-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Tqrc86y0QOlfqZtgUiGdMaYX3XUHME+wWaSoRKSP8bGWWRk8C3eP1f/Lj5GcrOvK
 g7HzTMnLdwDYrWkYZ3JP2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-009004.txt : 20030527
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-009004.hdr.sgml : 20030526
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030527155916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-009004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030527

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARTIN WILLIAM C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205885

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25681
		FILM NUMBER:		03719976

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 CLARIDGE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 10
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08540

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 CLARIDGE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 10
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08540

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANKRATE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080866
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				650423422
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11811 US HIGHWAY ONE
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			N PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5616277330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11811 US HIGHWAY ONE
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			N PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ILIFE COM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000329

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTELLIGENT LIFE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd9826.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAY 2003 FORM 4 (3)
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-23</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001080866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANKRATE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RATE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205885</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTIN WILLIAM C</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>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>20000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>2.88</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>43215</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Director Stock Option</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>2.88</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>20000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2002-04-25</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-04-25</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>55000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>William C. Martin</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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