SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 Commission file number: 333-45369 THE PROVIDENT BANK (as depositor under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1998, which forms Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1998-1, which will issue the Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust 1998-1, Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1998-1) PROVIDENT BANK HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 1998-1 HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 1998-1 (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) OHIO 31-0412725 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification Number) ONE EAST FOURTH STREET CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 526-7000 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NOT APPLICABLE. Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NOT APPLICABLE. Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]. Aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of December 31, 1998: NOT APPLICABLE. Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 1998: NOT APPLICABLE. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Documents in Part I and Part IV incorporated herein by reference are as follows: None Documents in Part II and Part IV incorporated herein by reference are as follows: Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of April 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of May 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of June 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of July 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of August 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of September 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of December 28, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of January 25, 1999, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. PART 1 ITEM 1. Business. The trust fund (the "Trust") created pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of March 1, 1998 (the "Pooling and Servicing Agreement") between The Provident Bank, as Seller (the "Seller"), as Document Custodian (the "Document Custodian") and as Master Servicer (the "Master Servicer"), and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as Trustee. The Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1998-1 (the "Certificates"), will consist of ten Classes (each, a "Class") of Certificates: the Class A-1 Certificates, the Class A-2 Certificates, the Class A-3 Certificates, the Class A-4 Certificates, the Class A-5 Certificates and the Class A-6 Certificates (collectively, the "Class A Certificates"), the Class X-1 Certificates and the X-2 Certificates (collectively, the "Class X Certificates") and the Class R-1 Certificates and Class R-2 Certificates (collectively, the Class R Certificates"). Only the Class A Certificates (the "Offered Certificates") are being offered hereby. The rights of the holders of the Class X-1 Certificates and the Class X-2 Certificates to receive distributions with respect to the Mortgage Loans will be subordinate to the rights of the holders of the Class A Certificates and the Class X Certificates. 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 1998-1 (the "Trust") to be formed pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Class A-1 Certificates, the Class A-2 Certificates, the Class A-3 Certificates, Class A-4 Certificates and the Class A-5 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-6 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. Information with respect to the business of the Trust would not be meaningful because the only "business" of the Trust is the collection on the Mortgage Loans and distribution of payments on the Certificates to Certificateholders. This information is accurately summarized in the Monthly Reports to Certificateholders, which are filed on Form 8-K. There is no additional relevant information to report in response to Item 101 of Regulation S-K. ITEM 2. Properties. The Depositor owns no property. The Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1998-1, in the aggregate, represent the beneficial ownership in a Trust consisting primarily of the Mortgage Loans. The Trust will acquire title to real estate only upon default of the mortgagors under the Mortgage Loan. Therefore, this item is inapplicable. ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings. None. ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. No matters were submitted to a vote of Certificateholders during the fiscal year covered by this report. PART II ITEM 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters. The Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1998-1 represent, in the aggregate, the beneficial ownership in a trust fund consisting primarily of the Mortgage Loans. The Certificates are owned by Certificateholders as trust beneficiaries. Strictly speaking, Registrant has no "common equity," but for purposes of this Item only, Registrant's Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates are treated as "common equity." (a) Market Information. There is no established public trading market for Registrant's Certificates. The Registrant believes the Certificates are traded primarily in intra-dealer markets and non- centralized inter-dealer markets. (b) Holders. The number of registered holders of all classes of Certificates on December 31, 1998 was: 18. (c) Dividends. Not applicable. The information regarding dividends required by sub-paragraph (c) of Item 201 of Regulation S-K is inapplicable because the Trust does not pay dividends. However, information as to distribution to Certificateholders is provided in the Monthly Reports to Certificateholders for each month of the fiscal year in which a distribution to Certificateholders was made. ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data. Not Applicable. Because of the limited activities of the Trust, the Selected Financial Data required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K does not add relevant information to that provided by the Monthly Reports to Certificateholders, which are filed on a monthly basis on Form 8-K. ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Not Applicable. The information required by Item 303 of Regulation S-K is inapplicable because the Trust does not have management per se, but rather the Trust has a Trustee who causes the preparation of the Monthly Reports to Certificateholders. The information provided by the Monthly Reports to Certificateholders, which are filed on a monthly basis on Form 8-K, does provide the relevant financial information regarding the financial status of the Trust. ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of April 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of May 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of June 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of July 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of August 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of September 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of December 28, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of January 25, 1999, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. Annual Statement of Compliance by the Master Servicer is not currently available and will be subsequently filed on Form 8. Independent Accountant's Report on Servicer's will be subsequently filed on Form 8. ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. None. PART III ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of Registrant. Not Applicable. The Trust does not have officers or directors. Therefore, the information required by items 401 and 405 of Regulation S-K are inapplicable. ITEM 11. Executive Compensation. Not Applicable. The Trust does not have officers or directors to whom compensation needs to be paid. Therefore, the information required by item 402 of regulation S-K is inapplicable. ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. (a) Security ownership of certain beneficial owners. Under the Indenture governing the Trust, the holders of the Certificates generally do not have the right to vote and are prohibited from taking part in management of the Trust. For purposes of this Item and Item 13 only, however, the Certificateholders are treated as "voting security" holders. As of December 31, 1998, the following are the only persons known to the Registrant to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of voting securities: Bankers Trust Company John Lasher c/o BT Services Tennessee, Inc. 648 Grassmere Park Drive Nashville, TN 37211 Series 1998-1 Class A-1 $29,191,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 100% (Percentage of Class) The Bank of New York Cecile Lamarco 925 Patterson Plank Rd. Secaucus, NJ 07094 Series 1998-1 Class A-2 $2,000,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 9.6% (Percentage of Class) Chase Manhattan Bank Orma Trim, Supervisor 4 New York Plaza 13th Floor New York, NY 10004 Series 1998-1 Class A-2 $7,500,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 36% (Percentage of Class) Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company Constance Holloway c/o Mellon Bank, N.A. Three Mellon Bank Center, Room 153-3015 Pittsburgh, PA 15259 Series 1998-1 Class A-2 $11,309,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 54.3 % (Percentage of Class) The Bank of New York Cecile Lamarco 925 Patterson Plank Rd. Secaucus, NJ 07094 Series 1998-1 Class A-3 $10,700,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 100% (Percentage of Class) The Bank of New York Cecile Lamarco 925 Patterson Plank Rd. Secaucus, NJ 07094 Series 1998-1 Class A-4 $11,300,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 100% (Percentage of Class) Bankers Trust Company John Lasher c/o BT Services Tennessee, Inc. 648 Grassmere Park Drive Nashville, TN 37211 Series 1998-1 Class A-5 $1,369,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 17.1% (Percentage of Class) Chase Manhattan Bank Orma Trim, Supervisor 4 New York Plaza 13th Floor New York, NY 10004 Series 1998-1 Class A-5 $535,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 6.7% (Percentage of Class) Fiduciary Trust Company International Dennis J. Gomes Two World Trade Center, 96th Floor New York, NY 10048-0772 Series 1998-1 Class A-5 $428,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 5.4% (Percentage of Class) The Northern Trust Company Jarvis A. McKee 801 S. Canal C-IN Chicago, IL 60607 Series 1998-1 Class A-5 $535,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 6.7% (Percentage of Class) Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company Constance Holloway c/o Mellon Bank Center, Room 153-3015 Pittsburgh, PA 15259 Series 1998-1 Class A-5 $3,629,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 45.4% (Percentage of Class) State Street Bank and Trust Company Global Corp. Action Dept. JAB5W P.P. Box 1631 Boston, MA 02105-1631 Series 1998-1 Class A-5 $535,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 6.7% (Percentage of Class) The Bank of New York Cecile Lamarco 925 Patterson Plank Rd. Secaucus, New Jersey 07094 Series 1998-1 Class A-6 $25,000,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 20.8% (Percentage of Class) Chase Manhattan Bank Orma Trim, Supervisor 4 New York Plaza 13th Floor New York, NY 10004 Series 1998-1 Class A-6 $28,200,000.00 (Original Principal Balance) 23.5% (Percentage of Class) The Bank of New York/CDC Spreadbook Rosa Mendez One Wall Street New York, NY 10286 Series 1998-1 Class A-6 $66,800,000.00 55.7% (b) Security ownership of management. Not Applicable. The Trust does not have any officers or directors. Therefore, the information required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K is inapplicable. (c) Changes in control. Not Applicable. Since Certificateholders do not possess, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Trust, other than in respect to certain required consents regarding any amendments to the Indenture, the information requested with respect to item 403 of Regulation S-K is inapplicable. ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. (a) Transactions with management and others. Registrant knows of no transaction or series of transactions during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, or any currently proposed transaction or series of transactions, in an amount exceeding $60,000 involving the Registrant in which the Certificateholders identified in Item 12(a) had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. There are no persons of the types described in Item 404(a)(1),(2) and (4) of Regulation S-K, however, the information required by Item 404(a)(3) of Regulation S-K is hereby incorporated by reference in Item 12 herein. (b) Certain business relationships. None. (c) Indebtedness of management. Not Applicable. The Trust does not have management consisting of any officers or directors. Therefore, the information required by item 404 of Regulation S-K is inapplicable. (d) Transactions with promoters. Not Applicable. The Trust does not use promoters. Therefore, the information required by item 404 of Regulation S-K is inapplicable. PART IV ITEM 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K. (a) The following is a list of documents filed as part of this report: EXHIBITS Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of April 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of May 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of June 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of July 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of August 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of September 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of December 28, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of January 25, 1999, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. Annual Statement of Compliance by the Master Servicer is not currently available and will be subsequently filed on Form 8. Independent Accountant's Report on Servicer's servicing activities is not currently available and will be subsequently filed on Form 8. (b) The following Reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period covered by this Report: Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 19, 1999. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 19, 1999. Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of December 28, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on February 23, 1999. (c) The exhibits required to be filed by Registrant pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed above and in the Exhibit Index that immediately follows the signature page hereof. (d) Not Applicable. The Trust does not have any subsidiaries or affiliates. Therefore, no financial statements are filed with respect to subsidiaries or affiliates. Supplemental information to be furnished with reports filed pursuant to Section 15(d) by registrants which have not registered securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Act. No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other soliciting material has been sent to Certificateholders, and the Registrant does not contemplate sending any such materials subsequent to the filing of this report. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. By: 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 March 1, 1998. By: /s/Judy L. Gomez Judy L. Gomez Assistant Vice President Date: March 30, 1999 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Document 1.1 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of April 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. 1.2 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of May 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. 1.3 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of June 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. 1.4 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of July 27, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on November 10, 1998. 1.5 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of August 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. 1.6 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of September 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. 1.7 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of October 26, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. 1.8 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of November 25, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on December 22, 1998. 1.9 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of December 28, 1998, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999. 2.0 Monthly Remittance Statement to the Certificateholders dated as of January 25, 1999, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on January 29, 1999.