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<TITLE> Form S-8
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<P ALIGN=CENTER>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2001. </P>

                                             <P ALIGN=RIGHT>Registration No. 333-______________</P>
<HR>
                       <CENTER><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B><BR>
                             Washington, D.C. 20549<BR><BR><BR>


                                    FORM S-8<BR>
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
                                      UNDER<BR>
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</CENTER><BR><BR>

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<TD WIDTH=25% ALIGN=CENTER><P>Incorporated<BR> Under the Laws<BR> of Ohio </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50% ALIGN=CENTER><P><B>PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B><BR>One East Fourth Street<BR>
Cincinnati, Ohio  45202 </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=25% ALIGN=CENTER><P>I.R.S. Employer<BR>Identification No.<BR>
         31-0982792
</P>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR><BR>
                                             <CENTER> <B>1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN</B></CENTER>
<BR><BR>

                              <CENTER> <B>Mark E. Magee, Esq.</B><BR>
                         Provident Financial Group, Inc.<BR>
                             One East Fourth Street<BR>
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202<BR>
                                 (513) 579-2861<BR>
                         (Agent for Service of Process)</CENTER>
<BR><BR>


                         <CENTER>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</CENTER>

<BR><BR>
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<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><BR><BR>Title of<BR>Securities
<BR><U>To Be Registered </U><BR>Common Stock,<BR>No par value</P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><BR><BR>Amount<BR>To Be<BR><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Registered(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>
3,000,000 Shares </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P>Proposed<BR>Maximum<BR>Offering<BR>Price<BR><U>Per Share (2)</U><BR>
$30.44 </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P>Proposed<BR>Maximum<BR>Aggregate<BR>Offering<BR><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Price(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
<BR>$91,320,000 </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><BR><BR>Amount of<BR>Registration<BR><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fee(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>
$22,830
</P>
</TD>
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<BR><BR>
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<TD WIDTH=5% ALIGN=CENTER><P>(1) </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=95% ALIGN=LEFT><P>
This  Registration  Statement  is filed for up to an  additional  3,000,000
     shares  issuable  upon the  exercise  of options  granted  pursuant  to the
     Provident Financial Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan.</P>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH=5% ALIGN=CENTER><P>(2) </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=95% ALIGN=LEFT><P>Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.</P>
</TD>
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<TD WIDTH=5% ALIGN=CENTER><P>(3) </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=95% ALIGN=LEFT><P> Calculated pursuant to
Rule 457(h) based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock
on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 14, 2001 at $30.44 per share.
</P>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     The contents of Registration No. 333-28393, as filed with the Commission on
June 3, 1997, are incorporated herein by reference.
</P>
<P>Item 8.  Exhibits*</P>

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<TD WIDTH=5% ALIGN=LEFT><P></P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=15% ALIGN=LEFT><P>Exhibit 4<BR><BR>Exhibit 5<BR><BR>Exhibit 23.1<BR><BR>Exhibit 23.2<BR><BR>Exhibit 24 </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=80% ALIGN=LEFT><P>Provident Financial Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan,
                  as amended<BR><BR>Opinion of Keating, Muething &amp; Klekamp, P.L.L.
<BR><BR>Consent of Ernst &amp; Young, L.L.P.
<BR><BR>Consent of Keating, Muething &amp; Klekamp, P.L.L.
                  (contained in Exhibit 5)
<BR><BR>Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page)
</P>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<HR WIDTH=15% ALIGN=LEFT>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*
All exhibits are filed herewith unless otherwise indicated. </P>

                                  <CENTER> SIGNATURES
</CENTER><BR><BR>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on
May 17, 2001. </P>

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<TD WIDTH=55% ALIGN=RIGHT><P> </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=45%><P> PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.<BR><BR><BR><BR>
By:<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Robert L. Hoverson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert L. Hoverson<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Executive Officer<BR>
</P>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Each person whose signature appears below marked with an asterisk hereby
authorizes Robert L. Hoverson or Mark E. Magee or Christopher J. Carey as
attorney-in-fact to sign on his behalf individually and in each capacity
indicated below, any amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this
Registration Statement. </P>

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<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=40% ALIGN=LEFT><P><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Signature&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR><BR><U>*/s/Robert L. Hoverson
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Robert L. Hoverson<BR><BR><U> */s/Philip R. Myers
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Philip R. Myers<BR><BR><U>*/s/Christopher J. Carey
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Christopher J. Carey<BR><BR><BR><BR><U>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Jack M. Cook<BR><BR><BR><U>*/s/Thomas D. Grote, Jr.

