# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000936528
**File Stem:** 0000936528-23-000002
**Filing Date:** 2023-1
**Character Count:** 12350
**Document Hash:** bb0077b58f3ee401f3ec21ea5bc4e901
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000936528-23-000002.hdr.sgml**: 20230103

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000936528-23-000002

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 17

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230102

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230103

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230103

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000936528
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 911661606
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** WA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0930

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-34654
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23502393

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 425 PIKE STREET
- **CITY:** SEATTLE
- **STATE:** WA
- **ZIP:** 98101
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 2066247930

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 425 PIKE ST
- **CITY:** SEATTLE
- **STATE:** WA
- **ZIP:** 98101

?xml version="1.0" ? wfsl-20230102

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

____________________________________

**FORM 8-K** 

____________________________________

**CURRENT REPORT**

**Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the**

**Securities Exchange Act of 1934**

**Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 2, 2023**

____________________________________

**WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC** 

**(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)**

____________________________________

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Washington** | **001-34654** | **001-34654** | **91-1661606** |
| **(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)** | **(Commission File Number)** | **(Commission File Number)** | **(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)** |
| **425 Pike Street** | **Seattle** | **Washington** | **98101** |
| **(Address of Principal Executive Offices)** | | | **(Zip Code)** |

---

**Registrant's telephone number, including area code (206) 624-7930** 

Not Applicable

**(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)**

____________________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of Each Class** | **Trading Symbol** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share | WAFD | NASDAQ Stock Market |
| Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/40th Interest in a Share of 4.875% Fixed Rate Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock | WAFDP | NASDAQ Stock Market |

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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes ☐&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No ⌧

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 5.02** | **Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers** |

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On January 2, 2023 Brent Beardall, President and CEO of Washington Federal, Inc., (the "Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary Washington Federal Bank, dba WaFd Bank, was on board a private plane that crashed in Provo, Utah. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital for surgery with multiple injuries, including broken bones and lacerations, and is expected to make a full recovery. Mr. Beardall will take a temporary leave of absence from his duties as President and CEO while he recovers from his injuries.

Effective January 3, 2023, Executive Vice President and Chief Consumer Banker, Cathy Cooper, will temporarily assume Mr. Beardall's duties as President and CEO during his recovery. Ms. Cooper, 57, joined WaFd Bank in 1996 and has served as an Executive Vice President of WaFd Bank overseeing retail banking and client experience since 2016. Ms. Cooper will not receive any additional compensation related to her assumption of Mr. Beardall's duties during his absence.

Ms. Cooper does not have a family relationship with any director, executive officer or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer of the Company, and is not a party to any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

**FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS**

The statements made by the Company in this Current Report on Form 8-K include certain forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would" and "could" are intended to help identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent current expectations, plans or forecasts of the Company and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of the Company and the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. The Company intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and often are beyond the Company's control. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the Company's forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks, as well as the risks and uncertainties discussed in this report and in any of the Company's other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, goals, estimates, intentions, and expectations expressed in forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, changes to future operating results over time, or the impact of circumstances arising after the date the forward-looking statement was made.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 7.01** | **Regulation FD Disclosure** |

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A copy of a press release and a public letter regarding these events are furnished as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this report.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 9.01** | **Financial Statements and Exhibits** |

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(d) The following exhibits are being furnished herewith:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** |
| <u>[99.1](publicstatmentbrentbeard.htm)</u> | <u>[Press](publicstatmentbrentbeard.htm)[R](publicstatmentbrentbeard.htm)[elease dated January 3, 2023.](publicstatmentbrentbeard.htm)</u> |
| <u>[99.2](publicletterbrentbeardal.htm)</u> | <u>[Public Letter dated January 3, 2023.](publicletterbrentbeardal.htm)</u> |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL) |

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**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| January 3, 2023 | WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. | WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. |
|  | By: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ KELLI J. HOLZ |
|  |  | Kelli J. Holz |
|  |  | Executive Vice President<br>and Chief Financial Officer |

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## Exhibit 99.1

![](publicstatmentbrentbeard001.jpg)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;January 3, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WaFd Bank President and CEO Brent Beardall in Stable Condition After Being Injured in Small Plane Crash Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WAFD) reports that on January 2, 2023, the President and CEO of Washington Federal, Inc. and Washington Federal Bank (dba WaFd Bank), Brent Beardall, was one of four people on board a private plane that crashed in Provo, Utah shortly after takeoff. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital with broken bones and lacerations, underwent surgery later that day, and is expected to make a full recovery. Mr. Beardall will take a temporary leave of absence from his duties as President and CEO while he recovers, and Executive Vice President and Chief Consumer Banker, Cathy Cooper, will temporarily assume Mr. Beardall's duties. The Company will provide additional updates as they become available. Washington Federal's Chairman of the Board, Stephen Graham, said, "We want to express our condolences for the family of Nathan Ricks, who died in this tragic accident. All of us at WaFd are grateful that Brent is expected to make a full recovery and look forward to his return to normal duties shortly. We have every confidence in our strong management team's ability to move forward with the execution of the Bank's strategy." Washington Federal Bank, a federally insured Washington state-chartered bank with headquarters in Seattle, Washington, has more than 200 branches in eight western states. To find out more about WaFd Bank, please visit our website www.wafdbank.com. WaFd Bank uses its website to distribute financial and other material information about the Company. # # # Contact: Brad Goode Washington Federal, Inc. 425 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 626-8178

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## Exhibit 99.2

![](publicletterbrentbeardal001.jpg)

425 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101 Update on Brent Beardall's Condition Dear WaFd Bank Colleagues, Clients and Investors, We wish to update you on the condition of our President and CEO Brent Beardall and another banker, Utah Commercial Division Manager Dane Margetts, who were injured in a plane crash on January 2nd in Provo, Utah. Both Brent and Dane were admitted to Utah Valley Hospital and are expected to make a full recovery. While Dane was released hours after the accident with only minor injuries, Brent sustained broken bones and lacerations that require surgery and time to recover. Many of you know Brent well, consider him a most loyal friend and communicate with him regularly. We want to assure you he is receiving excellent medical care along with his family's love and support. We ask for your patience and understanding as those of you who check in with him often are used to quick responses. His recovery will be his priority at this time and the healing process is underway. As Brent recovers, Executive Vice President and Chief Consumer Banker, Cathy Cooper, will temporarily assume Mr. Beardall's duties. Despite this short-term set back, Brent is in good spirits and charging ahead like the typically ambitious Brent Beardall. Please know that your bankers are here for you at any time. We have a great team at WaFd to make sure our day-to-day business operations continue smoothly as we await Brent's return to the office. Brent, his family, and all of us at WaFd Bank appreciate your thoughts and well-wishes. Respectfully, WaFd Bank Management Team

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