-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HrY19DdS+yslOyrtxfcUklen9d2HoglhuboXt+peqGZ/wHhbDEfdCR2Expn927xE
 CnhtGDlDurOjIDsdDS4Lcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000944799-04-000003.txt : 20040302
<SEC-HEADER>0000944799-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040302180617
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000944799-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040302
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040302

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:		04643971

	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>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-02</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>GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1901 HARRISON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3146855</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Following the gift of 150 shares, 1,852,855 shares remain held as co-trustee w/ spouse in a Revocable Trust (1983) for their benefit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">81,900 shares held in a CRT dated 12/20/1994 of which Louis J. Galen and his wife, Helene Galen, are Trustees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">212,100 shares held in Louis J. Galen Qualified Terminal Interest Trust, Helene Galen (spouse) and Helene Galen Beneficiary.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">1,000,000 shares held in the Louis J. Galen Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT), of which Louis J. Galen is Trustee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William C. Nunan on behalf of Louis J. Galen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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