&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Thomas D. Grote, Jr.<BR><BR><BR><U>*/s/Joseph A. Pedoto


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Joseph A. Pedoto<BR><BR><BR><U>*/s/Sidney A. Peerless


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Sidney A. Peerless<BR><BR><BR><U>*/s/Joseph A. Steger


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</U><BR>Joseph A. Steger</P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=40% ALIGN=LEFT><P><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Capacity&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR><BR>Chief Executive Officer and Director<BR> (Principal
Executive Officer)<BR><BR>Executive Vice President<BR>and Director<BR><BR>Executive Vice
President and<BR>Chief Financial Officer<BR>(Principal Financial Officer<BR>and
Principal Accounting Officer)<BR><BR>Director<BR><BR><BR><BR>Director<BR><BR><BR><BR>Director<BR><BR><BR><BR>Director
<BR><BR><BR><BR>
Director </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Date
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR><BR>May 17, 2001<BR><BR>
<BR>May 17, 2001<BR><BR><BR>May 17, 2001<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>May 17, 2001<BR><BR><BR><BR>
May 17, 2001<BR><BR><BR><BR>May 17, 2001<BR><BR><BR><BR>May 17, 2001<BR><BR><BR><BR>May 17, 2001
</P>
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Form S-8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2001.
Registration No. 333-______________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Incorporated
Under the Laws
of Ohio
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio  45202
I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.
31-0982792
1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Mark E. Magee, Esq.
Provident Financial Group, Inc.
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 579-2861
(Agent for Service of Process)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
Securities
To Be Registered
Common Stock,
No par value
Amount
To Be
Registered(1)
3,000,000 Shares
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share (2)
$30.44
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(2)
$91,320,000
Amount of
Registration
Fee(3)
$22,830
(1)
This  Registration  Statement  is filed for up to an  additional  3,000,000
     shares  issuable  upon the  exercise  of options  granted  pursuant  to the
     Provident Financial Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan.
(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(3)
Calculated pursuant to
Rule 457(h) based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock
on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 14, 2001 at $30.44 per share.
The contents of Registration No. 333-28393, as filed with the Commission on
June 3, 1997, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.  Exhibits*
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 5
Exhibit 23.1
Exhibit 23.2
Exhibit 24
Provident Financial Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan,
                  as amended
Opinion of Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L.
Consent of Ernst & Young, L.L.P.
Consent of Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L.
                  (contained in Exhibit 5)
Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page)
*
All exhibits are filed herewith unless otherwise indicated.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on
May 17, 2001.
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By:
/s/Robert L. Hoverson
Robert L. Hoverson
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Each person whose signature appears below marked with an asterisk hereby
authorizes Robert L. Hoverson or Mark E. Magee or Christopher J. Carey as
attorney-in-fact to sign on his behalf individually and in each capacity
indicated below, any amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this
Registration Statement.
Signature
*/s/Robert L. Hoverson
Robert L. Hoverson
*/s/Philip R. Myers
Philip R. Myers
*/s/Christopher J. Carey
Christopher J. Carey
*
Jack M. Cook
*/s/Thomas D. Grote, Jr.
Thomas D. Grote, Jr.
*/s/Joseph A. Pedoto
Joseph A. Pedoto
*/s/Sidney A. Peerless
Sidney A. Peerless
*/s/Joseph A. Steger
Joseph A. Steger
Capacity
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal
Executive Officer)
Executive Vice President
and Director
Executive Vice
President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer
and
Principal Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Date
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001
May 17, 2001