-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E+dTwStF3ck6AojLXvg6k4YkL9so4uyCMbS2EAhpbXrMYBtp0iFquegRsb4aC0JR
 +tSv3H5r9gPqSjqNZ/Zytg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-10-071784.txt : 20100719
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-10-071784.hdr.sgml : 20100719
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100330173927
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-10-071784
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100330

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000936528
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				911661606
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 PIKE STREET
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066247930

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 PIKE ST
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Correspondence Letter</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">March&nbsp;30, 2010 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Via Edgar </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Christian Windsor </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Division of Corporation Finance </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Re:</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Washington Federal, Inc. </B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Form 10-K for September&nbsp;30, 2009 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>File Number
0-25454 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Windsor: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">We have received your letter dated March&nbsp;2, 2010 and provide below the responses of Washington Federal, Inc. (&#147;Company&#148; or &#147;Washington Federal&#148;) to the comments of the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;Commission&#148;). In addition to these responses, Washington Federal will provide additional information in future filings with the Commission as requested in your letter. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For your reference, we have included the Commission&#146;s comments and the Company&#146;s responses thereto. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended September&nbsp;30, 2009 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Exhibit 13-Annual Report 2009 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations Asset Quality and Allowance for Loan Losses, Pages 6-7 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We note that the amount of impaired loans without an allowance increased 496% from $35,784 at September&nbsp;30, 2008 to $213,274 at September&nbsp;30, 2009 and then
increased 33% to $283,087 at 12/31/09. The general allowance related to these loans increased modestly to 5.6% from $56,303 at September&nbsp;30, 2008 to $59,461 at September&nbsp;30, 2009 and then increased 26% to $75,152 at December&nbsp;31, 2009.
Tell us and revise future filings to discuss the reasons why your general allowance as a percentage of the total allowance has declined and specifically why your general allowance related to these loans has not proportionally followed the levels of
your impaired loans without an allowance. If you have a significant amount of loans measured for impairment based on the collateral value, please disclose the following: </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">How and when updated third party appraisals are obtained and how this impacts the amount and timing of recording the loan loss provision and
charge-offs; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Whether you make any adjustments to the appraisals and why; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Type of appraisals, such as &#147;retail value&#148; or &#147;as is value&#148;; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">How partially charged-off loans measured for impairment based on the collateral value are classified and accounted for subsequent to receiving an
updated appraisal. For example, disclose whether the loans are returned to performing status or whether they remain as nonperforming; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">


<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Typical timing surrounding the recognition of a loan as nonaccrual and recording of any provision or charge-off; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Procedures performed between receipt of updated appraisals to ensure impairment of loans measured for impairment based on collateral value are measured
appropriately; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">How you determine the amount to charge-off; and </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In the event external appraisals are not used to determine the fair value of the underlying collateral or where the appraisal has not been updated,
discuss your processes and procedures for estimating the value of the collateral for those loans. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Provide
us with your proposed disclosures. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The following table shows a summary of impaired loans and the allowance for loan losses: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="76%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>9/30/2008</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>9/30/2009</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>12/31/2009</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">General Allowance</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">56,162</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">59,461</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">75,152</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Specific Allowance</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">28,896</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">107,375</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">115,397</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">85,058</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">166,836</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">190,549</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Gross Loans</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">9,912,672</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">9,387,539</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">9,269,280</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Total Impaired Loans</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">134,438</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">531,817</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">588,829</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Impaired Loans with Spec. Reserve</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">98,654</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">318,543</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">305,742</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Impaired Loans excluded from Specific Reserves per ASC 310 and included in the General Reserve</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">112,089</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">179,557</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Impaired