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65-620: Washington Mutual, Inc. (often abbreviated to WaMu ) was an American savings bank holding company based in Seattle . It was the parent company of Washington Mutual Bank , which was the largest savings and loan association in the United States until its collapse in 2008. On September 25, 2008, the United States Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) seized WaMu's banking operations and placed it into receivership with

130-476: A bank run whereby customers withdrew $ 16.7   billion in deposits over those nine days, and in excess of $ 22   billion in cash outflow since July 2008, both conditions which ultimately led the Office of Thrift Supervision to close the bank. The FDIC then sold most of the bank's assets to JPMorgan Chase for $ 1.9   billion in cash plus assumption of all secured debt and some unsecured debt. Claims of

195-580: A commercial bank charter and not a more restrictive savings & loan charter, WaMu decided to allow Western Bank to keep its charter and name and to remain semi-autonomous for a while. At the time of the acquisition, Western Bank had 41 offices throughout Oregon. Five years later, WaMu decided to abandon the Western Bank brand and integrate most of the former Western Bank offices into the existing WaMu network in Oregon in 2001. Due to branch overlaps between

260-794: A counterclaim in the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, where the WaMu bankruptcy proceedings had been continuing since the Office of Thrift Supervision's seizure of the holding company's bank subsidiaries. Despite its name, WaMu ceased being a mutual company in 1983 when it demutualized and became a public company on March 11. On June 30, 2008, WaMu had total assets of $ 307   billion (~$ 427 billion in 2023), with 2,239 retail branch offices operating in 15 states, with 4,932 ATMs , and 43,198 employees. It held liabilities in

325-879: A fourth Idaho location in a Moscow supermarket in February 1995. A branch office in Idaho Falls was acquired from the Utah-based United Savings Bank when WaMu purchased the savings bank in January 1997. By March 2000, there were 9 locations within Idaho and later 22 locations in 2008 when Chase acquired WaMu. In July 1994, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Salt Lake City –based Olympus Capital Corporation with its Olympus Bank, FSB, subsidiary for $ 52.1   million in stock. At

390-498: A plan internally nicknamed "Project West". All WaMu branches were rebranded as Chase branches by the end of 2009. The holding company was left with $ 33   billion in assets, and $ 8   billion in debt, after being stripped of its banking subsidiary by the FDIC. The next day, it filed for Chapter 11 voluntary bankruptcy in Delaware, where it was incorporated. Regarding total assets under management , WaMu's closure and receivership

455-467: A safe bay and an abundance of coniferous trees made Seattle the perfect location for shipping lumber to California. In 1852, Henry Yesler began construction of the first steam-powered mill in the Pacific Northwest. Because of the easy access to lumber, nearly every building was constructed of the affordable, but combustible timber. Additionally, because the area was at or below sea level,

520-528: A so-called white knight , that would allow a merger on much better terms. One such company was WaMu. In March, Great Western Financial announced that it had accepted WaMu's merger proposal for $ 6.6   billion in WaMu stock. Ahmanson quickly increased their bids but the bids were also rejected. Great Western approved the merger with WaMu in June and the merger was completed in July. As part of its merger agreement, it

585-474: A tax free basis, borrow money, acquire other banks and non-bank entities more easily, and issue stock with greater regulatory ease. It also has a greater legal authority to conduct share repurchases of its own stock. The downside includes responding to additional regulatory authorities, especially if there are more than 2,000 shareholders (note: prior to the Jobs Act or Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act ,

650-626: A toe hold entry into Oregon via Portland. As a result of the Pacific First acquisition in April 1993, WaMu became the fourth largest banking institution based upon consumer deposits within the state of Oregon. Originally, Pacific First grew quickly in Oregon during the late 1980s through the acquisition of troubled savings and loans. By February 1991, Pacific First had 78 branches in Oregon, more than any other thrift. Pacific First had 71 branches in Oregon by July 1992. In April 1994, WaMu announced

