SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) December 21, 2001



                             WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Washington                     1-14667                 91-1653725
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(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File No.)       (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation)                                    Identification No.)


                                1201 Third Avenue
                            Seattle, Washington 98101
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              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:      (206) 461-2000



     Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

     Registrant issued the following press release on December 21, 2001.

       Washington Mutual Receives Regulatory Approval of Dime Acquisition

     SEATTLE - Washington  Mutual,  Inc. (NYSE: WM) today announced receipt from
the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) of approval of the company's  acquisition
of Dime  Bancorp  Inc.  (NYSE:  DME) through the merger of Dime Bancorp with and
into Washington Mutual. The merger is scheduled to close on Jan. 4, 2002.

     Dime stockholders may elect to receive the merger consideration in the form
of Washington Mutual stock, cash or a combination of both. Based on calculations
described in the merger  agreement,  the merger  consideration per share of Dime
common  stock will be either  $35.0884 in cash,  or an exchange  ratio of 1.1232
shares of Washington  Mutual common stock for each Dime share,  or a combination
of both based on the  allocation  resulting  from the elections made by all Dime
stockholders.  Dime  registered  stockholders  who want to  receive  cash in the
merger must return their  election  forms by 5:00 p.m.  EST,  Jan. 3, 2002.  The
final  allocations of cash and Washington  Mutual common stock to be received by
each Dime stockholder will be announced by Jan. 10, 2002.

     Dime's  litigation  tracking  warrants will remain  outstanding  but become
exercisable for shares of Washington Mutual common stock instead of Dime shares.

     Dime stockholders and holders of Dime litigation tracking warrants may find
more information about the merger by accessing  www.dime.com online and clicking
on the button titled "Washington Mutual Dime Bancorp merger update."



     In  connection  with its  merger  with  Dime,  Washington  Mutual  recently
established a ten-year,  $375 billion community commitment which targets funding
to low- and moderate-income borrowers, and minority borrowers, as well as direct
investments  and  other  forms of  support  in  communities  where  the  company
operates,  including the greater  metropolitan New York area. One of the largest
community  commitments of its kind, the ten-year pledge will be implemented with
the assistance and support of a variety of non-profit community partners.

     With a  history  dating  back to  1889,  Washington  Mutual  is a  national
financial  services  company that  provides a  diversified  line of products and
services to consumers  and small- to mid-sized  businesses.  At Sept.  30, 2001,
Washington  Mutual  and its  subsidiaries  had  consolidated  assets of  $223.64
billion.  Washington  Mutual  currently  operates  approximately  2,300 consumer
banking,  mortgage lending,  commercial banking,  consumer finance and financial
services offices throughout the nation.  Washington  Mutual's press releases are
available at www.wamu.com.

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Media Contacts:             Libby Hutchinson              Tom Ducca
                            Washington Mutual                Dime
                              206.461.2484               212.326.6962
                        libby.hutchinson@wamu.net      Duccat@dime.com


Investor Contacts:            Ruthanne King                Bill Burns
                            Washington Mutual                 Dime
                              206.461.6421               212.326.6127
                         ruthanne.king@wamu.net        BurnsW@dime.com




                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.


                                By:      /s/ Fay L. Chapman
                                         Fay L. Chapman
                                         Senior Executive Vice President and
                                          General Counsel

Date:  December 26, 2001