loans without a Specific Reserve or General Reserve per ASC 310-10-35-35</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">35,784</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">101,185</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">103,530</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Loans subject to ASC 450 Reserve (Non-Impaired Loans and Impaired loans excluded per ASC&nbsp;310)</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">9,778,234</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">8,967,811</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">8,860,008</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">General Reserve as % of loans not evaluated under ASC 310</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">0.57</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">0.66</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="right" COLSPAN="1" VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">0.85</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN="1" NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Total impaired loans are
separated into three categories, 1) impaired loans with specific reserves, 2) impaired loans excluded per ASC 310 (these are generally homogeneous single-family residential (&#147;SFR&#148;) loans that have been modified) and 3) impaired loans that
have been evaluated under ASC 310 and determined not to need a specific reserve. Impaired loans with specific reserves have increased by $207,088 from September 2008 to December 2009. Impaired loans excluded per ASC 310 have increased from zero to
$179,557. Impaired loans without a specific reserve have increased by $67,566. As you note, the general allowance as a percentage of total impaired loans has not proportionately followed the levels of impaired loans without an allowance. Management
would not expect the general allowance to track total impaired loans because impaired loans are in the above described categories. However, the general allowance has increased in both dollar amount and as a percentage of loans, directionally
consistent with the trend in impaired loans excluded per ASC 310 and included in the General Reserve as well as asset quality trends. </FONT></P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The total dollar amount of the loans subject to the ASC 450 analysis has decreased and the absolute dollar
amount of the ASC 450 reserve has increased thus causing the increase in the percentage from 57 basis points in September 2008 to 85 basis points in December 2009. The reason for the substantial increase is due to the deterioration in the portfolio
as evidenced by increased charge-offs and delinquencies. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We do have a significant amount of loans measured for impairment based on collateral
values; therefore, our responses to your questions follow: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Third party appraisals are ordered when there is evidence of potential impairment of loans to provide management with an estimated value of the cash
flow that would come from the sale of the collateral. If fair value less selling costs is below carrying value of a loan and the borrower is not able to properly re-margin the loan, then a specific reserve is established to bring the net carrying
value to the fair value less selling costs. A provision for loan losses runs through the income statement to provide or fund the specific reserve in the period the specific reserve is established. A charge off is recorded when a loss on a particular
loan is confirmed. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">All appraisals are reviewed by an in-house appraisal review process for consistency and reasonableness in accordance with applicable regulatory
guidance. If the reviewed appraisal is not deemed to be reasonable, a new appraisal may be ordered. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For unimproved land, we use a discount to the &#147;as is&#148; value to reflect selling costs and current market conditions
</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For residential lot inventory of 5 or more units, the retail appraised value is used, after discounting for market absorption time and selling costs
(also known as Discounted Bulk value). </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For completed vertical construction less than 5 units, we use the retail value less anticipated selling costs and a &#147;sales discount&#148;. For 5
or more units the Discounted Bulk Value less selling costs is used. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">It is extremely rare for the Company to partially charge-off a loan. If circumstances warrant a partial charge-off, the accounting subsequent to
partial charge-off would be determined by the status of the loan before the charge-off. If a loan is non-performing and is partially charged-off, the remaining portion of the loan will continue to be classified as non-performing. However, if a loan
was performing and we had subjectively placed it on non-performing status due to potential collateral impairment, and it is subsequently charged-off to the point that the concern of collateral impairment is alleviated, then the loan is placed back
on accrual and reported as a restructured loan </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">As stated in our Accounting Policy, loans are placed into non-performing status after they become 90 days or more past due or prior to becoming 90 days
past due when it is determined that a probable impairment, including a collateral shortfall on a collateral dependent loan, will occur. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Updated third party valuations are received at minimum on an annual basis for all properties where an impairment has been recognized or when it is
determined that a collateral shortfall may exist on a collateral dependent loan. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews all impaired assets for which a new valuation has not been received, to determine if additional impairment
exists based on market data. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Charge-offs occur when the loss on a loan has been confirmed. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We will revise future filings to provide the table shown above, as well as expanding our related Management Discussion and Analysis, to clarify the different categories of the allowance and the
corresponding loan balances. </FONT></P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Notes to the Financial Statements </U></B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Note A- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Intangible Assets, page20 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please tell us and revise future filings to expand your goodwill accounting policy to disclose your policy regarding testing for impairment between annual tests if an
event occurs or circumstances change that reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. In addition, tell us how you have considered the evaluation of the company&#146;s goodwill as a critical accounting policy.
