SEATTLE – Washington Federal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD), parent company of Washington Federal, today announced earnings of $34,071,000 or $.32 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $25,824,000 or $.23 per diluted share for the same period one year ago, a 31.9% increase.  For the six months ended March 31, 2012, earnings were $67,489,000 or $.63 per diluted share, compared to $50,354,000 or $.45 per diluted share for the six months ended March 31, 2011, a 34.0% increase.  The Company’s ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets ended the quarter at 12.41% and continues to be among the best of large regional financial institutions in the U.S.