-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 4iOG6sW1ddNt9fel+ybs1A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000939057-04-000108.txt : 20040426
<SEC-HEADER>0000939057-04-000108.hdr.sgml : 20040426
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040426160356
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000939057-04-000108
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040426

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010470
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				330704889
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9096866060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUTHRIE DEBBI
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180041

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28304
		FILM NUMBER:		04754273

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9097826188

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3756 CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			RIVERSIDE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92506
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001010470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PROV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180041</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUTHRIE DEBBI</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3756 CENTRAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RIVERSIDE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92506</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.8</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>62125</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Ms. Guthrie has been granted 53,625 options to acquire 53,625 shares of common stock under Provident's 1996 Stock Option Plan.  The grant(s) vest ratably over a five-year period and expire in ten years.  On April 23, 2004, Ms. Guthrie was granted 8,500 options to acquire 8,500 shares of common stock under Provident's 2003 Stock Option Plan.  The grant vests ratably over a five-year period and expires in ten years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Debbi Guthrie</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
