Purchase of Own Securities

Provident Financial PLC
2 December 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 425,000
ordinary shares for cancellation at an average price of
679.71p per share through Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.  This
purchase represents approximately 0.16 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 4,152,445.

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