The Provident Bank Renews ATM Relationship with United Dairy Farmers

The Provident Bank Renews ATM Relationship with United Dairy
Farmers
Provident ATMs Remain in All UDF Stores 


CINCINNATI, May 4  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Provident Bank announced today
it reached a five-year extension of an ATM operating agreement with United
Dairy Farmers (UDF). Through the agreement, Provident will continue to be the
exclusive provider of ATM services in all 188 UDF stores.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030424/PFGLOGO )

"Our customers appreciate the accessibility of having an ATM in every United
Dairy Farmers location," said Robert Hoverson, Provident's president and chief
executive officer. "Combined with recent initiatives such as longer store hours
and company-wide customer service training, this is another example of our goal
of creating value for our customers."

The operating agreement extends a 10-year relationship between Provident and
UDF. Provident has been the exclusive provider of ATM services to UDF since
1999.

"Provident helped UDF install its first ATM and has provided consistent service
ever since," said David Lindner, UDF's vice president and director of
marketing. "We're proud to continue our relationship with them."

Provident has an extensive network of 480 ATMs throughout Ohio, Kentucky and
Indiana in hospitals, universities, gas stations, grocery stores and sports
complexes. The network includes locations at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores,
Paul Brown Stadium, Great American Ballpark and Riverbend Music Center.
Provident also has two mobile ATMs available throughout the summer at various
festivals, fairs and sporting events in Greater Cincinnati.

Provident also is one of the first banks in the region to have bilingual ATMs.
The bilingual functionality enables Provident to better service and support its
Hispanic customers. Provident has 40 bilingual ATMs throughout Cincinnati and
Dayton.

On February 17, Provident Financial Group and National City Corporation
announced a definitive agreement to merge. The ATM operating agreement with
United Dairy Farmers will continue beyond the close of the sale.

About The Provident Bank

The Provident Bank is the main subsidiary of Provident Financial Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ:PFGI), a bank holding company located in Cincinnati. The Provident Bank
provides a diverse line of banking and financial products, services and
solutions through retail banking offices located in Southwestern Ohio and
Northern Kentucky, and through commercial lending offices located throughout
Ohio and surrounding states. Customers have access to banking services 24-hours
a day through Provident's extensive network of ATMs, Telebank, a telephone
customer service center and the Internet at http://www.providentbank.com/ . At
March 31, 2004, Provident Financial Group had $8.9 billion in loans
outstanding, $9.9 billion in deposits, and assets of $16.7 billion. On February
17, 2004, Provident Financial Group and National City Corporation (NYSE:NCC)
announced that they had signed a definitive agreement for National City to
acquire Provident. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the
second quarter.

About United Dairy Farmers

Founded by the Lindner family in 1940, United Dairy Farmers is still a family
business managed by Robert Lindner, Sr. and his sons Brad, president; Robert
Jr., treasurer; and David, vice president of marketing. In addition to
operating dairy convenience stores, the company manufactures and distributes
branded milk, ice cream and dairy products under the United Dairy Farmers(TM),
Homemade Brand(TM) Premium Ice Cream and Micro Shake(TM) brand names. UDF's
Homemade Brand(TM) Premium Ice Cream is sold in leading grocery chains in
several states as well as in UDF stores.  United Dairy Farmers is also one of
the largest Exxon Mobil gasoline distributors in the U.S.

   For further information, please contact:
   Chris Kemper
   Public Relations Manager
   513.579.2248
   

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DATASOURCE: Provident Financial Group, Inc.



CONTACT:  Chris Kemper, Public Relations Manager of Provident Financial

Group, Inc., [phone], or  



Web site:  http://www.providentbank.com/



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