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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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 YjU1K3DgnpKQRiCFgzfaOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-036979.txt : 20031229
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-036979.hdr.sgml : 20031225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031229212916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-036979
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031217
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:		031076492

	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_bco1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-17</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
vativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>197239</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.36</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnote</value><footnoteId id="F1" /><footnoteId id="F5" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransacti
onAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5572271</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>468903</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footno
te</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></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><footnoteId id="F4" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Series D Preferred</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F6" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F7" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F7" /></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="F3" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On December 17, 2003, the Reporting Person sold its remaining posistion in Infinity Property &amp; Casualty Corporation ("Infinity") in an underwritten public offering.  At the time of that sale, Infinity benefically owned 197,239 shares of Provident Financial Group, Inc. ("Provident") common stock.  As a result, the Reporting Person's beneficial ownership of Provident common stock was reduced by 197,239 shares, representing the elimination of the Reporting Person's indirect interest through Infinity.  The average of the high and low sales price of Provident common stock on December 17, 2003 was $31.36.</footnote><foot
note id="F2">Great American Insurance Company ("GAI"), 100% owned by the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Great American Life Insurance Company, 83% owned by the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Mid-Continent Casualty Company, 100% owned by GAI.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Infinity Property &amp; Casualty Corporation, formerly a subsidiary of the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Each share of Provident Series D Preferred stock is convertible into 14.0625 shares of Provident common stock.</footnote><footnote id="F7">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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