<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000933136-03-000047
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030716
<FILING-DATE>20030717
<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>OPPENHEIMER DEANNA W
<CIK>0001057034
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14667
<FILM-NUMBER>03790893
</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>opp149.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-07-16</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>("WM")</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001057034</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OPPENHEIMER DEANNA W</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>Grp Pres, Banking and Fin Svcs</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-06</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>375</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>39.9500</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>103871.0000</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-13</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>150</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>40.1000</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>103721.0000</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-13</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>250</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>40.1000</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>103471.0000</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-13</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>125</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>40.1000</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>103346.0000</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">The reporting person also indirectly holds 8,760.1011 shares in the Washington Mutual, Inc. Retirement Savings and Investment Plan, which includes a first quarter 2003 contribution and dividend.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: By:  Sophie Hager Hume, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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