PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC

A Final Word

This coming year, the Bank will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of its founding, serving the great city of Riverside and its surrounding communities. As many of you are aware, Provident was founded by my father, Gordon A. Blunden, in 1956. After he retired in 1990, I had the honor of assuming his place in leading the Company. It is an honor I have held for 35 years. As I reflect on the history of Provident, I am proud of our legacy as a trusted provider of banking services to our communities and, just as importantly, this organization’s dedication to our communities through service and investments. As the great businessman and philanthropist Charlie Munger once said, “Remember that reputation and integrity are your most valuable assets – and can be lost in a heartbeat.” As we look to the next year and beyond, I want to assure you that the team at Provident is determined and dedicated to carrying on this Company’s reputation and legacy, just as we have since our founding. We will not move away from our community banking roots or from serving the families and small businesses of the Inland Empire; moreover, we will continue to celebrate and expand on that heritage.

In closing, I would like to recognize and thank our staff of banking professionals and Directors for their commitment to Provident. We could not operate our business without their loyalty and dedication. I would also like to express my appreciation to our customers, shareholders, and the communities we serve. To all of you, thank you for your continued patronage and support. We recognize that our continued success is inextricably linked to each of you and is dependent upon your ongoing support.

Sincerely,