Thrift Will Close 9 Branches in O.C.

Washington Mutual Inc. said Thursday it will close nine branches in Orange County as part of a move to consolidate operations that the Seattle-based thrift acquired in mergers with Great Western Financial Corp. and American Savings bank.

The cuts, most of them planned for the second quarter of 1998, involve branches whose territories overlap.

Branches scheduled to close in Orange County:

* Buena Park--American Savings Bank, 8231 La Palma Ave.

* Costa Mesa--Great Western Bank, 3200 Park Center Drive

* Huntington Beach--Great Western Bank, 16141 Beach Blvd.

* Irvine--American Savings Bank, 17877 Von Karman Ave.

* Laguna Hills--Great Western Bank, 24100 El Toro Road

* Newport Beach--Great Western Bank, 450 Newport Center Drive

* Orange--Great Western Bank, 1915 N. Tustin St.

* Tustin--Great Western Bank, 13031 Newport Ave.

* San Juan Capistrano--American Savings Bank, 31877 Del Obispo St.