715-975: Is often used to refer to these companies as well. In the United States, a bank holding company , as provided by the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 ( 12 U.S.C.   § 1841 et seq. ), is broadly defined as "any company that has control over a bank". All bank holding companies in the US are required to register with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System . The Federal Reserve Board of Governors , under Regulation Y ( 12 CFR 225 ) has responsibility for regulating and supervising bank holding company activities, such as establishing capital standards , approving mergers and acquisitions and inspecting

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780-786: Is the largest bank failure in American financial history. Before the receivership action, it was the sixth-largest bank in the United States. According to WaMu's 2007 SEC filing, the holding company held assets valued at $ 327.9   billion (~$ 464 billion in 2023). On March 20, 2009, WaMu filed suit against the FDIC in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia , seeking damages of approximately $ 13   billion (~$ 17.9 billion in 2023) for an alleged unjustified seizure and unfair low sale price to JPMorgan Chase. JPMorgan Chase promptly filed

845-606: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer , operating out of temporary facilities in the wake of the fire, reported incorrectly that the incident began in "Jim McGough's paint shop, under Smith's boot and shoe store, at the corner of Front and Madison streets, in what was known as the Denny block"; a correction two weeks later said that it "actually started in the Clairmont and Company cabinet shop, below McGough's shop in

910-497: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The OTS took the action due to the withdrawal of US$ 16.7   billion in deposits during a 9-day bank run (amounting to 9% of the deposits it had held on June 30, 2008). The FDIC sold the banking subsidiaries (minus unsecured debt and equity claims) to JPMorgan Chase for $ 1.9   billion, which had been considering acquiring WaMu as part of

975-549: The Federal Reserve 's credit facilities. Great Seattle Fire In the fall of 1851, the Denny Party arrived at Alki Point in what is now the state of Washington . After spending a miserable winter on the western shores of Elliott Bay , the party relocated to the eastern shores and established the settlement that would become Seattle. Early Seattle was dominated by the logging industry. The combination of

1040-658: The Fort Worth, Texas -based Keystone Holdings Inc. with its Irvine -based American Savings Bank subsidiary for $ 1.6   billion (~$ 2.87 billion in 2023) in stock. At the time of the announcement, WaMu had 317 branch offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana while American Savings Bank had 220 branch offices in California. The acquisition was completed in December 1996. American kept its name after

1105-456: The brokerage firm Murphey Favre for undisclosed amount in cash and demutualized the following year, converting into a capital stock savings bank. Stock in the capital stock savings bank was first offered for sale on March 11, 1983. By 1989, its assets had doubled. In November 1994, WaMu reorganized as a holding company, Washington Mutual, Inc. It separated the non-banking units from its primary banking unit, Washington Mutual Savings Bank, which

1170-626: The 41 office Coos Bay–based Western Bank in Oregon. By 1997, the Enterprise name and Western Bank name were merged and operated under Western Bank moniker. After WaMu expanded into California through the acquisitions of American Savings, Great Western, and Home Savings, WaMu quietly acquired the one-office Industrial Bank in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles an undisclosed amount in 1999 and renamed it WM Business Bank. By 2001, WaMu had 38 specialized business banking centers operating under

1235-549: The New York City area of both New York and New Jersey. With a thrift charter, there were a few things that WaMu was not able to do until it was able to obtain a commercial bank charter, such as making commercial loans above a certain size. To get around this problem, WaMu began to purchase commercial banks and maintain them as separate business entities. In August 1995, WaMu acquired the one office Bellevue-based Enterprise Bank in Washington. A few months later, WaMu acquired

1300-609: The Resolution Trust Corporation for $ 1.3   million (~$ 2.68 million in 2023). In November 1990, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Vancouver -based VanFed Bancorp with its Vancouver Federal Savings Bank subsidiary for $ 23.3   million (~$ 48 million in 2023). At the time of the announcement in November 1990, WaMu had 75 branch offices, all within Washington state. The acquisition

1365-676: The Seattle-based Old Stone Bank of Washington from the Rhode Island– based Old Stone Corporation for an undisclosed amount. Old Stone originally entered the state of Washington through the acquisition of the ailing Seattle-based Citizens Federal Savings and Loan Association in 1985 with the assistance of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation . The acquisition by WaMu was completed in June 1990 for $ 10   million. In June 1990, WaMu announced

