DCR Rates Provident Auto Lease ABS Trust 1998-2

31 December 1998

    NEW YORK, Dec. 30 -- Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. (DCR)
has assigned a 'AAA' (Triple-A) rating to the 6.037 percent $135,400,000
Asset-Backed Notes and a 'AA' (Double-A) rating to the 7.010 percent
$6,201,000 Asset-Backed Certificates issued by Provident Auto Lease ABS Trust
1998-2.
    The ratings are based on Provident Financial Group's (Provident)
historical performance, the strong legal structure of the transaction and
credit enhancement in the form of subordination, a reserve fund and
overcollateralization.
    Provident, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, entered the auto leasing
business in January 1994 and has focused on originating indirect auto leases
in the Midwest.  The transaction is Provident's second auto lease-backed
securitization and the second rated by DCR.
    The placement agent for the transaction was Prudential Securities.