SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION



Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


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                             Washington Mutual, Inc.
                (Names of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



    (Names of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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Total Return to Stockholders(1)
From 1/29/89 to 4/30/97

                                  [Line Graph]

                           Washington Mutual Ahmanson

12/29/89                     0.00%                              0.00%
 3/30/90                   -12.24%                             -6.83%
 6/29/90                    -6.91%                             10.28%
 9/28/90                    41.82%                             27.12%
12/31/90                   -32.93%                            -25.18%
 3/29/91                    11.51%                              3.19% 
 6/28/91                    40.92%                              2.92%
 9/30/91                   101.57%                              5.58%
12/31/91                    91.26%                              1.41%
 3/31/92                    85.90%                             -8.42%
 6/30/92                   124.59%                             21.00%
 9/30/92                   124.60%                             15.05%
12/31/92                   191.77%                             18.31%
 3/31/93                   177.89%                             17.23%
 6/30/93                   201.33%                              9.22%
 9/30/93                   258.55%                             26.31%
12/31/93                   220.82%                             26.18%
 3/31/94                   157.66%                              9.85%
 6/30/94                   178.44%                             24.31%
 9/30/94                   177.52%                             38.86%
12/30/94                   132.29%                              8.68%
 3/31/95                   179.15%                             22.77%
 6/30/95                   230.01%                             51.51%
 9/29/95                   275.10%                             76.37%
12/29/95                   311.89%                             85.70%
 3/29/96                   327.32%                             71.58%
 6/28/96                   332.52%                             92.67%
 9/30/96                   492.70%                            101.54%
12/31/96                   534.61%                            135.49%
 3/31/97                   611.13%                            164.98%
 4/30/97                   630.59%                            177.73%


                             WHY WASHINGTON MUTUAL?
                          BOY, THAT'S A HEAD SCRATCHER.


     Just look at the figures.

     Since 1990,  Washington  Mutual has delivered to its  stockholders  a total
return greater than 600%. That's right, more than 600%.

     Take this history of superior long-term performance and combine it with the
fact that  Washington  Mutual  was rated the  number  one most  admired  savings
institution in the country by its peers in Fortune(2) magazine, and you get what
you call a "no brainer."

     These could be a few of the reasons why Great  Western's Board of Directors
chose Washington Mutual to be their merger partner.

                                    [Washington Mutual Logo] Washington Mutual
                                                     The friend of the family.


FDIC Insured
1Source:  Bloomberg Financial Markets.  Return includes reinvestment
of dividends.
2From an article titled "America's Most Admired Companies," Fortune
magazine March 3, 1997.  America's Most Admired Companies and
Fortune Magazine are trademarks belonging to Time, Inc.