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1430-399: The WaMu name. The previous month, it was announced in November that 85 redundant branch offices were identified in California and were to be closed within the following year. Before the merger was complete, WaMu had a total of 413 branch operating under various names across the country while Great Western had 416 branch offices operating in California and Florida. In March 1998, WaMu announced

1495-545: The West Coast on February 10, 1890. It changed its name to Washington Savings and Loan Association on June 25, 1908. By September 12, 1917, it was operating under the name Washington Mutual Savings Bank. The company purchased its first company, the financially distressed Continental Mutual Savings Bank, on July 25, 1930. Its marketing slogan for much of its history was "The Friend of the Family". In April 1982, WaMu purchased

1560-606: The Western Bank name in the Northwest and the WM Business Bank name in California when they decided to exit their ill-fated venture into the commercial banking market that was then dominated with the likes of Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Bank holding company A bank holding company is a company that controls one or more banks , but does not necessarily engage in banking itself. The compound bancorp ( banc / bank + corp[oration] ) or bancorporation

1625-458: The acquisition. The result of the acquisition nearly doubled the total deposits of all WaMu subsidiaries from $ 22   billion to $ 42   billion. In February 1997, the Chatsworth -based Great Western Financial, the holding company for second largest thrift in the nation Great Western Bank , found itself the target of a hostile takeover attempt of arch-rival H. F. Ahmanson & Co. ,

1690-499: The aim of expanding the corporation. By acquiring companies including PNC Mortgage , Fleet Mortgage and Homeside Lending, WaMu became the third-largest mortgage lender in the U.S. With the acquisition of Providian Financial Corporation in October 2005, WaMu became the nation's 9th-largest credit-card company. Many of WaMu's acquisitions became reviled as the rapid post-merger integrations resulted in numerous errors. The purchase of

1755-561: The area was so smokey that the source of the fire could not be determined. Fed by the shop's timber and an unusually dry summer, the blaze erupted and shortly devoured the entire block. A nearby liquor store exploded, and the alcohol fueled the flames. The fire quickly spread north to the Kenyon block and the nearby Madison and Griffith blocks. Wooden boardwalks carried the flames across streets to ignite other blocks. A combination of ill-preparedness and unfortunate circumstances contributed to

1820-584: The basement of the Pontius building", but the original error was often repeated, including in Murray Morgan 's bestselling Seattle history book Skid Road (1951). John Back, a 24-year-old Swede, was heating the glue over a gasoline fire when it boiled over, igniting the wood chips and turpentine covering the floor. Back attempted to douse the fire with water which only served to spread the fire further. The fire department arrived by 2:45, but by that time

1885-410: The city's rodent problems. A new building ordinance resulted in a downtown of brick and stone buildings, rather than wood. In the year following the fire Seattle's population actually grew by nearly 20,000 to 40,000 inhabitants from the influx of people helping to recreate the city. Supplies and funds came from all over the West Coast to support the relief effort. The population increase made Seattle

1950-452: The cleanup process. Over 1 million rodents were killed. Total losses were estimated at nearly $ 20 million ($ 678 million in 2023 dollars). Among the businesses affected were: Despite the magnitude of destruction, the rebuilding effort began quickly. Rather than starting over somewhere else, Seattle's citizens decided to rebuild. Seattle rebuilt from the ashes quickly, and the fire killed many rats and other vermin , thereby eliminating

2015-427: The company's sale to WaMu. In March 2006, WaMu began the move into its new headquarters, WaMu Center , located in downtown Seattle . The company's previous headquarters, WaMu Tower , stands about a block away from the new building on Second Avenue. In August 2006, WaMu began using the official abbreviation of WaMu in all but legal situations. After the acquisition of Murphey Favre, WaMu made numerous acquisitions with

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2080-567: The completed acquisition of all six offices of the failed Walla Walla –based Frontier Federal Savings and Loan Association in Eastern Washington from the Resolution Trust Corporation for $ 1.8   million (~$ 3.71 million in 2023). In September 1990, WaMu announced the completed acquisition of all three Washington branches of the failed Utah-based Williamsburg Federal Savings and Loan Association from

