March 25, 1998 Securities and Exchange Commission Judiciary Plaza 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1997-3 Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1997-3; File No. 333-18897. Ladies and Gentlemen: Enclosed herewith for filing on behalf of the trust fund (the "Trust") created pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of September 1, 1997 (the "Pooling and Servicing Agreement") among Lehman ABS Corporation, as Depositor (the "Depositor"), The Provident Bank, as Seller (the "Seller"), and as Master Servicer (the "Master Servicer"), and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee"), is a Current Report on Form 8-K (the "Report"). The Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1997-3 (the "Certificates"), will consist of five Classes (each, a "Class") of senior Certificates: The Class A-1 Certificates, the Class A-2 Certificates, the Class A-3 Certificates, the Class A-4 Certificates, and the Class A-5 Certificates (collectively, the "Class A Certificates") and one Class of subordinated Certificates (the "Class R Certificates"). Only the Class A Certificates (The "Offered Certificates") are being offered hereby. The Certificates will evidence in the aggregate the entire beneficial interest in a pool (the "Mortgage Pool") of closed-end fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans (the "Mortgage Loans") consisting of two groups ("Loan Group 1" and Loan Group 2", respectively, and each a "Loan Group") held by Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1997-3 (the "Trust") to be formed pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Class A-1 Certificates, Class A-2 Certificates, Class A-3 Certificates, and Class A-4 Certificates (the "Group 1 Certificates") will represent undivided ownership interests in Loan Group 1 which consists of Mortgage Loans with fixed interest rates. The Class A-5 Certificates (the "Group 2 Certificates") will represent undivided ownership interests in Loan Group 2 which consists of Mortgage Loans with adjustable interest rates. The assets of the Trust will also include certain other property. The Mortgage Loans are secured by first and second deeds of trust or mortgages primarily on one- to four-family residential properties. The Offered Certificates were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by a Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-18897). As a result, the Trust is subject to the filing requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Trust intends to fulfill these filing requirements in the manner described herein: The Trust will file, promptly after each Distribution Date (as defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement), a Current Report on Form 8-K in substantially the form enclosed herewith, including as an exhibit thereto the applicable Distribution Date report. Each such Current Report will also disclose under Item 5 any matter occurring during the relevant reporting period which would be reportable under Item 1, 2, 4 or 5 of Part II of Form 10-Q. The Trust will file a Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the occurrence of any event described under Item 2, 3, 4 or 5 thereof, responding to the requirements of the applicable Item. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Trust will file an annual report of Form 10-K which responds to Items 2, 3, and 4 of Part I, Items 5 and 9 of Part II, Items 12 and 13 of Part III and Item 14 of Part IV thereof, and include as exhibits thereto certain information from the Distribution Date reports aggregated for such year and a copy of the independent accountants' annual compliance statement required under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Trust will follow the above procedures except for any fiscal year as to which its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act have been suspended pursuant to such Section. In such event, the Trust will file a Form 15 as required under Rule 15d-6. Should you wish to discuss the above filing procedures, please call Judy L. Gomez at (714) 253-7562. Sincerely, /s/ Judy L. Gomez Assistant Vice President Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. S.E.C. Reporting Agent for Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1997-3 Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1997-3. 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): October 25, 1997 THE PROVIDENT BANK (as depositor under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of September 1, 1997, which forms Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1997-3, which will issue the Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1997-3, Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1997-3) THE PROVIDENT BANK (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) OHIO (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 333-35275 31-0412725 (Commission File Number (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) ONE EAST FOURTH STREET CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (513) 579-2000 ITEM 5. Other Events Attached hereto are copies of the Monthly Remittance Statements to the Certificateholders which were derived from the monthly information submitted by the Master Servicer of the Trust to the Trustee. ITEM 7. Financial Statement and Exhibits Exhibits: (as noted in Item 5 above) Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 25, 1997. