<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.4
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>slp366c.txt
<DESCRIPTION>LETTER FROM JACOBS TO PROVIDENT
<TEXT>

CUSIP No.  743868101                                         Page 29 of 33 Pages

                                                                       EXHIBIT 4


                                 August 16, 2002


Mr. Craig G. Blunden
Chairman, President & CEO
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
3756 Central Avenue
Riverside, CA  92506

         Re:     Demand For Stock Ledger, Stockholder List and Books and Records

Dear Mr. Blunden:

         Pursuant to the applicable provisions of Delaware law, the undersigned
hereby demands an opportunity to inspect during normal business hours the stock
ledger, current list of the stockholders (in alphabetical order, setting forth
the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in
the name of each such stockholder, as of the most recent date available), and
books and records of Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. ("Provident"), and an
opportunity to make copies of or extracts from such documents. I hereby certify
to Provident that I am a stockholder of record of Provident.

         In connection with the foregoing demand, I further demand the
opportunity to inspect and copy the following, updated as of the date of this
letter, all of which should be in the possession of Provident or one of its
agents:

         1.       All daily stock transfer sheets showing changes in the
                  stockholder list referred to in the preceding paragraph which
                  are in or come into the possession of Provident or the
                  transfer agent(s) for the common stock of Provident beginning
                  the day following the date of such list.

         2.       All information in Provident's possession and/or subject to
                  its direction or control and/or which can be obtained from
                  nominees of any central depository system relating to the
                  breakdown of all brokerage and financial institutions holding
                  shares for their customers in street name (including any "13F
                  list") and a breakdown of holdings which appear on the
                  corporate stock ledger under the names of any central
                  depository system (e.g., Cede & Co.).

         3.       A list of the names, addresses and securities positions of
                  non-objecting beneficial owners and acquiescing beneficial
                  owners obtained by Provident from brokers and dealers pursuant
                  to the applicable rules promulgated under the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. If such list is not
                  available as of a recent date, such list should be requested.

         4.       A list of the names and addresses of employee participants in
                  any stock ownership

<PAGE>
CUSIP No.  743868101                                         Page 30 of 33 Pages


                  plan of Provident as of the date of the stockholder list.

         5.       The Pershing/DLJ omnibus proxy list.

         6.       The Philadep omnibus proxy list.

         7.       Any other omnibus proxies produced by ADP for client banks or
                  brokers, listing among other things any respondent positions.

         8.       Any omnibus proxy produced by Bank of New York, or any other
                  bank or broker, listing among other things any respondent
                  positions.

         9.       Any record date information provided by ADP relative to shares
                  held for their clients, and the number of holders at each of
                  their client firms holding shares of Provident.

         I further demand that modifications of, additions to or deletions from,
any and all information referenced above subsequent to the date of the
stockholder list referred to above be furnished to me as and when the same
becomes available to Provident or its agents or representatives. In the event
any or all of the information encompassed by this demand is available in the
form of computer tape or other medium suitable for use by computer or word
processor, I demand inspection and copying of such computer tape or other medium
as well as any program, software, manual or other instructions necessary for the
practical use of such information.

         Foley & Lardner, which is acting as my counsel, or my designated agent,
is authorized to make the above-referenced inspection and receive copies on my
behalf pursuant to the Power of Attorney attached hereto.

         I will bear the reasonable costs incurred by Provident (including those
of its transfer agent(s)) in connection with the production of the information
with regard to which demand is made herein.

         The purposes for requesting such inspection and copying are to
communicate with stockholders and to facilitate a possible solicitation of
proxies in connection with the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

         Under applicable Delaware law, Provident is required to respond to this
request within five (5) business days after receiving this letter. Please advise
my counsel, Phillip M. Goldberg of Foley & Lardner, One IBM Plaza, 330 N. Wabash
Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3608 (telephone number: 312-755-1900) as to when
the items sought will be made available, and in what form.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Seymour Jacobs

                                            Seymour Jacobs
<PAGE>
CUSIP No.  743868101                                         Page 31 of 33 Pages


STATE OF NEW YORK             )
COUNTY OF                     )     ss:
                              )


         Seymour Jacobs, having been first duly sworn according to law, did
depose, swear and say that he is authorized to execute the foregoing Demand for
Stock Ledger, Stockholder List and Books and Records and to make the demands,
designations, authorizations and representations contained therein, and that the
matters contained in the foregoing Demand for Stock Ledger, Stockholder List and
Books and Records are true and correct.


/s/ Seymour Jacobs
Seymour Jacobs



Sworn to and subscribed before me this ___ day of August, 2002.



------------------------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:_______________


<PAGE>
CUSIP No.  743868101                                         Page 32 of 33 Pages


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




STATE OF NEW YORK             )
COUNTY OF                     )     ss:
                              )



         I, Seymour Jacobs, do hereby make, constitute and appoint the law firm
of Foley & Lardner, or any of its designated agents, to act on my behalf, to
inspect and receive copies of the stockholder records of Provident Corporation
requested in the accompanying demand.



                                    By:      /s/ Seymour Jacobs
                                             Seymour Jacobs


Sworn to and subscribed before me this ___ day of August, 2002.



------------------------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:_______________


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