Provident says credit card unit's performance slightly above expectations

(Reuters) - Subprime lender Provident Financial said on Wednesday its credit card business Vanquis Bank, which has been a driver of profit, performed modestly above expectations in the fourth quarter, partly due to tight cost control.The company, which provides credit to people who do not meet the lending criteria of mainstream banks, has been growing its customer numbers since fending off smaller rival Non-Standard Finance's takeover bid last year. NSF, on the other hand, has struggled with..