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<TITLE>  Form S-8
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2002.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Registration No. 333-<BR>
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 <H4 ALIGN=CENTER>                                                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
                                                        Washington, D.C. 20549</H4><BR>
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                                                               FORM S-8<BR>
                                                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
                                                                 UNDER<BR>
                                                      THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933<BR></H4>
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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P>Incorporated<BR>Under the Laws<BR>of Ohio </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=40% ALIGN=CENTER><P>PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.<BR>One East Fourth Street<BR>CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202<BR>
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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P>I.R.S. Employer<BR>Identification No.<BR>31-0982792<BR></P>
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                                                    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.<BR>
                                                      DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN<BR>
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                                                          Mark E. Magee, Esq.<BR>
                                                    Provident Financial Group, Inc.<BR>
                                                        One East Fourth Street<BR>
                                                        Cincinnati, Ohio 45202<BR>
                                                            (513) 579-2861<BR>
                                                    (Agent for Service of Process)<BR><BR><BR>



                                                    CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE<BR>
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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><BR>Title of<BR>Securities<BR>To Be<BR><U>Registered</U><BR><BR>
Deferred <BR>Compensation<BR>Obligations<BR><BR>Common Stock,<BR>No par Value </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><BR><BR>Amount<BR>To Be<BR><U>Registered(1)</U><BR><BR>$25,000,000<BR><BR><BR><BR>500,000 Shares<BR><BR>
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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P>Proposed<BR>Maximum<BR>Offering<BR>Price<BR><U>Per Share(2)</U><BR><BR>$1<BR><BR><BR><BR>$28.47<BR><BR>
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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P>Proposed<BR>Maximum<BR>Aggregate<BR>Offering<BR><U>Price(2)</U><BR><BR>$25,000,000<BR><BR><BR><BR>$14,235,000<BR><BR>
</P>
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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><P><BR>Amount<BR>of<BR>Registration<BR><U>Fee(3)</U><BR><BR>$2,300<BR><BR><BR><BR>$1,310<BR><BR>
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<TD WIDTH=5%>(1)</TD>
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This Registration Statement is filed for up to $25,000,000 in additional
Deferred Compensation Obligations and an additional 500,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable pursuant to the Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred
Compensation Plan, as Amended and Restated effective January 1, 2001.</TD>
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Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
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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 March 22, 2002 at
$28.47 per share.</TD>
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         <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The contents of Registration Statement No. 333-17185, as filed with the Commission on December 3, 1996, and Registration
Statement No. 33-61576, as filed with the Commission on April 23, 1993, are incorporated herein by reference.</P>


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<TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=LEFT><P>Item 8. Exhibits*<BR><BR>Exhibit 4.1<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Exhibit 4.2<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Exhibit 4.3<BR><BR><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><BR><BR>Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (formerly known as the
                             Provident Bancorp, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan) (incorporated by reference to
                             Provident's Form S-8, File No. 33-61576, filed with the Commission on April 23,
                             1993)<BR><BR>

               Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as Amended and
                             Restated effective January 1, 1996 (formerly known as the Provident Bancorp.,
                             Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as Amended and Restated effective January 1,
                             1996) (incorporated by reference to Provident's Form S-8, File No. 333-17185,
                             filed with the Commission on December 3, 1996)<BR><BR>

                Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as Amended and
                             Restated effective as of January 1, 2001 (incorporated by reference to
                             Provident's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)<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)<BR><BR>
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<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<HR ALIGN=LEFT WIDTH=30%><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*All exhibits are filed herewith unless otherwise indicated.<BR><BR>


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<CENTER>                                                              SIGNATURES</CENTER>

<P>&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 March 27, 2002.</P>

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<TD WIDTH=60% ALIGN=RIGHT><P> </P></TD>
<TD WIDTH=40% ALIGN=LEFT><P>PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.<BR><BR><BR>
                                                              By:<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Robert L. Hoverson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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
</P>
</TD>
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<P>&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.
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<TD WIDTH=30% ALIGN=LEFT><P><U>Signature</U><BR><BR><BR><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Robert L. Hoverson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Robert L. Hoverson <BR><BR><BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Christopher J. Carey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Christopher J. Carey <BR><BR><BR><BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Jack M. Cook&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>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Thomas D. Grote, Jr.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Thomas D. Grote, Jr. <BR><BR><BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Philip R. Myers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Philip R. Myers <BR><BR><BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Joseph A. Pedoto&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Joseph A. Pedoto <BR><BR><BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Sidney A. Peerless&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Sidney A. Peerless <BR><BR><BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;*/s/ Joseph A. Steger&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>Joseph A. Steger <BR><BR><BR></P></TD>

<TD WIDTH=30% ALIGN=LEFT><P><U>Capacity</U><BR><BR><BR>Chief Executive Officer<BR>and Director (Principal<BR>
                                               Executive Officer)<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<BR><BR><BR><BR>Director</P></TD>

<TD WIDTH=30% ALIGN=LEFT><P><U>Date</U><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>
March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>March 27, 2002<BR><BR><BR><BR>

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Form S-8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2002.         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
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION 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
Deferred
Compensation
Obligations
Common Stock,
No par Value
Amount
To Be
Registered(1)
$25,000,000
500,000 Shares
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share(2)
$1
$28.47
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(2)
$25,000,000
$14,235,000
Amount
of
Registration
Fee(3)
$2,300
$1,310
(1)
This Registration Statement is filed for up to $25,000,000 in additional
Deferred Compensation Obligations and an additional 500,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable pursuant to the Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred
Compensation Plan, as Amended and Restated effective January 1, 2001.
(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 March 22, 2002 at
$28.47 per share.
The contents of Registration Statement No. 333-17185, as filed with the Commission on December 3, 1996, and Registration
Statement No. 33-61576, as filed with the Commission on April 23, 1993, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. Exhibits*
Exhibit 4.1
Exhibit 4.2
Exhibit 4.3
Exhibit 5
Exhibit 23.1
Exhibit 23.2
Exhibit 24
Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (formerly known as the
                             Provident Bancorp, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan) (incorporated by reference to
                             Provident's Form S-8, File No. 33-61576, filed with the Commission on April 23,
                             1993)
Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as Amended and
                             Restated effective January 1, 1996 (formerly known as the Provident Bancorp.,
                             Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as Amended and Restated effective January 1,
                             1996) (incorporated by reference to Provident's Form S-8, File No. 333-17185,
                             filed with the Commission on December 3, 1996)
Provident Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as Amended and
                             Restated effective as of January 1, 2001 (incorporated by reference to
                             Provident's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
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 March 27, 2002.
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/ Christopher J. Carey
Christopher J. Carey
*/s/ Jack M. Cook
Jack M. Cook
*/s/ Thomas D. Grote, Jr.
Thomas D. Grote, Jr.
*/s/ Philip R. Myers
Philip R. Myers
*/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
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer
and Principal
                                               Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Date
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002
March 27, 2002