We inspire smiles
of every style.

A lot of people talk about diversity, but at WaMu, we live it. For years, we’ve been building an employee base with people of all backgrounds and talents. Why? Because it’s great for people, and it’s great for business. Studies show that an inclusive workplace helps improve innovation, company performance, and job satisfaction. And we’re all for that.

Our numbers say a lot about our commitment to diversity. Some 48% of our employees and 31% of our managers are people of color. Women make up 63% of our workforce and 51% of company management. And every year, we strive to award 15% of our supplier contracts to companies that are at least 51% owned by minorities, women, and/or disabled veterans.

A few years ago, we hired the African-American-owned startup Service Everywhere to provide lock and key service to our branches. Today, it has grown into a nationally recognized company, and we couldn’t be happier.

“Working with WaMu is a wonderful experience,” says President Sherra Aguirre. “They have been a partner, interested in our business, and have mentored us along the way.”

In 2007, we made our strongest commitment to diversity yet. First, we formed a Diversity Committee, made up of WaMu leaders, to create a formal strategy to promote diversity at WaMu. We set goals for promoting and recruiting more Latinos, African-Americans, and women to top management positions. And we established Employee Networking Groups, where like-minded employees can share experiences and champion causes they’re passionate about. We also launched a pilot program aimed at using California’s small, minority-owned businesses to help us reach our supplier diversity goals.

In short, we’re doing everything we can to make WaMu even more inclusive than it already is. For us, diversity is not just a policy or an idea. It’s a way of life.