Holding(s) in Company

TR-1: Notifications of Major Interests in Shares

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached:

Provident Financial plc

2. Reason for notification (yes/no)

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights

Yes

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached 

No

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights

No

Other (please specify):______________

No

3. Full name of person(s) subject to notification obligation:

Standard Life Investments Limited

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3):

Vidacos Nominees

5. Date of transaction (and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached if different):

19 September 2008

6. Date on which issuer notified:

22 September 2008

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached:

8%

8: Notified Details

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares

If possible use ISIN code

Situation previous to the triggering transaction

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Number of shares

Number of voting rights

Number of shares

Number of voting rights

Percentage of voting rights

Direct

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Ordinary shares of 

20 8/11p

ISIN: GB00B1Z4ST84

11,795,782

11,795,782

10,259,427

5,681,735

4,577,692

4.328%

3.487%

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial instrument

Expiration date

Exercise/ conversion period/date 

No. of voting rights that may be acquired (if the instrument exercised/converted)

Percentage of voting rights

Total (A+B)

Number of voting rights

Percentage of voting rights

10,259,427

7.816%

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and /or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable:

Standard Life Investments Ltd

Proxy Voting:

10. Name of proxy holder:

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:

13. Additional information:

14 Contact name:

Emma G Versluys

Deputy Company Secretary

15. Contact telephone number:

01274 731111 ext 2569