SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                 REVOCATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  Filed by the Registrant {X}

  Filed by a Party other than the Registrant {_}

  Check the appropriate box:
  {_}  Preliminary Proxy Statement (Revocation of Consent Statement)
  {_}  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
       Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
  {_}  Definitive Proxy Statement (Revocation of Consent Statement)
  {X}  Definitive Additional Materials
  {_}  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                    GREAT WESTERN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                 -----------------------------------------
             (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                -----------------------------------------
 (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

  Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

  {X}  No fee required.

  {_}  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

       (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

       (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

       (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
            pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
            the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
            determined):  _____

       (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transactions:  ______________

       (5)  Total fee paid.
  --------
  {_}  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

  {_}  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
       Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
       paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
       number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

       (1)  Amount Previously Paid: _________________________________________

       (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ___________________

       (3)  Filing Party: ___________________________________________________

       (4)  Date Filed: _____________________________________________________


     [Logo]                                                     [Logo]
     Washington Mutual                                   Great Western


     To Our Customers and Communities:

                             Washington Mutual
                         and Great Western to Merge

     Two weeks ago, Washington Mutual and Great Western announced a
     historic merger agreement to create one of the nation's top
     financial services companies for consumers.  After the merger,
     our company will have assets of over $87 billion, more than 1,000
     locations and serve 4.1 million households nationwide.  In
     Florida, where we will continue to use the Great Western name, we
     will be the state's fifth-largest depository institution,
     continuing to help thousands of people achieve their financial
     goals.  The Washington Mutual/Great Western partnership also will
     allow our company to serve a growing number of Floridians with
     even more innovative products and services.

     This combination means good news for you ...

     Our shared vision of the future and compatible management
     philosophy means ... you will be banking with a strong, focused
     financial institution with long-term staying power and the
     ability to generate and sustain economic growth.

     Our commitment to Florida means ... you will have a true partner
     in the improvement and development of every neighborhood we
     serve.  These tangible benefits will reflect our historic and
     fundamental commitment to low- and moderate-income lending.

     Our clear business strategy means ... you will have access to a
     broader array of quality products and services at competitive
     prices.  More choices mean greater convenience for you today and
     tomorrow.

     Our high regard for talent and experience means ... our employees
     will have opportunities for growth and career development and the
     chance to make a meaningful contribution to you and the
     communities in which we live and work.

     Washington Mutual, recently named by Fortune magazine as the
     nation's most admired savings institution, and Great Western
     together form a company that signals good news for our customers,
     our employees, our communities and the State of Florida.

     We look forward to many opportunities to grow together and to
     serve you better.

     /s/ Kerry Killinger                     /s/ John F. Mahre
     Chairman, President & Chief             President & Chief
       Executive Officer                       Executive Officer
     Washington Mutual, Inc.                 Great Western Financial
                                               Corporation



     Washington Mutual, Inc. ("Washington Mutual") and certain other
     persons named below may be deemed to be participants in the
     solicitation of proxies in connection with the merger of Great
     Western Financial Corporation ("Great Western") and a wholly-
     owned subsidiary of Washington Mutual pursuant to which each
     outstanding share of Great Western common stock would be
     converted into 0.9 shares of Washington Mutual common stock (the
     "Merger").  The participants in this solicitation may include the
     directors of Washington Mutual (Douglas P. Beighle, David
     Bonderman, Herbert M. Bridge, J. Taylor Crandall, Roger H.
     Eigsti, John W. Ellis, Daniel J. Evans, Anne V. Farrell, William
     P. Gerberding, Kerry K. Killinger, Samuel B. McKinney, Michael K.
     Murphy, Louis H. Pepper, William G. Reed, Jr. and James H.
     Stever); the following executive officers of Washington Mutual:
     William A. Longbrake, Deanna W. Oppenheimer, Craig E. Tall and S.
     Liane Wilson; and the following other members of management of
     Washington Mutual:  Karen Christensen, JoAnn DeGrande, William
     Ehrlich, James B. Fitzgerald, Marc Kittner and Douglas G.
     Wisdorf.  As of the date of this communication, David Bonderman,
     J. Taylor Crandall and Kerry K. Killinger beneficially owned
     1,894,141 shares, 6,549,755 shares and 1,044,224 shares of
     Washington Mutual, respectively.  The remaining participants do
     not beneficially own, individually or in the aggregate, in excess
     of 1% of Washington Mutual's equity securities.  

