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): July 26, 2016

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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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

(c) Today, July 26, 2016, Washington Federal, Inc. (the “Company”), parent company of Washington Federal, N.A. (the “Bank”), announced that Chief Banking Officer Brent J. Beardall has been awarded the additional title of President for both the Company and the Bank. The change to Mr. Beardall’s title to President and Chief Banking Officer does not have any impact on any of his compensatory arrangements with the Company.

Mr. Beardall joined Washington Federal from Deloitte & Touche in 2001 as Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2003. A Certified Public Accountant, he held that position until 2014, when he moved to the Chief Banking Officer role to broaden his executive experience. As Chief Banking Officer, Mr. Beardall is responsible for all client-facing activities of the Company. He has been a member of the Executive Management Committee for the past thirteen years. Mr. Beardall holds an undergraduate degree and a masters degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University, and in 2014, he completed the Stanford University Executive Program.

Roy M. Whitehead will remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for both the Company and the Bank.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

A copy of the press release issued by the Company announcing Mr. Beardall’s additional appointment as President is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report. Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Not applicable

(b) Not applicable

(c) Not applicable

(d) The following exhibits are being furnished herewith:

99.1 Press release dated July 26, 2016

Date: July 26, 2016	WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC.
	By:	/s/ ROY M. WHITEHEAD
		Roy M. Whitehead
		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brent J. Beardall Named President at Washington Federal

Washington Federal, Inc. (NASDAQ: WAFD) today announced that Chief Banking Officer Brent J. Beardall has been awarded the additional title of President for both the parent company and its primary operating subsidiary, Washington Federal, N.A.

Mr. Beardall joined Washington Federal from Deloitte & Touche in 2001 as Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2003. A Certified Public Accountant, he held that position until 2014, when he moved to the Chief Banking Officer role to broaden his executive experience. As Chief Banking Officer, Mr. Beardall is responsible for all client-facing activities of the Company. He has been a member of the Executive Management Committee for the past thirteen years. Mr. Beardall holds an undergraduate degree and masters degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University, and in 2014, he completed the Stanford University Executive Program.

Roy M. Whitehead, who remains as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, “Brent has been an indispensable part of our executive team for many years. We are very pleased to recognize his contributions to our success by naming him the sixth President of Washington Federal in its ninety-nine year history.”

Washington Federal, N.A., provides consumer and commercial deposit accounts, insurance products, financing for small to middle market businesses, commercial and residential real estate, including consumer mortgages and home equity lines of credit. Established in 1917, the Company operates 243 branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. As of June 30, 2016, the Company reported $14.8 billion in assets, $10.6 billion in deposits and $2.0 billion in stockholders’ equity.

Contact:

Washington Federal, Inc.

425 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101

Amanda Maier

206-626-8178

amanda.maier@wafd.com