-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 TlD+hBANgiLHGlcmCTwrVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000933136-05-000274.txt : 20050823
<SEC-HEADER>0000933136-05-000274.hdr.sgml : 20050823
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050823184742
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000933136-05-000274
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050621
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050823
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050823

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEIGHLE DOUGLAS P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001077979
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14667
		FILM NUMBER:		051044612

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		425-462-3155

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUGET SOUND ENERGY, INC.
		STREET 2:		411 108TH AVENUE NE, 15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BELLEVUE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98004-5515

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000933136
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				911653725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 THIRD AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 1500
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2064612000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 THIRD AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bei664.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-21</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-06-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>&quot;WM&quot;</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001077979</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEIGHLE DOUGLAS P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 2ND AVENUE, SUITE 3700</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>311.14</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>311.13</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22568.86</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom stock shares acquired under the Washington Mutual, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) through quarterly deferral of retainer and Board fees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This amendment corrects discrepancies in seven previously filed Forms which incorrectly reported board fees deferred into the DCP due to vendor administrative error.  The Forms, corrected by this amendment under-reported shares of phantom stock issued to the Reporting Person by 1.8833 shares in the aggregate, and were filed on the following dates:  April 20, 2004; October 19, 2004; March 7, 2005; March 15, 2005; April 19, 2005; May 17, 2005; and June 21, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Phantom stock distributed upon payment commencement date selected by the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Christopher J. Bellavia, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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