EXHIBIT 25.1











                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned
hereby constitutes and appoints David J. Petrini, Daniel Sanford,
Ellen Richey, Ronald Claveloux and Clifford Shapiro, and each of them,
his attorneys for him in his stead, in each of his offices and
capacities as an officer, director, or both of Providian National
Bank, to sign and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
such Registration Statements on Form S-3, and any and all amendments,
modifications, or supplements thereto, and any exhibits thereto
(including but not limited to amendments to Registration Statement No.
333-55817), and grants to each of said attorneys full power and
authority to sign and file any and all other documents and to perform
and do all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises as fully, to all intents and
purposes, as he/she might or could do if personally present at the
doing thereof, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said
attorneys may or shall lawfully do, or cause to be done, by virtue
hereof in connection with the registration of the aforesaid
securities.


  /s/ Eric O'Brien
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Eric O'Brien
Vice President and Director

Dated: May 7, 1999