8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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): September 21, 2005

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

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

1201 THIRD AVENUE, WMT 1601
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON  98101
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

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

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)Exhibits.

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits relate to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-109921) of the Registrant and are filed herewith for incorporation by reference in such Registration Statement.

Exhibit	Description
1.1	Underwriting Agreement dated September 21, 2005
4.1	Form of Note for Washington Mutual’s Floating Rate Notes due September 17, 2012
4.2	Form of Note for Washington Mutual’s 5.25% Notes due September 15, 2017
5.1	Opinion of Heller Ehrman LLP

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: September 23, 2005		WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.
	By:	/s/ Thomas W. Casey
		Thomas W. Casey
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

$1,250,000,000

Washington Mutual, Inc.

$500,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due September 17, 2012

$750,000,000 5.25% Notes due September 15, 2017

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

September 21, 2005

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1.Introductory.  Washington Mutual, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell (i) $500,000,000 principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due September 17, 2012 (the “Floating Rate Notes”) and (ii) $750,000,000 principal amount of its 5.25% Notes due September 15, 2017 (the “5.25% Notes” and, together with the Floating Rate Notes, the “Offered Securities”) to be issued under an indenture, dated as of August 10, 1999 (as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated August 1, 2002 and a second supplemental indenture dated as of November 20, 2002, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Company hereby agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters”) as follows:

2.Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

(a)  Registration statement (No. 333-109921), including a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and has become effective.  Such registration statement, as amended at the time of this Agreement, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”, and the prospectus included therein, as supplemented to reflect the terms of the Offered Securities and the terms of offering thereof, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), including all material incorporated by reference therein, is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus”. No document has been or will be prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule 434 under the Act.

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(b)  On its effective date, the Registration Statement conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “Rules and Regulations”) and did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and on the date of this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus conformed in all respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and neither document will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions from any of such documents based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein.

(c)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation under the laws of the State of Washington, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification.

(d)  Each of Washington Mutual Bank, Washington Mutual Bank, fsb and New American Capital, Inc. (each, a “Significant Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated and is a validly existing corporation or depository institution in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for such failure to qualify which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”); the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free from liens, encumbrances and defects.

(e)  The Company has been duly registered as a savings and loan holding company under the applicable provisions of the Home Owners’ Loan Act; the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all laws administered by and regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the Office of Thrift Supervision and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority (the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”) with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than where such failures to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Bank Regulatory Authority which restricts materially the conduct of its business, or in any manner relates to its capital adequacy, its credit policies or its management, nor have any of them been advised by any Bank Regulatory Authority that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree, agreement,

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memorandum of understanding, extraordinary supervisory letter, commitment letter or similar submission, or any such board resolutions.

(f)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Offered Securities registered thereby; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized; and when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined below), such Offered Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Indenture and such Offered Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(g)  No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under state securities laws.

(h)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture and this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any of their properties, (ii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject, except for such breach, violation or default which would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; and the Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.

(i)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(j)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and except for such failure that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, encumbrances and defects that would affect the value thereof or interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus and except for such failure that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries hold all leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.

(k)  The conditions for use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.

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(l)  The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure to so possess would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m)  No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that might individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n)  The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “intellectual property rights”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Indenture or this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated.

(p)  The financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.

(q)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

(r)  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(s)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, which insurance is in amounts and insures against

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such losses and risks as are prudent and customary in the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance.

(t)  None of the proceeds of the sale of the Securities will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Securities to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board.

(u)  The Company maintains (i) effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(v)  Based on its evaluation of its internal controls over financial reporting, the Company is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

3.Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities.  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, (i) at a purchase price of 99.650% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest from September 26, 2005 to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) the respective principal amounts of the Floating Rate Notes set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto and (ii) at a purchase price of 98.912% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest from September 26, 2005 to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) the respective principal amounts of the 5.25% Notes set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.

The Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price of the Offered Securities in the form of one or more permanent global Securities (the “Global Securities”) deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Interests in any permanent Global Securities will be held only in book-entry form through DTC, except in the limited circumstances described in the Prospectus. Payment for the Offered Securities shall be made by the Underwriters in federal (same day) funds, by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of Washington Mutual, Inc. at their office at 10 A.M., (New York time), on September 26, 2005, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “Closing Date”, against delivery to the Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global Securities representing all of the Offered Securities. The Global Securities will be made available

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for checking at the office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006, at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

4.Offering by Underwriters.  It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

5.Certain Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that it will furnish to counsel for the Underwriters one signed copy of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, in the form it became effective and of all amendments thereto and that, in connection with each offering of Offered Securities:

(a)  The Company will file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) not later than the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(b)  The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and will afford the Representatives a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such proposed amendment or supplement; and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of the filing of any such amendment or supplement and of the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

(c)  If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company promptly will notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance.  Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof.

