- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): December 23, 1998 THE PROVIDENT BANK ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Ohio 333-62595 31-0412725 - ------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer Incorporation) Number) Identification No.) One East Fourth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 ---------------------- -------------------- (Address of Principal (Zip Code) Executive Offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (513) 579-2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Item 5. Other Events. - ---- ------------ Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference - ----------------------------------------------- Pursuant to Rule 411 of Regulation C under the Securities Act of 1933 and in reliance on MBIA Insurance Corporation, SEC No-Action Letter (September 6, 1996), the Company will incorporate by reference the financial statement of MBIA Insurance Corporation ("MBIA") into the Company's registration statement (File No. 333-62595). The financial statements will be referred to in the prospectus supplement relating to the Company's Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1998-4. In connection with the incorporation of such documents by reference, the Company is hereby filing the consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the use of their name in such prospectus supplement. The consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is attached hereto as Exhibit 23. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. ------------------------ (a) Not applicable. (b) Not applicable. (c) Exhibits: 23. Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE PROVIDENT BANK By: /s/ Kevin Shea --------------------- Name: Kevin M. Shea Title: Vice President Dated: December 23, 1998 Exhibit Index ------------- Exhibit Page ------- ---- 23. The Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP......................6 EXHIBIT 23: CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus Supplement of The Provident Bank relating to Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1998-4, of our report dated February 3, 1998, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts". \s\ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ------------------------------- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP New York, New York December 23, 1998