2145-499: The completed acquisition of three Portland -area offices of the failed Portland-based Far West Federal Savings Bank from the Resolution Trust Corporation for $ 2.2   million (~$ 4.1 million in 2023). In October 1995, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Coos Bay –based Western Bank for $ 156   million (~$ 285 million in 2023) in stock. The acquisition was completed in February 1996. Since Western Bank possessed

2210-635: The country while Home Savings had 409 branch offices operating in California and Texas. A few days after the completion of the merger, WaMu announced plans to close 161 branch offices in California. Through the 1998 acquisition of Home Savings, WaMu had gained 48 branch offices in Texas. In August 2000, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Houston -based Bank United Corporation with its 155 branch offices, all located in Texas, for $ 1.49   billion (~$ 2.51 billion in 2023) in stock. The acquisition

2275-487: The fire. By the morning of June 7, the fire had burned 25 city blocks, including the entire business district, four of the city's wharves , and its railroad terminals. The fire would be called the most destructive fire in the history of Seattle. Despite the massive destruction of property, few to no deaths occurred. Some claim a young boy named James Goin was killed in the blaze although no reliable records have been found from that time. However, there were fatalities during

2340-421: The fledgling town was a frequent victim of massive floods, requiring buildings to be built on wooden stilts. The town also used hollowed out scrap logs propped up on wooden braces as sewer and water pipes, increasing the combustible loading. At approximately 2:20 p.m. on June 6, 1889, an accidentally overheated glue pot in a carpentry shop started the most destructive fire in the history of Seattle. The next day,

2405-560: The form of deposits of $ 188.3   billion, and owed $ 82.9   billion to the Federal Home Loan Bank , and had subordinated debt of $ 7.8   billion. It held as assets of $ 118.9   billion in single-family loans, of which $ 52.9   billion were "option adjustable rate mortgages" (option ARMs), with $ 16   billion in subprime mortgage loans, and $ 53.4   billion of Home Equity lines of Credit (HELOCs) and credit cards receivables of $ 10.6   billion. It

2470-413: The great fire. Seattle's water supply was insufficient in fighting the giant inferno. Fire hydrants were sparsely located on every other street, usually connected to small pipes. There were so many hydrants in use during the fire that the water pressure was too weak to fight such a massive blaze. Seattle was also operated by a volunteer fire department , which was competent but inadequate in extinguishing

2535-408: The holding company for the largest thrift in the nation Home Savings of America , that would have involved $ 5.8   billion (~$ 10.2 billion in 2023) worth of stock. Since the two companies had large overlapping territories, many Great Western offices would have been closed by the victor if the takeover attempt had succeeded. The only way the combat a hostile takeover was to find another company,

2600-503: The largest banking institution based upon consumer deposits in the state of Washington, second only to Seafirst . In June 1994, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Bellevue -based Summit Bancorp with its Summit Savings Bank subsidiary for $ 25   million in stock. At the time of the announcement, WaMu had 231 branch offices in Washington and Oregon. The acquisition was completed in November 1994. In June 1995, WaMu announced

2665-478: The largest city in Washington, making it a leading contender in becoming the terminus of the Great Northern Railway . Seattle made many improvements in response to the fire. The Seattle Fire Department was officially established four months later to replace a volunteer organization with a paid force containing new firehouses and a new chief. The city took control of the water supply, increasing

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2730-484: The number of hydrants and adding larger pipes. The advent of brick buildings to downtown Seattle was one of the many architectural improvements the city made in the wake of the fire. New city ordinances set standards for the thickness of walls and required "division walls" between buildings. These changes became principal features of post-fire construction and are still visible in Seattle's Pioneer Square district today,

2795-519: The operations of such companies. This authority applies even though a bank owned by a holding company may be under the primary supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation . Becoming a bank holding company makes it easier for the firm to raise capital than as a traditional bank. The holding company can assume debt of shareholders on