(d)  As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months after the date of this Agreement, the Company will make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the later of (i) the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities, (ii) the effective date of the most recent post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to become effective prior to the date of this Agreement and (iii) the date of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission prior to the date of this Agreement, which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

(e)  The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any related preliminary prospectus, any related preliminary prospectus supplement, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as

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soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.  The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

(f)  The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale and the determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution, provided that the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be obligated to qualify as foreign corporations in any jurisdiction in which they are not so qualified or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

(g)  During the period of five years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended  (the “Exchange Act”) or mailed to stockholders.

(h)  The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, for any filing fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, for any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities, for any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities and for expenses incurred in distributing the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement or any other amendments or supplements to the Prospectus to the Underwriters.

(i)  The Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating todebt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives for a period beginning at the date of this Agreement and ending at the later of the Closing Date or the lifting of trading restrictions by the Representatives.

6.Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters.  The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a)  On or prior to the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the date of delivery thereof, of Deloitte & Touche LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating to the effect that:

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(i)  in their opinion the consolidated financial statements examined by them and included in the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the related published Rules and Regulations;

(ii)  they have performed the procedures specified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial information as described in Statement of Auditing Standards No. 100, Interim Financial Information, as amended, on any unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in the Registration Statement;

(iii)  on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest available unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company, inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

(A) the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, if any, and any summary financial statements included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations or any material modifications should be made to such unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and summary financial statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States;

(B) if any unaudited “capsule” information is contained in the Prospectus, the unaudited consolidated net sales, net operating income, net income and net income per share amounts or other amounts constituting such “capsule” information and described in such letter do not agree with the corresponding amounts set forth in the unaudited consolidated financial statements or were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with that of the corresponding amounts in the audited statements of income;

(C) at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date not more than three business days prior to the date of the such letter, there was any change in the number of common shares outstanding or any increase in other borrowings of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants, there was any decrease in stockholders’ equity or the combined balance of cash and cash equivalents, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements, and available-for-sale securities of the Company, as compared with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included in the Prospectus; or

(D) for the period from the closing date of the latest income statement included in the Prospectus to the closing date of the latest available income statement read by such accountants there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year and with the period of corresponding length ended the date of the latest income statement included in the Prospectus, in consolidated net interest income, net income, the combined balance of net income

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before taxes and total interest expense, net income per share, or diluted net income per share;

except in all cases set forth in clauses (C) and (D) above for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

(iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial information contained in the Prospectus (in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries subject to the internal controls of the Company’s accounting system or are derived directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information to be in agreement with such results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.

All financial statements and schedules included in material incorporated by reference into the Prospectus shall be deemed included in the Prospectus for purposes of this subsection.

(b)  The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) of this Agreement.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

(c)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii)  any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would, in the judgment of the Representatives, be likely to prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or distribution of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any material suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (v) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vi) any major disruption of settlements of securities or clearance services in the United States or (vii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak,

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escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.

(d)  The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Heller Ehrman LLP, counsel for the Company, in the form satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:

(i)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation under the laws of the State of Washington, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;

(ii)  The Significant Subsidiaries have been duly incorporated and are existing corporations or depository institutions in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdiction, with corporate power and authority to own their properties and conduct their business as described in the Prospectus;

(iii)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized and issued by the Company, and assuming due authentication thereof by the trustee under the Indenture and upon payment and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding; the Indenture and the Offered Securities constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and the Offered Securities conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

(iv)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) in connection with the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under state securities laws;

(v)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture or this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) any statute, any rule or regulation of any governmental agency or body or, to such counsel’s knowledge, any order or judgment of any court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, (ii) pursuant to any agreement listed as an exhibit to the Company’s reports filed by the company pursuant to the Exchange Act, or (iii) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Significant  Subsidiary, and the Company has full corporate power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;

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(vi)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in such opinion on the date specified therein, and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act, and the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the date of this Agreement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations; such counsel have no reason to believe that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, as of the date of this Agreement or as of the Closing Date, or any amendment thereto, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of the date of this Agreement or as of the Closing Date, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the descriptions in the Registration Statement and Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown; and such counsel do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required to be described in the Prospectus which are not described as required or of any contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described and filed as required; it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial data contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus;

(vii)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; and

(viii) The Company is duly registered as a savings and loan holding company under the applicable provisions of the Home Owners’ Loan Act.  To such counsel’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Bank Regulatory Authority which restricts materially the conduct of its business, or in any manner relates to its capital adequacy, its credit policies or its management, nor have any of them been advised by any Bank Regulatory Authority that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding, extraordinary supervisory letter, commitment letter or similar submission, or any such board resolutions.

