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                             Washington Mutual, Inc.
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                                  May 29, 1997

Dear Great Western Stockholder:

I am  writing  to you  today  seeking  your  support  of the  definitive  merger
agreement  between   Washington   Mutual,   Inc.  and  Great  Western  Financial
Corporation.  Our proposed merger is the only transaction that has the unanimous
support  of the board of  directors  and  management  of your  company.  It also
provides the surest and fastest means of maximizing the value of your investment
in Great  Western.  With your  approval at the June 13 special  meeting and with
regulatory  approval  expected in the near  future,  we  anticipate  closing the
transaction as soon as late June or early July.

Over the years, Washington Mutual has implemented a business strategy focused on
profitable  growth  and  creation  of  shareholder  value.  The  success of this
strategy  is  well  documented:  From  April  1990 -- when  our  core  executive
management team came together -- through April 1997, the total cumulative return
on Washington  Mutual's common stock,  including the re-investment of dividends,
was an impressive 788%. This cumulative return exceeded that of every company in
our  peer  group  and was more  than  double  that of the  Standard  and  Poor's
Financial Index.

Meanwhile, we have maintained a focus on financial discipline,  earnings growth,
strong capital levels and high asset quality, while delivering on our commitment
to make our  communities  better  places  to live and work.  It is  within  this
framework that our company has  successfully  completed more than 20 mergers and
acquisitions  since  1987 and that we  entered  into our  agreement  with  Great
Western.

By  approving  this merger,  you will be creating  one of the  nation's  leading
financial services companies and one of the dominant consumer banking franchises
on the West  Coast.  With  operations  from  Seattle  to San  Diego and a strong
presence in the Southeastern United States, our combined companies will be in an
even stronger  position to expand market share and serve an ever growing  number
of customers.

As  chairman  and chief  executive  officer  of  Washington  Mutual as well as a
significant stockholder,  I can assure you that maximizing long-term shareholder
value will  continue to be a driving  force for our  company  once the merger is
completed.  By approving the Washington Mutual/Great Western merger, you will be
ensuring a timely conclusion to this transaction,  as well as creating a company
immediately positioned for growth and success in the years ahead.


                                  Respectfully,



                                   /s/ Kerry K. Killinger