<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001200836-16-000042.txt : 20160122
<SEC-HEADER>0001200836-16-000042.hdr.sgml : 20160122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160122203117
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001200836-16-000042
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160122

ISSUER:		

	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

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRANT DAVID K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187438

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34654
		FILM NUMBER:		161357327
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000936528</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WAFD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187438</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRANT DAVID K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>425 PIKE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arian Colachis, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>lpoadkg.txt
<DESCRIPTION>LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
FOR SECTION 16 REPORTING

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby makes,*
	constitutes and appoints Arian Colachis, General Counsel of Washington*
	Federal, Inc. "the Company", as the undersigned's true and lawful*
	attorney-in-fact "the Attorney-in-Fact", with full power of substitution*
	and resubstitution, with the power to act alone for the undersigned*
        and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any and all*
	 capacities to:

1. Prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's*
   behalf, and submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission "SEC" a*
   Form ID, including amendments thereto, and any other documents necessary*
   or appropriate to obtain codes and passwords enabling the undersigned*
   to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required or considered*
   advisable under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 "the*
   Exchange Act" or any rule or regulation of the SEC;

2. Prepare, execute and submit to the SEC, any national securities exchange*
   or securities quotation system and the Company any and all reports,*
   including any amendment thereto, of the undersigned required or considered*
   advisable under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations*
   thereunder, with respect to the equity securities of the Company, including*
   Forms 3, 4 and 5; and

3. Obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the undersigned's behalf,*
   information regarding transactions in the Company's equity securities from*
   any third party, including the Company and any brokers, dealers, employee*
   benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby*
   authorizes any such third party to release any such information to the*
   Attorney-in-Fact.

        The undersigned acknowledges that:

a) This Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, the*
   Attorney-in-Fact to act at his or her discretion on information provided*
   to such Attorney-in-Fact without independent verification of such*
   information;

b) Any documents prepared or executed by the Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of the*
   undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form*
   and will contain such information as the Attorney-in-Fact, in his or her*
   discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

c) Neither the Company nor the Attorney-in-Fact assumes any liability for the*
   undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirements of Section 16*
   of the Exchange Act, any liability of the undersigned for any failure to*
   comply with such requirements, or any liability of the undersigned for*
   disgorgement of profits under Section 16b of the Exchange Act; and

d) This Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from*
   responsibility for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under*
   Section 16 of the Exchange Act,including, without limitation, the*
   reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

        The undersigned hereby grants to the Attorney-in-Fact full power and*
        authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite,*
        necessary or convenient to be done in connection with the foregoing,*
        as fully, to all intents and purposes, as the undersigned might or*
        could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the*
        Attorney-in-Fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, shall*
        lawfully do or cause to be done by authority of this Limited Power*
        of Attorney.

        This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect*
        until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 4 or 5 with*
        respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in equity*
        securities of the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned*
        in a signed writing delivered to the Attorney-in-Fact. This Limited*
        Power of Attorney revokes all previous powers of attorney with respect*
        to the subject matter of this Limited Power of Attorney.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Limited Power*
        of Attorney as of May 4, 2015.



						____/s/ David K. Grant _

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
