<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Provident Financial Group, Inc.'s 10-Q for June 30, 1998 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         225,541
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                34,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                59,794
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,520,276
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,588,006
<ALLOWANCE>                                     75,472
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,857,742
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,781,849
<SHORT-TERM>                                 1,435,657
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            269,712
<LONG-TERM>                                    668,101
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      7,000
<COMMON>                                        12,744
<OTHER-SE>                                     682,679
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               7,857,742
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                250,488
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               49,166
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,281
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               301,935
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             109,926
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             167,432
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          134,503
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   10,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               5,716
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                135,535
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 95,504
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      62,400
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    62,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.39
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.89
<LOANS-NON>                                     57,924
<LOANS-PAST>                                    10,058
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 9,196
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 17,185
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                71,980
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   12,859
<RECOVERIES>                                     6,351
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               75,472
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            75,472
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0