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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
____________________________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 28, 2021
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WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Washington | 001-34654 | 91-1661606 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
425 Pike Street | Seattle | Washington | 98101 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |  | (Zip Code) |

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (206) 624-7930
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class |  | Trading Symbol |  | Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share |  | WAFD |  | NASDAQ Stock Market

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No x

Item 8.01 | Other Events

On January 28, 2021 Moody's Investor Service ("Moody's") issued a press release reporting that it has assigned first-time ratings to Washington Federal, Inc. (the "Company" or "WaFd"), and its bank subsidiary, Washington Federal Bank, National Association ("WaFd Bank" or "Bank"). Moody’s has assigned WaFd Bank an issuer rating of Baa1 and long- and short-term deposit ratings of A1/Prime-1, together with a standalone Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of a3. Moody’s has also assigned long- and short-term Counterparty Risk Assessments of A2(cr)/Prime-1(cr) and long- and short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings of A3/Prime-2 to the Bank. Moody’s also assigned a Baa1 issuer rating at the holding company, WaFd. The ratings outlook for Seattle-based WaFd Bank and WaFd are stable.
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) Not applicable
(d) The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
99.1 Moody's Inv estor Service press release dated J a nuary 28, 2021

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

January 28, 2021 |  |  |  | WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC.
|  |  |  | By: |  | /s/ VINCENT L. BEATTY
|  |  |  |  |  | Vincent L. Beatty
|  |  |  |  |  | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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