Financial Literacy

We believe in providing people with financial education programs that make their lives better. Financial education can help foster stability for individuals, families and entire communities; the more people know about money management, the more likely they are to improve and maintain their financial well-being.

WaFd invests in the following literacy programs

Teacher assisting elementary school kids working on laptops

Save at School program

Our Save at Schools program helps middle and elementary school students learn the habit of saving by making deposits during our “bank days.” We match the initial $5 opening deposit and students can earn 5% on their first $100 deposit. Email ask@wafd.com to launch a Save at Schools program in your area.

Junior Achievement

We aspire to help young people succeed and positively impact the communities we serve. That's why we partner with Junior Achievement to provide financial support and employee volunteers to help youth learn financial wellness and build the skills they need to launch successful futures.

Happy female teenager using a computer in the computer lab

Financial Literacy

We partner with Banzai, an award-winning, interactive financial content platform to provide free financial literacy and education to Title One schools across out nine-state footprint. We help all ages from 8 to 88 learn to create a budget, get out of debt, buy a home, save for college, learn about inflation, save for retirement, build credit, navigate online security and more! We also offer Banzai to our non-profit partners through the Washington Federal Foundation ensuring the communities we support have the tools they need for a brighter future. If your school or non-profit is looking to include this curriculum in your organization, please contact us!

Community Development

We recognize the impact of our activities on the lives of people around us. We are continuously committed to serving our communities, clients, and employees. Throughout our history, we have focused on giving back to our communities and have developed a variety of programs to help make a difference in the lives of those around us.

Excited young couple standing in front of new home

In Housing and Community Development

In 2023, WaFd invested over $76 million in community development loans. Of this, over $49 million was invested toward affordable housing across our nine state footprint.

2022, WaFd Bank devoted $203,425,455 toward community development lending. In addition, $102,100,000 in housing tax credits were provided along with $61,800,000 in investments made to other affordable housing projects, totaling $367,325,455.

In 2021, over $289,000,000 was invested toward community development lending and affordable housing investments. This resulted in 47 loans totaling $165,000,000 to support affordable home ownership for low-income borrowers within our nine states.

Smiling, Muslim businesswomen working together

In 2020 we created the Small Business Flex Fund that aided 365 small businesses with lifeline loans totaling $12,500,000 to ensure these business owners could bridge the gap between the beginning of the pandemic and when government assistance became available.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We are committed to supporting a diverse employee base, creating a culture of inclusion, equity, and empowerment, and bringing our full selves to work. Diversity can take many forms, including race, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, gender, age, protected veteran status, or other distinguishing characteristics.

A diverse group of WaFd employees at the Food Lifeline building.

Our mission is clear: "We are committed to building diverse teams and creating a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and belonging."

To advance this mission, we’ve restructured our DEI program. Each region will have 5-6 members, with the Regional President as the executive sponsor. A dedicated council for our corporate support areas, sponsored by the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Commercial Banker, with direct involvement from our D&I Officer. Our D&I Officer works closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Commercial Banker, and Chief People Officer to align efforts across all areas of the Bank.

This structure ensures DEI initiatives are integrated across the nine states we serve.

Key Focus Areas

Partnered with a DEI Consultant to build inclusive mindsets and sustainable strategies
Enhanced recruitment, hiring, and retention to foster a more diverse workforce
Launched Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to promote belonging. Initial ERGs include:
- BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
- Emerging Leaders
- Working Parents
- LGBTQ+
- Military Service Members

A diverse group of WaFd employees at a Seattle pride event.

Global Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council

Senior leaders, alongside the D&I Officer, guide enterprise-wide DEI efforts through the Global Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, ensuring alignment between regional and corporate initiatives. The Advisory Council:

Provides strategic guidance to regional and corporate councils
Facilitates enterprise-wide DEI strategies
Supports local and corporate DEI efforts
Defines council membership requirements, including appointed and volunteer roles

With this structure, WaFd Bank reaffirms its belief that "diversity, equity, and inclusion drive innovation and productivity, allowing us to better serve our communities and each other."

2,120 Team Members

33% Non-White
2.22% US Veteran
5.93% Differently Abled
67% Female
33% Male

Meet our Diversity & Inclusion Officer!

"Welcome! Your unique perspective strengthens our culture of embracing diversity & inclusion, where you're valued, respected, and empowered to grow."

Larry Nelson

Diversity & Inclusion Officer

Governance

We are committed to strong corporate governance principles and practices which begins with our Board of Directors. Our Board endorses the view that one of its primary functions is to protect stakeholder interests by providing oversight of management, including the Chief Executive Officer.

Stephen M. Graham

Board of Director, Chairman of the Board

Brent Beardall

President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman

David Grant

Randy H. Talbot

Steve Singh

Linda Brower

Sylvia Hampel

Sean Singleton

Shawn Bice

M. Max Yzaguirre

Bradley M. Shuster

The Board is made up of members with a wealth of experience and knowledge from a variety of industries including finance, technology, real estate, investments, and risk management. Our Board is committed to independence and the majority of Board members are independent pursuant to the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. WaFd Bank Leadership Team

We maintain a variety of corporate governance documents and policies which can be found on our website.

