EXHIBIT 99.3
 
                         NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
 
                                      FOR
 
                        TENDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
 
                                       OF
 
                      GREAT WESTERN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
                                       TO
 
                            H. F. AHMANSON & COMPANY
                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
 
  As set forth under "The Offer--Procedure for Tendering" in the Prospectus,
dated [    ], 1997 (the "Prospectus"), this form or one substantially
equivalent hereto must be used to accept the Offer (as defined below) of
certificates for shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the
"Shares"), of Great Western Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Great Western"). Such form may be delivered by hand or transmitted by
telegram, facsimile transmission or mail to the Exchange Agent, and must
include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution (as defined in the Prospectus).
See "The Offer--Procedure for Tendering" in the Prospectus.
 
                      The Exchange Agent for the Offer is:
 
                                       []
 
        By Mail:         By Facsimile Transmission:    By Hand or Overnight
                         (for Eligible Institutions         Delivery:
                                   only)
 
 
        [     ]
 
                                                             [     ]
                                Fax: [     ]
 
                  Confirm Facsimile Transmission by Telephone:
 
                                  [     ]
 
  DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS
SET FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
 
  This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a
Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution
under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the
applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.

 
 
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
 
   The undersigned hereby tenders to H. F. Ahmanson & Company, a Delaware
 corporation, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
 Prospectus dated [   ], 1997, as amended from time to time, and in the
 related Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer"),
 receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the number of Shares shown in the
 Box below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth under
 "The Offer--Procedure for Tendering" in the Prospectus.
 
 Shares ____________________________________________________________________
 
 Certificate No(s). for Shares (if available) ______________________________
 
 Name(s) of Record Holder(s) _______________________________________________
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________
                             (Please Type or Print)
 ___________________________________________________________________________
 
 Address(es) _______________________________________________________________
                                                                   (Zip Code)
 Area Code and Tel. No(s). _________________________________________________
 
 Check ONE box if Shares will be tendered by book-entry transfer.
 
 [_][]
 
 [_][]
 
 [_][]
 
 Signature(s) ______________________________________________________________
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________
 
 Account Number ____________________________________________________________
 
 Dated ____________ , 1997
 
                     THE GUARANTEE BELOW MUST BE COMPLETED.

 
 
                                   GUARANTEE
 
                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
 
   The undersigned, a financial institution which is a participant in the
 Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange
 Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program,
 guarantees (a) that the above named person(s) has (have) a "net long
 position" in the Shares tendered hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4
 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (b) to deliver
 to the Exchange Agent, at one of its addresses set forth above,
 certificates representing the Shares tendered hereby, in proper form for
 transfer, or confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Shares into the
 Exchange Agent's accounts at [
                      ], in each case with delivery of a properly completed
 and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile copy thereof), or
 an Agent's Message (as defined in the Prospectus) in the case of book-
 entry transfer, and any other documents required by the Letter of
 Transmittal, within three New York Stock Exchange, Inc. trading days of
 the date hereof.
 
 Name of Firm ______________________________________________________________
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________
                             (Authorized Signature)
 Address ___________________________________________________________________
                                                                   (Zip Code)
 Area Code and Tel. No. ____________________________________________________
 
 Name ______________________________________________________________________
                             (Please Type or Print)
 Title _____________________________________________________________________
 
 Date _____________ , 1997
 
 NOTE: DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES WITH THIS NOTICE. SHARE
        CERTIFICATES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.