EXHIBIT 25.4

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM T-1
                                   --------

                           STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                     UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

               CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
               OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) _____

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

                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
              (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                     36-0899825
                                                        (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                        IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

     ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS        60670-0126
     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)           (ZIP CODE)

                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                     ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                        CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60670-0286
            ATTN:  LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
           (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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

                      GREAT WESTERN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
              (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     DELAWARE                                           95-1913457
     (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
      INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                    IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


     9200 OAKDALE AVENUE
     CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA                             91311
     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)           (ZIP CODE)


                       GUARANTEE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
                      OF GREAT WESTERN FINANCIAL TRUST II
                        (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)

 
ITEM 1.   GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
          --------------------                       
          INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

          (a) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
          SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

          Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.,
          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
          Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
          the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.

          (b) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
          CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

          The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
          trust powers.

ITEM 2.   AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
          ------------------------------                
          IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
          SUCH AFFILIATION.

          No such affiliation exists with the trustee.

 
ITEM 16.  LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
          -----------------                                     
          PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

          1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
              trustee now in effect.*

          2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the
              trustee to commence business.*

          3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
              exercise corporate trust powers.*

          4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

          5.  Not Applicable.

          6.  The consent of the trustee required by
              Section 321(b) of the Act.

          7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the
              trustee published pursuant to law or the
              requirements of its supervising or examining
              authority.

                                       2

 
          8.  Not Applicable.

          9.  Not Applicable.


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago
and the State of Illinois, on this 8th day of January, 1997.


            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
            TRUSTEE

            By /s/ John R. Prendiville
               John R. Prendiville
               Vice President

 


* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS BEARING
IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).

                                       3

 
                                   EXHIBIT 6



                      THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT


 
                                                 January 8, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

     In connection with the qualification of a guarantee agreement between Great
Western Financial Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, the
undersigned, in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the
undersigned, made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such
examinations, may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.


                                 Very truly yours,

                                 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
 
                                 By   /s/ John R. Prendiville
                                      John R. Prendiville
                                      Vice President


                                       4

 
                                   EXHIBIT 7

                                                                
Legal Title of Bank:             The First National Bank of Chicago   Call Date: 09/30/96  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                         One First National Plaza, Ste 0460                                       Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:                Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:  0/3/6/1/8
                       ---------


CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET




                                                                                                               C400      
                                                                              DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN            ------------  
                                                                                  THOUSANDS         RCFD   BIL MIL THOU  less than -
                                                                              -----------------     ----   ------------  -----------

                                                                                                               
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
    RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1).............                           0081     4,041,784     1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2)......................................                           0071     5,184,890     1.b.
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A).........                           1754             0     2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)......                           1773     3,173,481     2.b.
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge and Agreement
    subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
    a. Federal Funds sold................................................                           0276     3,505,874     3.a.
    b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell...................                           0277       145,625     3.b.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
    RC-C)................................................................     RCFD 2122 22,835,958                         4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses.........................     RCFD 3123    418,851                         4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve.............................     RCFD 3128          0                         4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)..............................                           2125    22,417,107     4.d.
5.  Assets held in trading accounts......................................                           3545     8,121,948     5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).............                           2145       707,971     6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M).........................                           2150         9,184     7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M).......................................                           2130        53,803     8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding.........                           2155       626,690     9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)...............................                           2143       310,246     10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)....................................                           2160     1,658,123     11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11).............................                           2170    49,956,726     12.


- ------------------
(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

                                      5 

 

                                                                
Legal Title of Bank:             The First National Bank of Chicago   Call Date: 09/30/96  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                         One First National Plaza, Ste 0460                                       Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:            0/3/6/1/8
                                 ---------

 
SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED



                                                                          DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                              THOUSANDS                   BIL MIL THOU
                                                                          -----------------               ------------

                                                                                                               
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)....................................                          RCON 2200   22,369,341     13.a.
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1).....................................    RCON 6631  9,726,987                             13.a.
       (2) Interest-bearing...........................................    RCON 6636 12,642,354                             13.a.
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II).............................                          RCFN 2200   10,026,286     13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing........................................    RCFN 6631    336,746                             13.b.(1)
       (2) Interest-bearing...........................................    RCFN 6636  9,689,540                             13.b.(2)
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of
    its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
    a. Federal funds purchased........................................                          RCFD 0278      884,553     14.a.
    b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase.................                          RCFD 0279      717,211     14.b.
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury.......................                          RCON 2840       14,120     15.a.
    b. Trading Liabilities............................................                          RCFD 3548    5,409,585     15b.
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With original maturity of one year or less.....................                          RCFD 2332    3,414,577     16.a.
    b. With original maturity of more than one year...................                          RCFD 2333       46,685     16b.
17. Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized
    leases............................................................                          RCFD 2910      285,671     17.
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding...........                          RCFD 2920      626,690     18.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures.................................                          RCFD 3200    1,250,000     19.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)............................                          RCFD 2930    1,005,205     20.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)....................                          RCFD 2948   46,049,924     21.
22. Limited-Life preferred stock and related surplus..................                          RCFD 3282            0     22.
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus.....................                          RCFD 3838            0     23.
24. Common stock......................................................                          RCFD 3230      200,858     24.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)..........                          RCFD 3839    2,925,894     25.
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves.........................                          RCFD 3632      770,670     26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities.....................................................                          RCFD 8434       10,194     26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments...............                          RCFD 3284         (814)    27.
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27).................                          RCFD 3210    3,906,802     28.
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity
    capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28).............................                          RCFD 3300   49,956,726     29.

Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below 
   that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work                             Number
   performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any                            --------                           
   date during 1995.........................................................................   RCFD 6724         N/A      M.1.
 
 
 
                                                               
1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance         4. =   Directors' examination of the bank performed by other 
    with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified            external auditors (may be required by state chartering  
    public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank            authority)
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company         5 =   Review of the bank's financial statements by external
    conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing             auditors
    standards by a certified public accounting firm which          6 =   Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
    submits a report on the consolidated holding company                 auditors
    (but not on the bank separately)                               7 =   Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                8 =   No external audit work
    accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
    by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
    state chartering authority)


- -------------------
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
    deposits.

                                       6