</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Washington Federal operates as one segment/reporting unit (in accordance with ASC 350, formerly SFAS 142), to which all intangible assets are assigned. Beginning with our September&nbsp;30, 2010 Annual
Report on Form 10K, specifically Note A &#150; Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and the section related to Intangible Assets, we will revise our disclosure to state &#147;Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of businesses acquired
over the fair value of the net assets acquired. The core deposit intangibles and non-compete agreement intangible are acquired assets that lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an
annual basis, <I>however, if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of the Company below its carrying amount, goodwill would be evaluated for impairment on an interim basis.</I> Other intangible
assets are amortized over their estimated lives and are subject to impairment testing when events or circumstances change. If circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable, an impairment charge could be
recorded.&#148; Please note the italicized text which is the revised verbiage addressing the interim goodwill impairment testing. In addition, given the Company&#146;s significant excess of market capitalization over book value, management
determined that the evaluation of goodwill was not a critical accounting policy. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended
December&nbsp;31, 2009 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Item&nbsp;2. Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,
page 19 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We note your disclosure on page 19 that the level of non-accrual restructured loans has increased from $19,660 at September&nbsp;30, 2009 to $30,053 at
December&nbsp;31, 2009. Please tell us the composition of these non-accrual restructured loans by loan type. Tell us and disclose in future filings how modifications impact the timing of the recording of the allowance for loan losses. For example,
discuss whether the largest effect of the loan modification is recorded during the period of the modification or whether the modification has largely been reserved for under your normal reserving methodology. In addition, discuss how the level of
re-defaults of the loan modifications performed thus far is factored into your allowance for loan losses. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The composition of non-accrual restructured loans by loan type is as follows: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="68%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;<FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>December&nbsp;31,<BR>2009</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>September&nbsp;30,<BR>2009</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="5" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(In thousands)</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Single-family residential</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">22,074</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">7,002</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Construction - speculative</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">4,236</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Construction - custom</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Land - acquisition&nbsp;&amp; development</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">6,962</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">7,711</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Land - consumer lot loans</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1,017</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">711</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Multi-family</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Commercial real estate</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Commercial&nbsp;&amp; Industrial</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">HELOC</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Consumer</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#151;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">30,053</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">19,660</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-top:3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The largest effect of any loan modification has largely been reserved
for under the Company&#146;s general reserve methodology as most (73% as of December&nbsp;31, 2009) of the loans being modified are from our single-family residential loan portfolio. The typical single-family loan modification involves modifying the
loan from amortizing to interest only for a period of 6 to 12 months. In addition, we may temporarily reduce the interest rate by up to 200bps for a period up to one year. If any individual loan is significant in balance, the Company may establish a
specific reserve as warranted. Given the typical modification terms described, the financial statement impact is immaterial. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">A loan that
defaults and is subsequently modified would impact the Company&#146;s delinquency trend, which is part of the qualitative risk factors component of the general reserve calculation. Any modified loan that re-defaults and is charged-off would impact
the historical loss factors (&#147;HLF&#148;) component of our general reserve calculation. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The level of charge-offs on our largest loan
category, SFR mortgages, remains relatively low at 26 basis points ($17,896,000 /$6,785,723,000) at September&nbsp;30, 2009. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">4.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Reference is made to the table of the Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses appearing on page 20. The staff notes that although single-family residential loans
make up approximately 72% of the total loan balance, the allocation of the allowance to this loan type is 13% and 11% as of </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">December&nbsp;30, 2009 and September&nbsp;30, 2009, respectively, down from 20% at
September&nbsp;30, 2008. We further note that the coverage ratio-the allowance allocated to the single-family residential portfolio as a percentage of nonaccrual single-family loans &#150; declined from 0.45 at September&nbsp;30, 2008 to 0.16 at
September&nbsp;30, 2009 before increasing to 0.18 at December&nbsp;31, 2009. Tell us and expand future filings to disclose the reasons for the decline in this ratio in the periods presented and explain any trends or changes in credit quality in the
single family residential loan portfolio that impacted the reserves allocated to this pool of loans. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response:
</U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The SFR allowance allocation coverage ratio (i.e., the allowance allocated to the single-family residential portfolio as a percentage of
non-accrual single-family loans) is relatively low in relation to the total allowance allocation coverage ratio due to the relative high quality of the SFR portfolio. The ratio is directly impacted by the quarterly general reserve assessments of the
probable and estimable losses inherent in the portfolio. The assessment is largely driven by historical loss factors (&#147;HLF&#148;). As the majority of our loans are in the single-family residential portfolio (primarily 30 year fixed-rate
mortgages), the HLF related to this portfolio indicate general reserve levels are adequate to absorb potential losses. The primary reason for the relative performance of the SFR portfolio is the underwriting standards employed by the Company, which
include: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Low LTV ratios at origination </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Full documentation of income requirements </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">No option ARM loans </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">No interest- only SFR loans </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">No negatively amortizing loans </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">No 40 year amortizing loans </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">The decline in the SFR allowance allocation coverage ratio from 45 basis points in 2008 to 18 basis points as of December&nbsp;31, 2009 was due to the relatively poor performance of other loan types, specifically land acquisition and
development (&#147;Land A&amp;D&#148;) and speculative construction (&#147;Spec&#148;) loans. This poor performance in the Land A&amp;D and Spec portfolios, as indicated by high charge offs and delinquencies, translated into a significant increase
in the allowance for these categories. It should be noted that the dollar amount of the allowance related to the SFR category has increased in each of the last 3 years. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We do not believe the allocation coverage ratio to be the most meaningful ratio to investors; rather the coverage ratio (allowance/gross loans) per loan type is more meaningful because it shows the trends
by each loan type. The coverage ratio for SFR loans for the periods ending September&nbsp;30, 2008,&nbsp;September&nbsp;30, 2009 and December&nbsp;31, 2009 was .25%, .27% and .36%, respectively. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We will expand future filings to include a discussion on the coverage ratio (allowance/gross loans) surrounding our single-family residential loan
portfolio. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Proxy Statement </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman"
SIZE="2"><B><U>Role of the Compensation Committee, page 17 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">5.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please revise your disclosure in future filings to disclose the members of any peer group used by the Compensation Committee to benchmark compensation levels.
