<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000933136-03-000084
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030916
<FILING-DATE>20030918
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MATTHEWS PHILIP D
<CIK>0001015802
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3140
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14667
<FILM-NUMBER>03900866
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9341 COURTLAND DR
<CITY>ROCKFORD
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>49351
<PHONE>6168665500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9341 COURTLAND DR
<CITY>ROCKFORD
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>49351
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mat248.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-09-16</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>("WM")</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015802</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MATTHEWS PHILIP D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>70 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE #630</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Phantom Stock</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>229.72</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>38.0900</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>229.72</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>687.25</value>
					<footnoteId id="F4"/>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Phantom stock shares acquired under the Washington Mutual, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Certain Highly Compensated Employees (DCP) through deferral of annual retainer.</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>
		<footnote id="F4">Ownership includes a second quarter 2003 dividend in DCP.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Sophie Hager Hume, Attorney-in Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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