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1997. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., not in its individual capacity, but solely as a duly authorized agent of the Registrant pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of September 1, 1997. Date: March 25, 1998 By: /s/ Judy L. Gomez Judy L. Gomez Assistant Vice President EXHIBIT INDEX Sequential Document Page Number Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 25, 1997. 4 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1997. 6 PROVIDENT BANK HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST SERIES 1997-3 Statement To Certificateholders DISTRIBUTIONS IN DOLLARS PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL CLASS FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL A-1 41,860,000.00 41,860,000.00 265,113.33 269,899.69 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 535,013.02 0.00 0.00 41,590,100.31 PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL CLASS FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL A-2 111,875,000.00 111,875,000.00 527,323.59 1,339,944.57 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 1,867,268.16 0.00 0.00 110,535,055.43 PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL CLASS FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL R 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 TOTALS PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL 153,735,000.00 153,735,000.00 792,436.92 1,609,844.26 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 2,402,281.18 0.00 0.00 152,125,155.74 FACTOR INFORMATION PER $1000 OF ORIGINAL FACE PRIOR PRINCIPAL CLASS CUSIP BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL TOTAL A-1 743844AA0 1,000.000000 6.333333 6.4476750 12.781009 CURRENT PRINCIPAL PASS-THROUGH RATES BALANCE CURRENT NEXT 993.552325 7.600000% 7.600000% PRIOR PRINCIPAL CLASS CUSIP BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL TOTAL A-2 743844AB8 1,000.000000 4.713507 11.977158 16.690665 CURRENT PRINCIPAL PASS-THROUGH RATES BALANCE CURRENT NEXT 988.022842 5.851250% 5.695000% PRIOR PRINCIPAL CLASS CUSIP BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL TOTAL R 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 CURRENT PRINCIPAL PASS-THROUGH RATES BALANCE CURRENT NEXT 0.000000 0.000000% 0.000000% SELLER: Provident Bank ADMINISTRATOR: David Arnold SERVICER: Provident Bank Bankers Trust Company LEAD UNDERWRITER: Lehman Brothers 3 Park Plaza RECORD DATE: September 30, 1997 Irvine, CA 92714 DISTRIBUTION DATE: October 25, 1997 FACTOR INFORMATION: (800) 735-7777 Page 1 of 1 COPYRIGHT 1997 Bankers Trust Company PROVIDENT BANK HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST SERIES 1997-3 Statement To Certificateholders DISTRIBUTIONS IN DOLLARS PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL CLASS FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL A-1 41,860,000.00 41,590,100.31 263,403.97 537,491.61 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 800,895.58 0.00 0.00 41,052,608.70 PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL CLASS FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL A-2 111,875,000.00 110,535,055.43 556,939.32 1,744,515.80 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 2,301,455.12 0.00 0.00 108,790,539.63 PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL CLASS FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL R 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 TOTALS PRIOR ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL FACE VALUE BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL 153,735,000.00 152,125,155.74 820,343.29 2,282,007.40 CURRENT REALIZED DEFERRED PRINCIPAL TOTAL LOSSES INTEREST BALANCE 3,102,350.69 0.00 0.00 149,843,148.33 FACTOR INFORMATION PER $1000 OF ORIGINAL FACE PRIOR PRINCIPAL CLASS CUSIP BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL TOTAL A-1 743844AA0 993.552325 6.292498 12.840220 19.132718 CURRENT PRINCIPAL PASS-THROUGH RATES BALANCE CURRENT NEXT 980.712105 7.600000% 7.600000% PRIOR PRINCIPAL CLASS CUSIP BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL TOTAL A-2 743844AB8 988.022842 4.978229 15.593437 20.571666 CURRENT PRINCIPAL PASS-THROUGH RATES BALANCE CURRENT NEXT 972.429405 5.851250% 5.695000% PRIOR PRINCIPAL CLASS CUSIP BALANCE INTEREST PRINCIPAL TOTAL R 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 CURRENT PRINCIPAL PASS-THROUGH RATES BALANCE CURRENT NEXT 0.000000 0.000000% 0.000000% SELLER: Provident Bank ADMINISTRATOR: David Arnold SERVICER: Provident Bank Bankers Trust Company LEAD UNDERWRITER: Lehman Brothers 3 Park Plaza RECORD DATE: October 31, 1997 Irvine, CA 92714 DISTRIBUTION DATE: November 25, 1997 FACTOR INFORMATION: (800) 735-7777 Page 1 of 1 COPYRIGHT 1997 Bankers Trust Company