-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KdWKncYtS+2Tp9XeGeiWGSMqs36/qSg/WwEixk3SP1g8kHdA1MqGqk6TbJMsxzS2
 P7dJHdWoL2zksi9oY9sDoA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181606-03-000001.txt : 20030721
<SEC-HEADER>0001181606-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030721113156
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181606-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030721

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:		03794052

	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>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-21</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>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chairman</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>126</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>24.06</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <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>126</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>39723</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <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>2003-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----