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(e)  The Representatives shall have received from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Closing Date, with respect to the validity of the Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.  In rendering such opinion, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP may rely as to matters governed by Washington law upon the opinion of Heller Ehrman LLP referred to above.

(f)  The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by the Commission and that, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus or as described in such certificate.

The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably request.  The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of the Closing Date or otherwise.

7.  Indemnification and Contribution.

(a)  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus or preliminary prospectus supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, (i) that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below; and provided, further, that with respect to any untrue

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statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any preliminary prospectus the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Offered Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Offered Securities was required to be delivered by such Underwriter under the Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Offered Securities to such person, a copy of the Prospectus (exclusive of material incorporated by reference) if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter.

(b)  Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus or preliminary prospectus supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figures appearing in the second paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the information contained in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above.  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

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(d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e)  The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the Company, to each officer of the Company who has signed the Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

8.  Default of Underwriters.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase the Offered Securities hereunder on the Closing Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of the Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of the Offered Securities that the

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Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, or the Company, except as provided in Section 9. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

9.  Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect, and if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of Section 6(c), the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

10.  Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to the Representatives, c/o Lehman Brothers Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Dept Capital Markets, Financial Institutions Group; fax number (212) 507-2409, with a copy to the General Counsel at the same address, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to it at Washington Mutual, Inc., 1202 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98103, Attention: Fay Chapman (fax: 206-461-5739) with a copy to David R. Wilson, Heller Ehrman LLP, 701 5^th Avenue, Suite 6100, Seattle, WA 98104-7098 (fax: 206-447-0849); provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.

11.  Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

12.  Representation of Underwriters.  The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives jointly or severally will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

13.  No Fiduciary Duty.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of the Offered Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters.  Additionally, neither of

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the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person, including, without limitation, as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction.  The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.  The Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company.  The Company hereby waives any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

14.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

15.  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

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If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,
	WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.
		By	/s/ Robert J. Williams
		Robert J. Williams
		Treasurer

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters
By LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By	/s/ Martin Goldberg
Authorized Representative

SCHEDULE A

Underwriter	Principal Amount of:
	Floating Rate Notes		5.25% Notes
Lehman Brothers Inc. ......................................		225,000,000		337,500,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. .............................		175,000,000		262,500,000
ABN AMRO Incorporated...............................		20,000,000		30,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc. .......................................		20,000,000		30,000,000
Bear, Stearns $ Co. Inc. ..................................		20,000,000		30,000,000
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. ...........................		20,000,000		30,000,000
UBS Securities LLC........................................		20,000,000		30,000,000
Total.....................		$500,000,000		$750,000,000

A-1

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

UNLESS THIS SECURITY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE TO BE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY AMOUNT PAYABLE THEREUNDER IS MADE PAYABLE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR CERTIFICATED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAMES OF THE VARIOUS BENEFICIAL HOLDERS HEREOF AS THEN CERTIFIED TO THE COMPANY BY THE DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.

FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

No. 1 $500,000,000

CUSIP:  939322 AU 7

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC., a Washington corporation (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term shall refer to such Company until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture referred to herein and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of FIVE HUNDRED MILLION ($500,000,000) on September 17, 2012 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 4.36063% per annum (the “Initial Interest Rate”) from and including September 26, 2005 (the “Original Issue Date”) to but excluding December 17, 2005 and thereafter at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR (as defined below) plus 0.40% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment, quarterly in arrears on March 17, June 17, September 17 and December 17 of each year (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on December 19, 2005, and ending on the Maturity Date.  Interest will be computed based on an actual/360 day count basis.  Interest payments for this Security shall include accrued interest from and including the Original Issue Date or from and including the last date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, to

but excluding the Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date (except as described below), as the case may be.

If any Interest Payment Date, other than the Maturity Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined below), the interest payment shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except if that Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of interest and principal on this Security shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after the Maturity Date.

