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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NM1KMdue8tyhjp52RjBevTES+4j8RRUtFUuQnsoTig3JIcfjhilqAEr6nkVGQHiP
 +ltdEgukpkaUZbzlHrfF6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-036977.txt : 20031229
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-036977.hdr.sgml : 20031225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031229212349
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-036977
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031229

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000316770
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				310982792
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE E FOURTH ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135792000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PROVIDENT BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042046
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08019
		FILM NUMBER:		031076485

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135792121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970709
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bci04823_bco2.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000316770</issuerCik><issuerName>PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PFGI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001042046</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>ONE EAST FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDeri
vativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>57500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.79</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5629771</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactio
nAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnote</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>468903</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30801</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnote</value><footnote
Id id="F3" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Series D Preferred</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F4" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F5" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>988200</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>70272</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Great American Insurance Company ("GAI"), 100% owned by
 the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Great American Life Insurance Company, 83% owned by the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Mid-Continent Casualty Company, 100% owned by GAI.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Each share of Provident Series D Preferred stock is convertible into 14.0625 shares of Provident common stock. </footnote><footnote id="F5">Currently exercisable and does not have an expiration date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>American Financial Group, Inc. by /s/ Karl J. Grafe, Assistant Secretary</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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