<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000939057-12-000376.txt : 20121221
<SEC-HEADER>0000939057-12-000376.hdr.sgml : 20121221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121221101219
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000939057-12-000376
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Carpenter Judy A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001563549

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28304
		FILM NUMBER:		121279498

	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>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001563549</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carpenter Judy A</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>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-12-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The activity described in this Form 4 reflects that Ms. Carpenter has been granted 20,000 options to acquire 20,000 shares of common stock under Provident's 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. Fifty percent of the grant vests on December 20, 2014, fifty percent of the grant vests on December 20, 2016, and the entire grant expires in ten years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Judy A. Carpenter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