2860-578: The original PNC Mortgage came at a time when subprime lending was in a " boom " period, with PNC Financial Services believing that the market was too volatile. (PNC later re-entered the mortgage market in 2009 through its acquisition of National City Corp. , with no plans to re-enter subprime lending.) The Dime merger resulted in account ownership to be split with account beneficiaries. The Fleet Mortgage merger resulted in entire loans simply disappearing—being serviced, but unable to be found by customer service representatives. In April 1983, WaMu announced

2925-622: The pending acquisition of both Washington state branch offices of the California-based World Savings and Loan Association of America , a subsidiary of Golden West Financial , for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was completed in March 1992. In August 1992, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Lynnwood -based Pioneer Savings Bank for $ 181   million (~$ 353 million in 2023) in stock. The acquisition

2990-485: The pending acquisition of the Irwindale -based H. F. Ahmanson & Company with its Home Savings of America subsidiary for approximately $ 10   billion in stock. The acquisition was completed in October 1998 for only $ 6.9   billion (~$ 12 billion in 2023) in stock. Before the merger was complete, WaMu had a total of 892 branch operating under various names (WaMu, American Savings, Great Western, etc.) across

3055-606: The pending acquisition of the Wenatchee -based Columbia Federal Savings Bank for $ 40   million and also the Seattle-based Shoreline Savings Bank for $ 7.5   million. At the time of the announcement in May 1987, WaMu had 50 branch offices, all within Washington state. Both acquisitions were completed in April 1988. In January 1990, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of all seven offices of

3120-576: The pending acquisition of the Bellevue-based Enterprise Bank for $ 26.8   million (~$ 49 million in 2023) in stock, this was WaMu's entry into the commercial banking sector. Enterprise Bank was a highly profitable one unit carriage trade business bank staffed with highly successful management. WaMu named Tom Cleveland President of the commercial banking unit which later included Western Bank in Coos Bay Oregon. At

3185-544: The pending acquisition of three branch offices from the Tacoma -based United Mutual Savings Bank for $ 3.25   million (~$ 8.36 million in 2023). In April 1984, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Spokane -based Lincoln Mutual Savings Bank with 14 of its 16 branch offices for $ 4.5   million. At the time of the announcement, WaMu had 39 branch offices, mostly in western Washington. In May 1987, WaMu announced

3250-556: The shareholder number was 300), at which point the bank holding company is forced to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission . There are also added expenses of operating with an extra layer of administration. As a result of the 2007–2008 financial crisis , many traditional investment banks and finance corporations such as Goldman Sachs , Morgan Stanley , American Express , CIT Group and GMAC (now Ally Financial ) converted to bank holding companies to gain access to

3315-591: The subsidiary bank's equity holders, senior and subordinated debt (all primarily owned by the holding company) were not assumed by JPMorgan Chase. WaMu was incorporated as the Washington National Building Loan and Investment Association on September 25, 1889, after the Great Seattle Fire destroyed 120 acres (49 ha) of the central business district of Seattle. The newly formed company made its first home mortgage loan on

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3380-560: The time of the announcement in August 1991, WaMu had 84 branch offices, all within Washington state. The acquisition was completed in January 1992. In September 1991, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Bremerton -based GNW Financial Corporation with its Great Northwest Bank subsidiary for $ 64   million (~$ 128 million in 2023) in cash and stock. The acquisition was completed in April 1992. In December 1991, WaMu announced

3445-596: The time of the announcement, WaMu had 250 branch offices in Washington and Oregon while Olympus had eight branch offices in Utah and two in Montana. The acquisition was completed in May 1995. In March 1996, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Ogden -based Utah Federal Savings Bank for an undisclosed amount. At the time of the announcement, Utah Federal had five branch offices while WaMu had 16 within Utah. The acquisition

3510-489: The time of the announcement, WaMu had 260 branch offices. Unlike the previous acquisition targets, Enterprise held a commercial bank charter and not a thrift charter. In April 1991, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the 25 offices in the Portland, Oregon / Vancouver, Washington area from the failing New York –based CrossLand Savings Bank, a subsidiary of Brooklyn Bancorp, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition

3575-542: The two brands, 12 Western Bank branch offices and one WaMu branch office were sold to the Klamath Falls -based Klamath First Bancorp for $ 33   million. In March 1994, WaMu announced that they were planning to expand into the state of Idaho by building new branch offices inside Fred Meyer supermarket stores with the first three being opened in the Boise -area in July and August. In the following year, WaMu opened

3640-406: Was completed in April 1993. At the time of the initial announcement in October 1992, WaMu had 118 branch offices in Washington and Oregon while Pacific First had 127 branch offices in Washington, Oregon and California. Pacific First had previously announced that it was trading its California offices for Great Western's Washington offices. As a result of the Pacific First acquisition, WaMu became one of

3705-594: Was completed in August 1991. The acquisition of the Pacific Northwest branch offices from the New York –based CrossLand Savings Bank that was announced in April 1991 and completed in November 1991 gave WaMu four offices within the state of Washington in addition to other offices located in the state of Oregon. In August 1991, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Seattle-based Sound Savings and Loan Association for an undisclosed amount. At

3770-532: Was completed in December 1996 for $ 15.2   million (~$ 27.3 million in 2023). In September 1996, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the Salt Lake City–based United Western Financial Group Inc. with its United Savings Bank subsidiary for $ 80.3   million (~$ 144 million in 2023) in cash. At the time of the announcement, United Savings Bank had eight branch offices in Utah and one in Idaho. The acquisition

3835-567: Was completed in February 2001. As a result of branch overlap between Bank United and WaMu, 17 branch offices were closed in Texas, 10 of which were in Houston. In June 2001, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the New York City –based Dime Bancorp with its Dime Savings Bank subsidiary for $ 5.2   billion (~$ 8.55 billion in 2023) in cash and stock. The acquisition was completed in January 2002. Dime had 123 branch offices in

3900-556: Was completed in January 1997. In May 1995, WaMu acquired two branch offices in Butte as the result of the acquisition of the Utah-based Olympus Capital Corporation with its Olympus Bank FSB subsidiary. Four years later, WaMu later sold the two offices to Glacier Bancorp in 1999 for an undisclosed amount and quietly left the state of Montana. In July 1996, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of

3965-491: Was completed in March 1993. In October 1992, WaMu announced the pending acquisition of the ailing Seattle-based Pacific First Financial Corporation with its Pacific First Bank subsidiary for $ 663   million (~$ 1.29 billion in 2023) from its Canada-based parent Royal Trustco . The acquisition was contingent on having Pacific First dispose of its branch offices in California and having its Canadian parent Royal Trustco assume all of Pacific First's bad loans. The acquisition

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4030-487: Was completed in November 1991. Seven of the 25 offices were located in Washington with the remainder in Oregon. As part of the transaction, CrossLand Savings closed seven offices in Oregon and three offices in Washington, leaving eleven offices in Oregon and four in Washington. CrossLand had previously entered Oregon (and three other states) through the relatively recent acquisition of the troubled Utah-based Western Savings and Loan Association. The CrossLand acquisition gave WaMu

4095-578: Was originally announced that Great Western offices would be allowed to keep the Great Western name and there were later discussion of converting the American Savings offices to the Great Western brand. In the end, it was felt that it was best for the company to have only one brand throughout the nation instead of multiple regional brands so it was announce in December 1997 that both Great Western and American names would be retired in favor of

4160-426: Was servicing for itself and other banks loans totaling $ 689.7   billion, of which $ 442.7 were for other banks. It had non-performing assets of $ 11.6   billion, including $ 3.23   billion in payment option ARMs and $ 3.0   billion in subprime mortgage loans. On September 15, 2008, the holding company received a credit rating agency downgrade. From that date through September 24, 2008, WaMu experienced

4225-462: Was simultaneously renamed Washington Mutual Bank. The company's stock continued to trade on Nasdaq under WAMU. In October 2005, WaMu purchased the formerly " subprime " credit card issuer Providian for approximately $ 6.5   billion, although Providian's new management team's strategy of targeting Prime credit card consumers had been underway since 2001, therefore the credit card unit's nonperforming loan portfolio had improved significantly prior to

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