Exhibit 37

                         [Great Western Letterhead]

                     YOUR VOTE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!


                                                          May 29, 1997


     Dear Great Western Stockholder:

     Just two weeks from now, at a Special Meeting of Stockholders on
     June 13, you will have the opportunity to vote on the Washington
     Mutual merger.  On the same day, you also will have the
     opportunity at Great Western's Annual Meeting to vote on the
     election of directors and on various amendments to your company's
     By-laws proposed by H.F. Ahmanson & Company.

     In connection with your vote, we are pleased to enclose two
     documents we think you will find of great interest:

     *    First, a letter to Great Western stockholders from Kerry
          Killinger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
          of Washington Mutual.

     *    Second, a copy of an ad we recently ran in several
          newspapers.

     You can help pave the way for prompt completion of the Washington
     Mutual merger.  To approve the merger at the Special Meeting,
     simply sign, date and return the enclosed GREEN voting
     instruction form today.  Under separate cover you are receiving a
     GOLD voting instruction form relating to the Annual Meeting,
     which we urge you also to sign, date and return.

     YOUR VOTE ON BOTH THE GREEN AND GOLD VOTING INSTRUCTION FORMS IS
     IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES YOU MAY OWN.  If
     you have any questions about how to vote your shares, please call
     our proxy solicitor, Georgeson & Company Inc., toll-free at 1-
     800-223-2064.

     Thank you for your continued support.

     Sincerely,

     /s/ John F. Maher                     /s/ James F. Montgomery
     John F. Maher                         James F. Montgomery
     President and Chief                   Chairman of the Board
     Executive Officer


                     VOTE GREEN! VOTE GOLD! VOTE TODAY!