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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000939057-08-000287.txt : 20080811
<SEC-HEADER>0000939057-08-000287.hdr.sgml : 20080811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080811101631
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000939057-08-000287
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080807
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080811
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080811

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010470
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				330704889
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9096866060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALE RICHARD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180896

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28304
		FILM NUMBER:		081004620

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9097826188
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001010470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PROV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180896</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALE RICHARD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3756 CENTRAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RIVERSIDE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92506</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103903</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-08-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The ownership of 103,903 shares includes the 7,000 share restricted stock award granted on August 7, 2008 from the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan which vests on August 7, 2011 and the 4,000 share restricted stock award granted on February 6, 2007 from the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan vesting over a five-year period in equal installments beginning on February 6, 2008; and, indirect ownership of 1,793 shares in Mr. Gale's 401(K) Plan, 13,129 shares in Mr. Gale's Employee Stock Ownership Plan account, 485 shares by Mr. Gale's spouse, and 141 shares owned by Mr. Gale's dependent child.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Gale has previously been granted 22,000 options to acquire 22,000 shares of Provident's common stock under Provident's 1996 Stock Option Plan, 2003 Stock Option Plan and 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.  Those grants vest ratably over a five-year period and expire in ten years.  The activity described in this Form 4 reflects that Mr. Gale has been granted 9,000 options to acquire 9,000 shares of Provident's common stock under Provident's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.  The entire grant vests on August 7, 2011 and expires in ten years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Richard L. Gale</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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