</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Alternatively please explain how you determined that the use of the peer groups that you
discuss on page 18 does not constitute benchmarking. Refer to Item&nbsp;402(b)(2)(xiv) of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-K Compliance &amp;Disclosure Interpretation 118.05. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">During 2009, the Compensation Committee did not target
compensation levels to those of similarly-situated financial institutions &#151; indentified as a broad group of banks and thrifts. Instead, it used the data as points of reference to obtain a general understanding of current compensation practices.
If the Compensation Committee uses peer group data to benchmark in future years, we will modify the disclosure in future filings to identify the members of that group. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Annual Incentive Compensation, page 19 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">6.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">You appear to be using targets to award compensation, for example, as described in the next to last sentence of the first paragraph. In future filings please provide
the actual targets and the company&#146;s performance and explain how those targets resulted in the incentive compensation awarded to the named executive officers. This information should be provided whether the targets were met or not. If you did
not disclose the performance targets because you believed that disclosure of the historical targets would result in competitive harm such that the targets could be excluded under Instruction 4 to Item&nbsp;402(b) of regulation S-K, please provide a
detailed supplemental analysis supporting your conclusion, or confirm that you will disclose the targets in future filings. If you choose to provide a competitive harm analysis, your analysis should clearly explain the nexus between disclosure of
the performance objectives and the competitive harm that is likely to result from disclosure. Refer to Item&nbsp;402(b)(2)(v) of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-K Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 118.04. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">To the
extent applicable, we will disclose target levels, if any, and their relationship to the incentive compensation paid. Depending on the particular targets, the disclosure would read as follows: </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">During 2009, the Compensation Committee established performance targets based on net income of $30 million for the 6 months ended September&nbsp;30, 2009/
and $60 million for the 6 months ended March&nbsp;31, 2009. Because the Company did not reach these goals, no payouts were made under the annual incentive plan. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">7.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In your next filing containing a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, please expand your discussion to identity the specific reasons for any exercise of
discretion by the Compensation Committee. For example, please explain how the Committee determined to award the performance bonus to Mr.&nbsp;Whitehead and how it selected the amount of the award. Similarly, please discuss how the committee
determined the award amounts for the equity compensation paid to the named executives. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">To the extent applicable in future years, we will modify the disclosure in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis more clearly to discuss the reasons for the Compensation Committee&#146;s use of
discretion in awarding a bonus. With respect to Mr.&nbsp;Whitehead, the Compensation Committee decided to award a discretionary cash bonus in recognition of his leadership in successfully completing the First Mutual acquisition. The Compensation
Committee subjectively determined the amount of the bonus taking into account the difficult economic environment in which banks and savings and loan institutions were operating at the time. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Compensation Committee does not base equity awards on any formula or specific target. Instead, the Compensation Committee awarded shares of restricted
stock taking into account its subjective assessment of the individual performance of each executive officer and the anticipated contribution of the executive officer to the attainment of our strategic goals. Based on its familiarity with general
market data, the Compensation Committee also took into account its concern that base compensation levels are below those of competing financial institutions of similar size. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Potential Payments Upon Termination of Change in Control, page 27 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">8.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In future filings, revise this section to discuss all payments that could be made to executive officers upon the termination of their employment. Discuss any changes in
the value of the payments due to the fact that a named executive&#146;s employment was terminated as a result of voluntary or involuntary separation. Similarly, please disclose any differences in payments if the named executive were terminated for
cause or not for cause. Please refer to Item&nbsp;402(j) of Regulation S-K. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response:
</U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We respectfully believe that we already have included the requested information in the section of the proxy statement entitled
&#147;Employment and Change in Control Agreements.&#148; </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Related Person Transactions, page 30 </U></B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">9.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We note the disclosure that banking transactions with related persons were made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with &#147;non-affiliated persons.&#148; Please confirm, and revise future filings to disclose, if true, that any loans were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time
for comparable loans with <B><U>persons not related to the lender</U></B>. Refer to Instruction 4.c. to Item&nbsp;404(a) of Regulation S-K. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Washington Federal&#146;s response: </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We will modify future disclosures to clarify that loans to related persons were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for
comparable loans with persons not related to the lender. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please let me know if you have additional comments after reviewing our responses.
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">As requested, the Company acknowledges the following: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosures in the filing; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the
filing; and </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of
the United States. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Very truly yours, </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Brent J. Beardall </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">EVP/CFO </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Washington Federal </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">206-777-8331 (Phone) </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">206-777-8341 (Fax) </FONT></P>
</BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
