8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 16, 2011

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Washington Federal, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Washington	001-34654	91-1661606
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

425 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington 98101

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (206) 624-7930

Not Applicable

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

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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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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 8.01 Other Events

On December 16, 2011, Washington Federal, Inc. (the "Company") announced by press release that it had acquired certain assets and liabilities, including most of the loans and deposits, of Western National Bank, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. A copy of the press release is attached to this filing as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable

(c) Not applicable

(d) Exhibits:

99.1 Press release dated December 16, 2011.

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SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 21, 2011	WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC.
	By:	/s/ BRENT J. BEARDALL
		Brent J. Beardall
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Washington Federal, Inc.

425 Pike Street

Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 777-8246 Contact: Cathy Cooper

Friday December 16, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington Federal Acquires Loans and Deposits of Western National Bank

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -Washington Federal, Inc. (NASDAQ-WFSL), parent company of Washington Federal, today announced its acquisition of certain assets and liabilities, including most of the loans and deposits, of Western National Bank (WNB), headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. As of June 30, 2011, WNB reported total assets of $174 million and total deposits of $146 million. WNB operated three offices in Maricopa County in Arizona.

Roy M. Whitehead, Chairman, President and Chief Executive of Washington Federal commented, “We wish to extend the warmest welcome to the customers of the former Western National Bank. Washington Federal is not new to Arizona. We currently have 21 branches in the state, including 13 in the Phoenix area. WNB branches will open under new ownership Monday morning; otherwise, it will be business as usual. Depositors can rest assured that their funds are not at risk.”

Under terms of the Purchase and Assumption agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Washington Federal agreed to an asset discount and no loss sharing or premium on deposits. The Company anticipates that this transaction will be accretive to earnings beginning immediately; although, the impact is not expected to be material given the relatively small size of the transaction.

Washington Federal operates 165 offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Established in 1917, the Company provides residential real estate loans, commercial real estate financing, business loans, and consumer and commercial deposit accounts along with treasury management services. On September 30, 2011, the Company reported $13.4 billion in assets, $8.7 billion in deposits and $1.9

billion in stockholders' equity.

To find out more about Washington Federal, please visit our website. Washington Federal uses its website to distribute financial and other material information about Washington Federal, which is routinely posted on and accessible at www.washingtonfederal.com.

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