UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 24, 2004

WESTCORP

23 Pasteur, Irvine, California 92618-3804
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 727-1000

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)

Table of Contents

Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 24, 2004, Westcorp and WFS Financial Inc jointly announced that they had entered into a merger agreement pursuant to which Westcorp will acquire the outstanding 16% common stock interest of WFS Financial not already owned by Westcorp’s wholly owned subsidiary, Western Financial Bank. In connection with the merger, Westcorp also announced that it was filing an application with the California Department of Financial Institutions to convert Western Financial Bank’s current federal thrift charter to a California state bank charter. The transaction is subject to, among other closing conditions, the conversion of the charter, the receipt of regulatory approvals and the approval of a majority of WFS Financial’s shareholders, other than shares controlled by Westcorp. A copy of that press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits.

          The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

          Exhibit 99.1 – Westcorp Press Release dated May 24, 2004

SIGNATURE

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

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