-----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,
 Ne9sh7r4quAl+8SpGRi2jxl0CfyWvKdI89ECXIpb1MsXwWyDNLlKCK8KQVOPO/+X
 IH5Fu4SZo/9vJ6sR/dui3w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001248890-10-000001.txt : 20100303
<SEC-HEADER>0001248890-10-000001.hdr.sgml : 20100303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100303122454
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001248890-10-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PECK JOHN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248887

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23667
		FILM NUMBER:		10652242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 FORT CAMPBELL BLVD
		STREET 2:		C/O HOPFED INC
		CITY:			HOPKINSVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42240

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOPFED BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041550
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				561995728
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 FORT CAMPBELL BLVD
		CITY:			HOPKINSVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42440
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5028851171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 FORT CAMPBELL BLVD
		CITY:			HOPKINSVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42440
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041550</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOPFED BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>hfbc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248887</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PECK JOHN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 537</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O HOPFED INC</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOPKINSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>42241-0537</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>HopFed Bancorp, Inc.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>140</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>HopFed Bancorp, Inc.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-07-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-07-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>HopFed Bancorp, Inc.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34403</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>Mr. Peck exercised 30,000 options under the 2000 Stock Option Plan.
Under a net share settlement, Mr. Peck received 3,800 shares of HopFed Bancorp stock based on a $10.00 strike price and a $11.45 market price at the close of busienss on 3/3/2010</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  John E. Peck</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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