-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Hn52HV2MoWy89YffCTy1CjqbrBFIxXRf8OnKCVGptSeoIYXmHWAJDo5DV34PsaE3
 gA+uFJ67V6HyDrBRPgtodQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001068746-03-000007.txt : 20031006
<SEC-HEADER>0001068746-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20031006
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031006150313
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001068746-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031003
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031006

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL COMMERCE FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000101844
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				620784645
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMMERCE SQ
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38150
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9014156416

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMMERCE SQ
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38150

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL COMMERCE BANCORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950822

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNITED TENNESSEE BANCSHARES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780820

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNITED TENNESSEE BANSHARES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780525

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDONALD EUGENE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001068746
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16607
		FILM NUMBER:		03929638

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST UNION PLAZA
		STREET 2:		ERWIN SQUARE STE 1000
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27707
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9192866600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST UNION PLAZA
		STREET 2:		ERWIN SQUARE STE 1000
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27707
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-03</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101844</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL COMMERCE FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ncf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001068746</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDONALD EUGENE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE COMMERCE SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38150</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>CHAIRMAN</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PHANTOM STOCK UNITS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1457</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1457</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41704</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">PURSUANT TO ISSUER'S DIRECTOR FEE DEFERRAL PLAN.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">PAYABLE IN CASH ON EXERCISE DATE.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>NAUDAIN L MACHEN ATTORNEY IN FACT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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