<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000933136-03-000117
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031103
<FILING-DATE>20031104
<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>SCHULTE WILLIAM D
<CIK>0001077991
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14667
<FILM-NUMBER>03975825
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK
<STREET2>1201 THIRD AVE
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98101
<PHONE>2064612000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1000 SECOND AVE
<STREET2>SUITE 3700
<CITY>SEATTLE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98101
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sch272.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-03</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>("WM")</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001077991</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHULTE WILLIAM D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9601 WILSHIRE BLVD #600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-03</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>2000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>44.3300</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>13171.7600</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">The end-of-month total includes a first quarter dividend in the Washington Mutual (WM) Equity Incentive Plan (as amended and restated as of January 16, 2001).</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Sophie Hager Hume, Attorney-in Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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