Golden West Financial has successfully pursued a single-minded business strategy for over 40 years, piling up consistent profits as the last major lender of a nearly extinct species: the thrift portfolio lender. The company’s founders – Herbert and Marion Sandler – describe their $93 billion institution as a “simple, straightforward and uncomplicated” thrift built on what has become a unique business model. Golden West focuses almost exclusively on generating ARMs for its retained portfolio and major