-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H9KkTILMWAnWWZTbLVQy+2vaZOA4dCc+UYQy14HGPC2jmYjW8MVJj7uHwRBnrF5R
 kiSMTLHsPxVKsJvMCF4NyQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000042293-03-000055.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0000042293-03-000055.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820172917
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000042293-03-000055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000042293
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				952080059
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		STREET 2:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94612-3575
		BUSINESS PHONE:		510-466-3402

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		STREET 2:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94612-3575

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS WORLD FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760806

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS WORLD FINANCIAL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19751124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JUDD JAMES T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001078228
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04629
		FILM NUMBER:		03858698

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5104663420

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94612
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000042293</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GDW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001078228</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JUDD JAMES T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1901 HARRISON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>85.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>85.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-08-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>85.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>85.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-08-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">There was no transaction for these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol A. Pulford on behalf of James T. Judd</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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