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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 KHnUldL4pRLcvO3Vww8/6w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001186184-04-000002.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0001186184-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123152315
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001186184-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REED WILLIAM R JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186184

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16607
		FILM NUMBER:		04540578

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186184</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REED WILLIAM R JR</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>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>290663</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>252980</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>832</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.58</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-09-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1999-09-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>832</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6839</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person's direct non-derivative securities holdings includes 61,029.6810 shares held in the Issuer's Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2003. The Plan does not unitize stock holdings for participants. Consequently, the shares included in the Reporting Person's ownership are computed based upon the Reporting Person's total account balance of the funds that hold the Issuer's stock divided by the Issuer's closing stock price as of December 31, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pay-out of Issuer shares in accordance with terms of NCF Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 209 shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Naudain L Machen attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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