Washington Federal Increases Cash Dividend by 33%

   The Board of Directors of Washington Federal, Inc. (NASDAQ: WFSL), parent company of Washington Federal, today announced a quarterly cash dividend of 8 cents per share, an increase of 33% from the 6 cents per share paid in the previous quarter. The dividend will be payable on January 13, 2012 to common stockholders of record on December 30, 2011. This will be Washington Federal's 116th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Chairman, President and CEO Roy M. Whitehead, commented, "We are very pleased to increase the cash dividend. The higher payout signals the Board of Director's confidence in future prospects."

Washington Federal operates 166 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, consumer deposit accounts and business banking. On September 30, 2011, the Company reported $13.4 billion in assets, $8.7 billion in deposits and $1.9 billion in stockholders' equity.