     Great Western and certain other persons named below may be deemed
     to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection
     with the merger of Great Western and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
     Washington Mutual pursuant to which each outstanding share of
     Great Western common stock would be converted into 0.9 shares of
     Washington Mutual common stock (the "Merger").  The participants
     in this solicitation may include the directors of Great Western
     (James F. Montgomery, John F. Maher, Dr. David Alexander, H.
     Frederick Christie, Stephen E. Frank, John V. Giovenco, Firmin A.
     Gryp, Enrique Hernandez, Jr., Charles D. Miller, Dr. Alberta E.
     Siegel and Willis B. Wood, Jr.); the following executive officers
     of Great Western:  J. Lance Erikson, Carl F. Geuther, Michael M.
     Pappas, A. William Schenck III, Ray W. Sims and Jaynie M.
     Studenmund; and the following other members of management of
     Great Western:  Stephen F. Adams, Bruce F. Antenberg, Barry R.
     Barkley, Ian D. Campbell, Charles Coleman, Allen D. Meadows and
     John A. Trotter (collectively, the "Great Western Participants". 
     As of the date of this communication, James F. Montgomery and
     John F. Maher beneficially owned 605,488 shares and 611,762
     shares of Great Western common stock, respectively (including
     shares subject to stock options exercisable within 60 days).  The
     remaining Great Western Participants do not beneficially own,
     individually or in the aggregate, in excess of 1% of Great
     Western's equity securities.

     Great Western has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs")
     and Merrill Lynch & Co. ("Merrill Lynch") to act as its financial
     advisors in connection with the Merger, as well as the merger
     proposal by H. F. Ahmanson & Company, for which they received and
     may receive substantial fees.  Each of Goldman Sachs and Merrill
     Lynch is an investment banking firm that provides a full range of
     financial services for institutional and individual clients. 
     Neither Goldman Sachs nor Merrill Lynch admits that it or any of
     its directors, officers or employees is a "participant" as
     defined in Schedule 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934, as amended, in the proxy solicitation, or that
     Schedule 14A requires the disclosure of certain information
     concerning Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.  In connection with
     Goldman Sachs's role as financial advisor to Great Western,
     Goldman Sachs and the following investment banking employees of
     Goldman Sachs may communicate in person, by telephone or
     otherwise with a limited number of institutions, brokers or other
     persons who are stockholders of Great Western:  Joe Wender, John
     Mahoney, Andy Gordon, Todd Owens and Andrea Vittorelli.  In
     connection with Merrill Lynch's role as financial advisor to
     Great Western, Merrill Lynch and the following investment banking
     employees of Merrill Lynch may communicate in person, by
     telephone or otherwise with a limited number of institutions,
     brokers or other persons who are stockholders of Great Western: 
     Herb Lurie, Louis S. Wolfe, Paul Wetzel, Frank V. McMahon, John
     Esposito, Alex Sun, Christopher Del-Moral Niles and Kavita Gupta. 
     In the normal course of their respective businesses Goldman Sachs
     and Merrill Lynch regularly buy and sell securities issued by
     Great Western and its affiliates ("Great Western Securities") and
     Washington Mutual and its affiliates ("Washington Mutual
     Securities") for its own account and for the accounts of its
     customers, which transactions may result from time to time in
     Goldman Sachs and its associates and Merrill Lynch and its
     associates having a net "long" or net "short" position in Great
     Western Securities, Washington Mutual Securities, or option
     contracts or other derivatives in or relating to Great Western
     Securities or Washington Mutual Securities.  

     As of March 14, 1997, Goldman Sachs held positions in Great
     Western Securities and Washington Mutual Securities as principal
     as follows:  (i) net "long" 9,669 of Great Western's common
     shares; (ii) net "long" $1 million of Great Western's deposit
     notes; and (iii) net "long" 1,980 shares of Washington Mutual's
     convertible preferred stock.  As of March 14, 1997, Merrill Lynch
     had positions in Great Western Securities and Washington Mutual
     Securities as principal as follows:  (i) net "long" 8,800 of
     Great Western's common shares;  (ii) net "long" 1,775 shares of
     Great Western's 8.30% cumulative perpetual preferred stock; and
     (iii) net "long" 1,527 of Washington Mutual's common shares.