Director Shareholding

Provident Financial PLC
27 February 2004

Provident Financial Trustees (Performance Share Plan) Limited purchased 54,364
ordinary shares of 10 4/11p in Provident Financial plc on 27 February 2004 at a
price of 741p.



Pursuant to the terms of the Provident Financial Performance Share Plan ('the
Plan'), the establishment of which was approved by ordinary resolution of the
Company on 1 May 2002, the legal and beneficial interest in the shares set out
below has been transferred to the executive directors on 27 February 2004, in
satisfaction of basic and matching awards granted subject to and in accordance
with the rules of the Plan on 27 February 2004.




                              Shares Allocated                   % of issued   Total beneficial    % of issued
                                                                    Share     holding (following  share capital
                                                                   Capital      the allocation)
                          Basic Award   Matching    Total Award
                                          Award

R J Ashton                   3,422        3,422        6,844        0.0027          44,516           0.0175

J A Harnett                  8,486        8,486        16,972       0.0067          31,466           0.0124

C C Johnstone                7,637        7,637        15,274       0.0060          123,061          0.0484

D R Swann                    7,637        7,637        15,274       0.0060          74,651           0.0293







Contact name for queries:
Rosamond J Marshall Smith


Contact telephone number:
01274 731111 ext. 2356


Name of company official responsible for making notification:
Rosamond J Marshall Smith


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