<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000097098
<NAME> PROVIDENT INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> TEMP CASH - MAIN
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2872139133
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2872139133
<RECEIVABLES> 2818632
<ASSETS-OTHER> 42683
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2875000448
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 14460197
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14460197
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2860843651
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2481063189
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1951523337
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (303400)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 2860540251
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 88244062
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (3168883)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 85075179
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (162504)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 84912675
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (74305577)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 14658264291
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (14155742456)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 27018017
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 507841153
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2208753
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5232945
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2993293670
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .029
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.029)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .18
</TABLE>