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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RzF2qRdrIi4JjbdRHmq8R6+G4PBZ9RsmAOklS8XE5YAiteVJrnNc01x30HwfS2mR
 Q/gfvUPD2KoAgk3bwNndEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000944799-03-000001.txt : 20030521
<SEC-HEADER>0000944799-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030520184004
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000944799-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030521

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:			GALEN LOUIS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000944799

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04629
		FILM NUMBER:		03713515

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1901 HARRISON STREET
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5104463405

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORP
		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>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-20</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000944799</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALEN LOUIS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-20</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3272644</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>See Footnotes</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">2,977,644 Shares held as co-trustee w/ Spouse in a Revocable Trust (1983) for their benefit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">82,900 Shares held in a CRT dated 12/20/84 of which he and his wife, Helene Galen, are Trustees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">212,100 held in Louis J. Galen Qualified Terminal Interest Trust, Helene Galen (spouse) Trustee and Helene Galen Beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William C. Nunan on behalf of Louis J. Galen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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