The rate of interest on this Security shall be reset quarterly (the “Interest Reset Period,” and the first day of each Interest Reset Period being an “Interest Reset Date”). The Interest Reset Dates shall be March 17, June 17, September 17 and December 17 of each year; provided that the interest rate in effect from the Original Issue Date to but excluding the first Interest Reset Date shall be the Initial Interest Rate.  If any Interest Reset Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined below), the Interest Reset Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except if that Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

As used herein, “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York and London, England.

The Bank of New York is the “Calculation Agent” for this Security. Upon the request of the Holder of this Security, the Calculation Agent shall provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that shall become effective on the next Interest Reset Date.

The Calculation Agent shall determine the Initial Interest Rate on the second London banking day preceding the Original Issue Date and interest rate for each succeeding Interest Reset Period by reference to LIBOR on the second London banking day preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date (each such day, an “Interest Determination Date”). “London bankin g day” means any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

“LIBOR” shall be determined by the Calculation Agent as follows:

(i)  As of an Interest Determination Date, LIBOR shall be the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period of three months, commencing on the related Interest Reset Date, that appears on Page 3750, or any successor page, on Moneyline Telerate Inc., or any successor service, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Int erest Determination Date.

(ii)  If no rate so appears, then the Calculation Agent shall request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent after consultation with the Issuer, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period of three months, commencing on the

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related Interest Reset Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, LIBOR determined on such Interest Determination Date shall be the arithmetic mean of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR shall be determined for the related Interest Reset Date as the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that Interest Reset Date, by three major banks in New York City, as selected by the Calculation Agent after consultation with the Issuer, for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, for a period of three months, commencing on the related Interest Reset Date, and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth above, LIBOR for such Interest Determination Date shall remain LIBOR for the immediately preceding Interest Reset Period, or, if there was no such Interest Reset Period, the rate of interest payable shall be the Initial Interest Rate.

Accrued interest on this Security shall be calculated by multiplying the principal amount hereof by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest factor shall be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to that day by 360. The interest rate in effect on any Interest Reset Date shall be the applicable rate as reset on that date. The interest rate applicable to any other day is the interest rate from the immediately preceding Interest Reset Date, or if none, the Initial Interest Rate. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of the rate of interest on this Registered Global Security shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (with .000005% rounded up to .00001%), and all U.S. dollar amounts used in or resulting from these calculations shall be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent rounded upward).

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be (in each case whether or not a Business Day) the March 2, June 2, September 2 and December 2, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on this Security will be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York, or at such other office or agency that the Company will maintain for that purpose in New York City, in such coin or currency of the

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United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

This security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of August 10, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee or trustees under the Indenture) as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated August 1, 2002 and a second Supplemental Indenture dated November 20, 2002 (herein called the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in initial aggregate principal amount to $500,000,000.  The Company may, without the consent of the Holder of this Security, issue additional securities of this series (“Additional Securities”), having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the public offering price and issue date) as this Security, provided that such Additional Securities do not have, for purposes of U.S. federal income taxation, a greater amount of original issue discount than this Security has as of the date of issue of such Additional Securities.  Any Additional Securities, together with this and all other outstanding Securities of this series, will constitute a single series of securities under the Indenture.  No Additional Securities may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred with respect to this series of Securities.

Each Holder of the Securities, by the acceptance thereof, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture. The Securities may not be redeemed by the Company prior to maturity.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared immediately due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected (acting as one class).  The Indenture also provides that, regarding the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a Majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of such series may waive certain past defaults and their consequences on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

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As provided in the Indenture, the Company shall be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Securities of any series when (1) with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as a trust fund specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in an amount as will, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations as will, together with the predetermined and certain income to accrue thereon without consideration of any reinvestment thereof, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) as will (in a written opinion with respect to (ii) or (iii) of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee), be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the Stated Maturity; and (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all such conditions precedent have been complied with; and (4) the Company has delivered to the Trustee (i) a ruling directed to the Company and the Trustee from the United States Internal Revenue Service to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result thereof and will be subject to Federal income tax as if such option had not been exercised or (ii) an opinion of Counsel to the same effect and based upon a change in law.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein and in the Indenture provided; subject, however, to the provisions for the discharge of the Company from its obligations under the Securities upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph or in the Indenture.

