<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 NINE MONTHS ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                                              1,000
       

<S>                                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                         SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                                   142,975
<SECURITIES>                                                             274,069
<RECEIVABLES>                                                          4,985,429
<ALLOWANCES>                                                           409,077
<INVENTORY>                                                               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          0 <F1>
<PP&E>                                                                  75,664
<DEPRECIATION>                                                            0 <F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       6,055,677
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                     0 <F1>
<BONDS>                                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                                  954
<OTHER-SE>                                                             716,602
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                       6,055,677
<SALES>                                                                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     1,435,035
<CGS>                                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                          581,484
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                       343,724
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                     177,437
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        196,737
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           130,858
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    201,532
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           201,532
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             2.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             2.08
<FN>
<F1 Non-classified balance sheet>
<F2 PP&E shown net>
</FN>
        


</TABLE>