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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________________
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): August 22, 2024
____________________________________
WAFD, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________________________

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)
____________________________________
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
Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/40th Interest in a Share of 4.875% Fixed Rate Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock |  | WAFDP |  | NASDAQ Stock Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
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. ☐

Item 8.01 | Other Events

On August 22, 2024 press releases were issued by both Kroll Bond Rating Agency ("KBRA") and WaFd, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD) (the “Company”) regarding the KBRA's first-time assignment of ratings to the Company, and Washington Federal Bank (“WaFd Bank”), its bank subsidiary. KBRA has assigned a senior unsecured debt rating of BBB+, a subordinated debt rating of BBB, a preferred shares rating of BBB-, and a short-term debt rating of K2 to WaFd, Inc. In addition, KBRA assigned deposit and senior unsecured debt ratings of A-, a subordinated debt rating of BBB+, and short-term deposit and debt ratings of K2 to WaFd Bank. The Outlook for all long-term ratings is stable.
Copies of these press releases and the KBRA ratings report are attached hereto and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) The following exhibits are being furnished herewith:
99.1 K roll Bond Rating Agency pres s release dated August 22, 2024
99.2 KBRA rating report for WaFd, Inc.
99.3 WaFd, Inc. press release dated August 22, 2024
Important Cautionary Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation statements related to the Company’s ability to close or timely close on the proposed sale described above. These statements are based on management’s current assumptions and are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K, please see the risks and uncertainties identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, and our other reports filed with the SEC and which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions

only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
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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.

August 23, 2024 |  |  |  | WAFD, INC.
|  |  |  | By: |  | /s/ KELLI J. HOLZ
|  |  |  |  |  | Kelli J. Holz
|  |  |  |  |  | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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