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

<MULTIPLIER>                                                               1,000
       

<S>                                                                  <C> 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                                                   145,550
<SECURITIES>                                                             512,445
<RECEIVABLES>                                                          4,703,917
<ALLOWANCES>                                                             355,789
<INVENTORY>                                                               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          0    <F1>
<PP&E>                                                                    72,399
<DEPRECIATION>                                                            0    <F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         5,802,672
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                     0    <F1>
<BONDS>                                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                                     954
<OTHER-SE>                                                               691,146
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           5,802,672
<SALES>                                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                         859,509
<CGS>                                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                            370,978
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                         175,507
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       116,287
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          196,737
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              77,766
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      118,971
<DISCONTINUED>                                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             118,971
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               1.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               1.23
<FN>
<F1> Non-classified balance sheet
<F2> PP&E shown net
</FN>
        


</TABLE>