<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                                      5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM THE  CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED   FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF  PROVIDIAN  FINANCIAL  CORPORATION  AND
SUBSIDIARIES  FOR THE THREE  MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                                               1,000
       
<S>                                                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                         MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                                                   123,331
<SECURITIES>                                                             339,737
<RECEIVABLES>                                                          6,843,602
<ALLOWANCES>                                                             547,655
<INVENTORY>                                                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                               0 <F1>
<PP&E>                                                                    91,473
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                 0 <F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         8,526,974
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                          0 <F1>
<BONDS>                                                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                     954
<OTHER-SE>                                                               923,564
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           8,526,974
<SALES>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                         768,872
<CGS>                                                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                            317,106
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                         182,073
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        80,501
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          189,192
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              75,646
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      113,546
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             113,546
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               0.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.78
<FN>
<F1 Non-classified balance sheet>
<F2 PP&E shown net>
</FN>
        


</TABLE>