8-K

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                          Washington, D.C.  20549

                                  FORM 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       September 25, 2002
                                                ------------------------------



                          Washington Federal, Inc.
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          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




  Washington                           0-25454                     91-161606
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(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                                          Identification No.)




425 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington                                 98101
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(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (206) 624-7930
                                                  ----------------------------



                              Not Applicable
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(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
 report)




Item 5.   Other Events.
          -------------

     Effective September 23, 2002, Roy Whitehead, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Washington Federal, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Washington
Federal Savings was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Washington Federal, Inc.


Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
          ----------------------------------

     (a)  Not applicable.

     (b)  Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits (Exhibit numbers conform to Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

          (99) Press Release, dated September 25, 2002




























                                 SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                   WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC.



Dated: September 25, 2002          By:  /s/ Ronald L. Saper
                                        --------------------
                                        Ronald L. Saper
                                        Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

                                 Exhibit 99
                     Press Release, dated September 25, 2002






















Contact:  Cathy Cooper
Washington Federal Savings
(206) 777-8246

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                          Roy Whitehead Adds Vice Chairman
                         Duties at Washington Federal, Inc.


Seattle - September 25, 2002 - Roy Whitehead has added the responsibilities
of Vice Chairman at Washington Federal, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Washington Federal Savings, announced Guy Pinkerton, Chairman of the Board.
Whitehead, who joined Washington Federal Savings in September 1998,
is a member of the board of directors of Washington Federal, Inc.
and continues as President and Chief Executive Officer of
both entities.

"This is another step in the ongoing management succession plan at Washington
Federal," said Pinkerton. "We continue to enjoy the benefit of Roy's expertise
and look forward to his contributions as Vice Chairman."

Whitehead has 27 years of experience in the industry with both
thrifts and banks. Most recently, he served as Regional Vice President
with Wells Fargo Bank.  Previously, he was President of First Interstate
Bank of Colorado (now Wells Fargo), was Area President for First Union
in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, and spent 13 years in Texas banking,
where he began his career.  He holds a degree in business administration
and finance from the University of South Carolina and is a graduate of
the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking.

Washington Federal Savings provides residential real estate loans,
checking, money market accounts and certificates of deposit through
115 offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona,
Texas and Colorado.  Established in 1917, the Company reported
$7.1 billion in assets and $4.5 billion in deposits as of
June 30, 2002.

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