As provided in the Indenture, upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the predecessor corporation is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall be substituted for the predecessor corporation with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company.  Thereafter the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of the performance and observance of all obligations and covenants of the Indenture and the Securities, including but not limited to the obligation to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on all the Securities then Outstanding, and, in the event of any such conveyance, transfer or lease, may be liquidated and dissolved.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security are payable, when duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in

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writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency as described above.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

As provided in the Indenture, no recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or the interest, if any, on this Security, or any part hereof, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or of the indebtedness represented hereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture, against any incorporator, direct or indirect stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation (either directly or through the Company or any such successor corporation), whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director being by the acceptance hereof, and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed and attested.

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.

By:

Name: Thomas W. Casey

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Attest:

By:

Name: William L. Lynch

Title: Secretary

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated and issued under the within mentioned Indenture.

Dated:  September 26, 2005

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

By:

Authorized Signatory

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ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

TEN COM -	as tenants in common	UNIF GIFT MIN ACT
TEN ENT -	as tenants by the entireties with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
JT TEN -	as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common	______________________________ Custodian (Cust)
		___________________________________ (Minor) Under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act
		___________________________________ (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

-----------------

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FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to

INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR

OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE

the within Security of Washington Mutual, Inc., and irrevocably constitutes and appoints                                                                                                                                                            &# 160;                                                                                                                                                                           0;                                                                                                                                                           to transfer said Security on the books of the within named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:
	The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.
	Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.2

UNLESS THIS SECURITY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE TO BE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY AMOUNT PAYABLE THEREUNDER IS MADE PAYABLE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR CERTIFICATED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAMES OF THE VARIOUS BENEFICIAL HOLDERS HEREOF AS THEN CERTIFIED TO THE COMPANY BY THE DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.

5.25% NOTES DUE SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

No. 1	$500,000,000
	CUSIP: 939322 AV 5

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC., a Washington corporation (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term shall refer to such Company until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture referred to herein and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of FIVE HUNDRED MILLION ($500,000,000) on September 15, 2017, and to pay interest thereon from September 26, 2005, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually on March 15 and September 15 in each year, commencing March 15, 2006 at the rate of 5.25% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year or twelve 30-day months.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be (in each case whether or not a Business

Day) the March 1 or September 1 as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on this Security will be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York or at such other office or agency that the Company will maintain for that purpose in New York City, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

This security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of August 10, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee or trustees under the Indenture) as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated August 1, 2002 and a second Supplemental Indenture dated November 20, 2002 (herein called the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  The Company may, without the consent of the Holder of this Security, issue additional securities of this series (“Additional Securities”), having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the public offering price and issue date) as this Security, provided that such Additional Securities do not have, for purposes of U.S. federal income taxation, a greater amount of original issue discount than this Security has as of the date of issue of such Additional Securities.  Any Additional Securities, together with this and all other outstanding Securities of this series, will constitute a single series of securities under the Indenture.  No Additional Securities may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred with respect to this series of Securities.

Each Holder of the Securities, by the acceptance thereof, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture. The Securities may not be redeemed by the Company prior to maturity.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared immediately due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

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The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected (acting as one class).  The Indenture also provides that, regarding the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a Majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of such series may waive certain past defaults and their consequences on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in the Indenture, the Company shall be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Securities of any series when (1) with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as a trust fund specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in an amount as will, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations as will, together with the predetermined and certain income to accrue thereon without consideration of any reinvestment thereof, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) as will (in a written opinion with respect to (ii) or (iii) of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee), be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the Stated Maturity; and (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all such conditions precedent have been complied with; and (4) the Company has delivered to the Trustee (i) a ruling directed to the Company and the Trustee from the United States Internal Revenue Service to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result thereof and will be subject to Federal income tax as if such option had not been exercised or (ii) an opinion of Counsel to the same effect and based upon a change in law.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein and in the Indenture provided; subject, however, to the provisions for the discharge of the Company from its obligations under the Securities upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph or in the Indenture.

As provided in the Indenture, upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the predecessor corporation is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall be substituted for the predecessor corporation with

-3-

the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company.  Thereafter the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of the performance and observance of all obligations and covenants of the Indenture and the Securities, including but not limited to the obligation to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on all the Securities then Outstanding, and, in the event of any such conveyance, transfer or lease, may be liquidated and dissolved.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security are payable, when duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency as described above.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

As provided in the Indenture, no recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or the interest, if any, on this Security, or any part hereof, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or of the indebtedness represented hereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture, against any incorporator, direct or indirect stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation (either directly or through the Company or any such successor corporation), whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director being by the acceptance hereof, and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

-4-

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

-5-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed and attested.

WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.

