Washington Federal Increases Dividend by 20% to $.06

The Board of Directors of Washington Federal, Inc.

today announced a quarterly cash dividend of 6 cents per share, an increase of 20% from the 5 cents per share paid in the previous quarter. The dividend will be payable on January 14, 2011 to common stockholders of record on December 31, 2010. This will be Washington Federal's 112th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.