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)       January 21, 2004
                                                ------------------------------



                          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 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
          -------------

     (a)  Not applicable.

     (b)  Not applicable.

     (c)  Not applicable.





Item 9.   Regulation FD Disclosure
          -------------

    At Washington Federal Inc.'s annual meeting of Stockholders
on January 21, 2004, the Board of Directors announced a
10% stock dividend.  A copy of the press release announcing
the stock dividend is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1







                                  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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                  WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC.



Dated: January 22, 2004           By:  /s/ Brent J. Beardall
                                        ---------------------
                                        Brent J. Beardall
                                        Senior Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

   1

Washington Federal, Inc.
425 Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98101

Contact:  Cathy Cooper
(206) 777-8246

Wednesday, January 21, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


WASHINGTON FEDERAL DECLARES A 10% STOCK DIVIDEND


SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - The Board of Directors of Washington
Federal, Inc. (NASDAQ -WFSL), parent company of Washington
Federal Savings, at its annual meeting today declared a 10%
stock dividend to stockholders of record on February 6, 2004,
to be distributed approximately February 20, 2004.
This will increase the common shares outstanding to
approximately 78.4 million from 71.3 million, and all
historical per share figures will be adjusted accordingly.
The stock dividend will be accomplished by the distribution
of one additional share for every ten shares held on the
record date by each stockholder.  Cash will be paid for
any fractional shares.

Chief Executive Officer Roy M. Whitehead commented, "This stock
dividend reflects the directors' and management's positive
outlook for the future of the Company.  It is the 19th time
that a stock split or stock dividend has been declared
in Washington Federal's 21-year history as a public company."

On January 23, 2004, Washington Federal will pay a quarterly
cash dividend of $.22 per share to common stockholders of
record on January 9, 2004, which represents the Company's 84th
consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Washington Federal Savings, with headquarters in Seattle,
Washington, has 119 offices in eight western states.