ADVISORY/Washington Mutual Launches Retail Banking in the Big Apple in a Big Way; Killinger Rings Opening Bell At the New York Stock Exchange; Action Teller Dolls Debut in New York.

News Desk, Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...For Monday (July 22)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHO/
WHAT:   Kerry Killinger, Chairman, CEO and President of Washington
        Mutual, will ring the opening bell for the New York Stock
        Exchange -- signaling the company's retail banking entry in
        the Big Apple.

        Additionally, WaMu will hand out over 3,000 Action Teller
        Dolls to traders and other NYSE staff on the exchange floor at
        market open.

WHEN/
WHERE:  Monday, July 22 at market opening (9:25 a.m. ET;
        6:25 a.m. PT), New York Stock Exchange, New York City.

        Note: Video footage of the opening bell event is available via
        satellite from the New York Stock Exchange beginning at
        9:25 a.m. ET.
        Fiber line: Waterfront #1630
        Satellite: Telstar 6, Transponder 11, C-Band

WHY?    WaMu is launching a new marketing campaign in the New
        York-New Jersey area following its recent conversion of the
        former Dime Bancorp network. The campaign will feature new TV,
        radio and print advertising -- which will follow the tone of
        the bank's humorous, tongue-in-cheek advertising campaigns of
        the past.

        Why teller dolls? The quirky Action Teller dolls have become a
        symbol of the bank's corporate culture and the philosophy that
        a great customer experience depends on bank tellers and other
        front line employees.