-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ABtjtHH/K+4sLLCI6FNBoLpg5snfvHv4172YCDGFJc46G/FK6a3CgqEq39ohTtsF
 Cv+zHg5RmvYwzUuYLq2meQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903028-03-000003.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0000903028-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820193016
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903028-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANDLER HERBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903028

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04629
		FILM NUMBER:		03858937

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1901 HARRISON ST
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5104463420

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
</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>0000903028</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SANDLER HERBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</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="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15012414</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </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">Includes 14,720,090 shares held as co-trustee with Marion O. Sandler in a revocable trust (TR UA 04/09/1984) for their benefit, 289,624 shares held as co-trustee with Marion O. Sandler in several trusts for the benefit of their decendents, and 2,700 shares held as trustee for the benefit of his sister-in-law.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There was no transaction for these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol A. Pulford on behalf of Herbert M. Sandler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----