By:

Name: Thomas W. Casey

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Attest:

By:

Name: William L. Lynch

Title: Secretary

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated and issued under the within mentioned Indenture.

Dated:  September 26, 2005

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

By:

Authorized Signatory

-6-

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

TEN COM -	as tenants in common	UNIF GIFT MIN ACT
TEN ENT -	as tenants by the entireties with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
JT TEN -	as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common	______________________________ Custodian (Cust)
		___________________________________ (Minor) Under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act
		___________________________________ (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

-----------------

-7-

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to

INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR

OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE

the within Security of Washington Mutual, Inc., and irrevocably constitutes and appoints                                                                                                                                                            &# 160;                                                                                                                                                                           0;                                                                                                                                                           to transfer said Security on the books of the within named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:
	The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.
	Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

-8-

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

September 23, 2005

Washington Mutual, Inc.

1201 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington 98101

Re:Washington Mutual, Inc. – Public Offering of
$750,000,000 principal amount of 5.25% Notes due September 15, 2017, and
$500,000,000 principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due September 17, 2012.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Washington Mutual, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-109921, on October 23, 2003, and as declared effective on November 6, 2003 (the “Registration Statement”), and the prospectus dated November 6, 2003, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated September 21, 2005 (the final prospectus, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering by the Company of (i) $750,000,000 principal amount of 5.25% Notes due September 15, 2017 (the “5.25% Notes”); and (ii) $500,000,000 principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due September 17, 2012 (the “Floating Rate Notes due September 17, 2012” and, together with the 5.25% Notes, the “Securities”).  The Securities will be issued pursuant to a Senior Debt Securities Indenture between The Bank of New York, as Trustee, and the Company, dated August 10, 1999, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2002 and Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 20, 2002 (the “Indenture”).

I.

We have assumed the authenticity of all records, documents and instruments submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons and the conformity to the originals of all records, documents and instruments submitted to us as copies.  We have based our opinion upon our review of the following records, documents, instruments and certificates and such additional certificates relating to factual matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for our opinion:

(a)The Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

(b)The Indenture;

(c)The form of each of the Securities;

Washington Mutual, Inc.

September 23, 2005

Page 2

(c)The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (including all amendments thereto) of the Company filed with the Washington Secretary of State, and certified to us by an officer of the Company as being complete and in full force and effect as of the date of this opinion;

(e)A Certificate of Existence/Authorization relating to the Company issued by the Washington Secretary of State, dated September 21, 2005;

(f)The Bylaws of the Company (and all amendments thereto) certified to us by an officer of the Company as being complete and in full force and effect as of the date of this opinion;

(g)Records certified to us by an officer of the Company as constituting all records of proceedings and actions of the board of directors of the Company relating to the issuance of the Securities by the Company; and

(h)A certificate (the “Officer’s Certificate”) of an officer of the Company as to certain factual matters.

II.

This opinion is limited to the federal laws of the United States of America, and the laws of the State of New York and State of Washington, and we disclaim any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion as to the applicable choice of law rules that may affect the interpretation or enforcement of the Securities.  We further disclaim any opinion as to any statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, order or other promulgation of any regional or local governmental body or as to any related judicial or administrative opinion.

III.

Based upon the foregoing and our examination of such questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of our opinion, and subject to the limitations and qualifications expressed herein, it is our opinion that the Securities have been duly authorized and, upon authentication of the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivery of and payment therefor, as contemplated by the Prospectus, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, (i) to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and (ii) to general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Washington Mutual, Inc.

September 23, 2005

Page 3

IV.

We further advise you that:

A.As noted, the enforceability of the Securities is subject to the effect of general principles of equity.  As applied to the Securities, these principles will require the parties thereto to not invoke penalties for defaults that bear no reasonable relation to the damage suffered or that would otherwise work a forfeiture.

B.The effectiveness of indemnities, rights of contribution, exculpatory provisions and waivers of the benefits of statutory provisions may be limited on public policy grounds.

C.Provisions of the Securities requiring that waivers must be in writing may not be binding or enforceable if a non-executory oral agreement has been created modifying any such provision or an implied agreement by trade practice or course of conduct has given rise to a waiver.

V.

This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is solely for your benefit and the benefit of the purchasers of the Securities.  We consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to reference our firm in the Registration Statement.  This opinion may not be relied upon by any other person, firm, corporation or other entity without our prior written consent.  We disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change of law that occurs, or any facts of which we become aware, after the date of this opinion.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Heller Ehrman LLP