Board Diversity Matrix
Total Number of Directors: 11
Part I: Gender Identity	Female	Male
Directors	2	9
Part II: Demographic Background
African American or Black	0	2
Hispanic or Latinx	1	1
Asian	0	1
White	1	5

Washington Federal Foundation and Community Giving

Founded in 2009, the Washington Federal Foundation's purpose is to facilitate direct giving to community-based nonprofits serving the needs of people with low-and moderate-incomes. Each year we commit over $1 million to the communities we serve.

WaFd employees presenting a check at the Foundation Ferndale Food Bank

Washington Federal Foundation

As a bank dedicated to promoting home ownership, the focuses on programs and causes that help provide affordable housing for low-and-moderate-income individuals. The Foundation also provides support for social agencies and nonprofits that serve the needs in our communities, including seniors, youth organizations, and low income families.

We direct giving to the following areas:

Housing and community development
Social services and basic needs for seniors, youth and low-income families
Financial literacy

Average grants range from $1,000-$5,000

Since its inception, the Foundation has given nearly $8.1M to local charities across our nine-state footprint.

Please visit our Foundation page for more information.

United Way

WaFd Bank matches employee contributions made to United Way agencies in all nine states: For fiscal 2023, total pledges from colleagues amounted to $376,392.91 in charitable giving. WaFd matched $376,392.91 in donations to United Way agencies for a total of $746,585.83.

Community Partnerships

At WaFd, we align with partners that share and exhibit the same vales as we do. Our partners complement our passions and strengths and help us build stronger and more vibrant communities. Each partnership includes donations to community-based organizations and foundations that enrich the communities we serve.

Seattle Kraken

We have joined the Seattle Kraken as a Founding Partner as both organizations share the fundamentals of integrity, hard work, and innovation. We are excited to help bring hockey back to Seattle and give back through their One Roof Foundation in efforts to continue to build the most diverse and inclusive hockey culture in the country, if not the world.

Seattle Storm

WaFd and the Seattle Storm will launch Fit Futures together, a community initiative that provides kids with equal access to physical activity and financial education, set to begin in the fall of 2023. Three Title 1 schools will receive $5,000 each towards the purchase of new PE equipment and supplies in a celebratory ceremony to include the presence of Storm mascot Doppler and a Storm VIP guest. Each of these three schools will also receive 300 tickets to a regular season Storm game for kids and their families. Additionally, WaFd sponsors a half court shootaround challenge with Storm players benefitting a local BIPOC non-profit.

Seattle Seawolves

We support Seattle Compassion Services through the Seawolves by volunteering in the community and through financial donations to further their mission to house the unhoused, alleviate suffering and bring the community together to solve homelessness.

WaFd Workforce

At WaFd Bank, we've taken the same long-term perspective with our employees as we have with our clients. We value each of our employees and invest in their development and wellbeing.

WaFd employees waving as a group in a WaFd Bank lobby

A career at WaFd Bank

We value our employees by investing in a healthy work/life balance, competitive compensation packages, a vibrant team-oriented environment centered on professional service, and 360-degree, open communication with your colleagues.

A Career at WaFd Bank Offers:

Paid time off and sick days
Health benefits
Stock options
Bonus program
Generous 401(k) match
Life and AD&D insurance
Long-term disability
Employee assistance program
Pre-tax health and dependent-care spending plans
Four weeks parental leave
$5,000 per year in tuition reimbursement, up to $40,000 total

Walt mascot and WaFd employee smiling with heart cutout next to an America's Best Employers 2022 by Forbes badge

We love coming to work and it shows!

In 2022, WaFd Bank was recognized as one of America's Best Employers by Forbes. We're proud of our employees and all that they do.

Visit WaFd Careers

Environmental Responsibility and Social Risk Management

WaFd Bank's corporate social and environmental responsibility commitment arises from the impact of our activities on people's lives and society. To fulfill this commitment, WaFd Bank integrates social, environmental and ethical concerns, as well as those regarding human rights and the needs of its stakeholders, into its daily business activities and approach to stakeholder relationships.

Through all our interactions, WaFd Bank will:

Carry out its banking activities in a responsible manner, placing the financial needs of its clients and economic health of its communities at the core of its strategic focus.
Maximize the creation of sustainable and shared value for its shareholders, employees and stakeholders, including contributing to the broader benefit of society.

African-American father and daughter holding small seedling at a community garden

We acknowledge the impact of climate change, which may lead to new regulations as well as financial and reputational risks. We also realize there are new opportunities to find ways to mitigate those risks and open new doors to offsetting carbon footprints. We will embrace these opportunities and seek out new ways to invest in change to a lower carbon economy and a better future for us all.

Environmental Stewardship

WaFd strives to focus on efficiency and long-term sustainability in our business processes through prudent use of resources, including renewable energy and waste reduction efforts. We also offer the following services and benefits to employees at our corporate headquarters in downtown Seattle:

Free transit passes for all employees to encourage mass transit, including train, ferry, bus and light rail.
Secure, onsite bike storage and shower facilities for our biking community.
Improved air quality through bi-polar ionization in our HVAC system to remove bacteria, viruses and pollutants.
Flexible work policies that allow for a hybrid approach between office hoteling and work-from-home, reducing physical commutes and carbon footprints.
Working to reduce total square footage of corporate and branch real estate across our footprint to save on energy costs and shrink our physical carbon footprint.

Volunteerism

WaFd employees are invested in their communities and giving back. We support this by giving them time to volunteer with the organizations they are passionate about. In 2023, WaFd employees participated in 11,870 volunteer hours to more than 755 organizations and initiatives across our regional footprint.