Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations. Washington Federal is a Washington corporation headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The Company is a bank holding company that conducts its operations through a federally-insured national bank subsidiary. The Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and investing these funds, together with borrowings and other funds, in one-to-four family residential real estate loans, multi-family real estate loans and commercial loans. As used throughout this document, the terms "Washington Federal" or the "Company" refer to Washington Federal, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries and the term "Bank" refers to the operating subsidiary Washington Federal, National Association.

Use of Estimates. The consolidated unaudited interim financial statements included in this report have been prepared by Washington Federal. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.The significant accounting policies used in preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements are disclosed in its 2013 Form 10-K. Other than as discussed below, there have not been any additions or material changes in its significant accounting policies compared to those contained in its 2013 Form 10-K.

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures – The only material off-balance-sheet credit exposures are loans in process and unused lines of credit, which had a combined balance at June 30, 2014, excluding covered loans, of $528 million. The Company estimates losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures by including the exposures with the related principal balance outstanding and then applying its general reserve methodology.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation are reflected in the interim financial statements. The September 30, 2013 Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition was derived from audited financial statements. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2013 Form 10-K”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.