Purchase of Own Securities

Provident Financial PLC
10 March 2000


Share Repurchase

Provident Financial plc (the 'Company') announces that, pursuant to the
authority conferred at the Annual General Meeting on 29 April 1999, on 10
March 2000 it purchased 700,000 ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of
518.8571p per share through Merrill Lynch. This purchase represents
approximately 0.2775% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital and
brings the aggregate number of shares purchased by the Company since 26
October 1999 to 13,019,189.

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