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:  January 11, 2001


                        GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        ---------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Delaware                    1-4529                  95-2080059
---------------------------  --------------------   ----------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File          (I.R.S. Employer
 of Incorporation or                 Number)               Identification No.)
 Organization)


1901 Harrison Street, Oakland, California                             94612
-----------------------------------------                        ---------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:              (510) 446-3420
                                                                 ---------------

<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events

         On December 31, 2000,  Golden West Financial  Corporation (the Company)
merged two of its principal,  wholly owned subsidiaries,  World Savings and Loan
Association and World Savings Bank, FSB. The name of the new consolidated entity
is World Savings Bank, FSB.

         The  merger  is not  expected  to  have  a  significant  effect  on the
operations or financial results of the Company.


                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                               GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Dated:  January 11, 2001                          /s/ Russell W. Kettell
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Russell W. Kettell
                                                  President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer


                                                  /s/ William C. Nunan
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  William C. Nunan
                                                  Chief Accounting Officer
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2787}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORP /DE/", "cik": "0000042293", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "952080059", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-04629", "film-number": "1507233"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1901 HARRISON STREET", "city": "OAKLAND", "state": "CA", "zip": "94612", "phone": "5104663402"}, "mail-address": {"street2": "1901 HARRISON STREET", "city": "OAKLAND", "state": "CA", "zip": "94612"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "TRANS WORLD FINANCIAL CORP", "date-changed": "19760806"}, {"former-conformed-name": "TRANS WORLD FINANCIAL CO", "date-changed": "19751124"}]}
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:  January 11, 2001

                        GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        ---------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Delaware                    1-4529                  95-2080059
---------------------------  --------------------   ----------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File          (I.R.S. Employer
 of Incorporation or                 Number)               Identification No.)
 Organization)

1901 Harrison Street, Oakland, California                             94612
-----------------------------------------                        ---------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:              (510) 446-3420
                                                                 ---------------
Item 5.  Other Events

         On December 31, 2000,  Golden West Financial  Corporation (the Company)
merged two of its principal,  wholly owned subsidiaries,  World Savings and Loan
Association and World Savings Bank, FSB. The name of the new consolidated entity
is World Savings Bank, FSB.

         The  merger  is not  expected  to  have  a  significant  effect  on the
operations or financial results of the Company.

                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                               GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Dated:  January 11, 2001                          /s/ Russell W. Kettell
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Russell W. Kettell
                                                  President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer

                                                  /s/ William C. Nunan
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  William C. Nunan
                                                  Chief Accounting Officer