X0202 4 2004-12-20 0 0001035713 PROVIDIAN FINANCIAL CORP PVN 0001222058 SAUNDERS JOSEPH W 201 MISSION STREET SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 1 1 0 0 President & CEO Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 7200 15.90 D 662800.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 11800 15.91 D 651000.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 3000 15.93 D 648000.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 2900 15.95 D 645100.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 1900 15.98 D 643200.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 2500 16.04 D 640700.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 700 16.05 D 640000.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 6000 16.11 D 634000.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 8400 16.12 D 625600.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 2200 16.17 D 623400.00 D Common Stock 2004-12-20 4 S 0 15066 16.23 D 608334.00 D The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on November 23, 2004. By: Sylvia Yau, Attorney-in-Fact 2004-12-20