-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CyGyoXrKq9fsKgU9HiQKF+pSUNZjISHD6548VOtSyYZGE8LkBNjhIFYt6hdB7I/9
 F/zwjwPS28dIj6yZcPmuwA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000933136-03-000168.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0000933136-03-000168.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218114045
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000933136-03-000168
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000933136
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				911653725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 THIRD AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 1500
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2064612000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 THIRD AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MURPHY MICHAEL K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001077987

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14667
		FILM NUMBER:		031061555

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 3366
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99220
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2063226500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 SECOND AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3700
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mur298.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>("WM")</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001077987</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MURPHY MICHAEL K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5111 EAST BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Phantom Stock</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>221.02</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>39.5900</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F4"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>221.02</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>6451.34</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>39.5300</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>5000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F5"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-12-16</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>5000.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>5000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Phantom stock shares acquired under the Washington Mutual, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Certain Highly Compensated Employees (DCP) through deferral of annual retainer.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Phantom stock exercisable upon reporting person ceasing to be an Eligible Employee in the DCP.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F4">Phantom stock exercisable upon reporting person ceasing to be an Eligible Employee in the DCP.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F5">Grant of option pursuant to the Washington Mutual, Inc. 2003 Equity Incentive Plan.  The option vests on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /s/ Sophie Hager Hume, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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