,100,000
ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 680p per share
through Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.  This purchase represents
approximately 0.42 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 3,727,445.

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