<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000933136-03-000038
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030710
<FILING-DATE>20030711
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC
<CIK>0000933136
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6035
<IRS-NUMBER>911653725
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>WA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1201 THIRD AVE
<STREET2>STE 1500
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98101
<PHONE>2064612000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1201 THIRD AVE
<STREET2>SUITE 1500
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98101
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LONGBRAKE WILLIAM A
<CIK>0001057032
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14667
<FILM-NUMBER>03783492
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC
<STREET2>1201 THIRD AVE, WMT 1503
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98111
<PHONE>2064615822
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC
<STREET2>1201 THIRD AVE , WMT 1503
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98111
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lon209.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-07-10</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>("WM")</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001057032</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LONGBRAKE WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>VC Enterprise Risk Mgmt</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-07-10</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>80000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>21.9167</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>956546.9884</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>21.9167</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-07-10</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>80000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>41.9400</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>1999-12-15</value>
			<footnoteId id="F2"/>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>2008-12-15</value>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>80000.00</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>85001.00</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">The reporting person also indirectly holds: 15,519 shares by daughter, 14,860 shares by spouse, 2,277 shares by trust, and 93,025 shares in family foundation.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Grant of option pursuant to the Washington Mutual 2003 Equity Incentive Plan.  One-third vests annually beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: By:  Sophie Hager Hume, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-11</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
