Exhibit 99.2

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


     In  connection  with  the  Quarterly   Report  of  Downey  Financial  Corp.
("Downey") on Form 10-Q for the period ending  September 30, 2002, as filed with
the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I,
Thomas E. Prince,  Chief Financial Officer of Downey,  certify to the best of my
knowledge,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  section 1350, as adopted  pursuant to section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13 (a) or 15 (d)
     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Downey.






Date: October 31, 2002                 /s/  Thomas E. Prince
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                                          Thomas E. Prince
                            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer