<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000933136-03-000048
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030715
<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>WILLIS B WOOD JR
<CIK>0001042344
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14667
<FILM-NUMBER>03790896
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>555 W FIFTH STREET SUITE 2900
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90013-1011
<PHONE>2132442140
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>555 W FIFTH STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 2900
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90013-1011
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>woo213.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-07-15</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>("WM")</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001042344</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILLIS B WOOD JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Phantom Stock</value>
			<footnoteId id="F1"/>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>0.0000</value>
			<footnoteId id="F2"/>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-07-15</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>176</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>42.1400</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>1988-08-08</value>
			<footnoteId id="F3"/>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>1988-08-08</value>
			<footnoteId id="F3"/>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>0.00</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>6692.05</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Phantom stock shares acquired under the Washington Mutual, Inc. (WM) Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Certain Highly Compensated Employees (DCP) through Board fee deferral.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Phantom stock exercisable upon reporting person ceasing to be an Eligible Employee in the DCP.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Sophie Hager Hume, Attorney-in Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-17</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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