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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000939057-09-000363.txt : 20091211
<SEC-HEADER>0000939057-09-000363.hdr.sgml : 20091211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091211134004
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000939057-09-000363
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TERNES DONAVON P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180038

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28304
		FILM NUMBER:		091235735

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180038</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TERNES DONAVON P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3756 CENTRAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RIVERSIDE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92506</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>121689</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Direct ownership of 65,719 shares, which includes the 19,500 share restricted stock award granted on August 7, 2008 from the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan that vests on August 7, 2011 and the 12,000 share restricted stock award granted on February 6, 2007 from the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan vesting over a five-year period in equal installments beginning on February 6, 2008; indirect ownership of 8,470 shares in Mr. Ternes' Employee Stock Ownership Plan account; and indirect ownership of 47,500 shares owned by Mr. Ternes' spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Donavon P. Ternes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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