-----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,
 QOmUE4/lDfdlg4+PiMjAelDpTr9spkST0X+6TBblt0TJrVThvK3Dk3oo5O87Z+dM
 6Jl+ZJ00p8U9ebtczGpmgQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-002395.txt : 20030627
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-002395.hdr.sgml : 20030627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030626174521
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-002395
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030626
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030627

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZIFFREN KENNETH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185247

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10521
		FILM NUMBER:		03759315

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ZIFFREN, BRITTENHAM, BRANCA
		STREET 2:		1801 CENTRY PARK WEST
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITY NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000201461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				952568550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N ROXBURY DR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3108886000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N ROXBURY DR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-06-26
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000201461</issuerCik><issuerName>CITY NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001185247</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ZIFFREN KENNETH</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><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Director stock option (right to buy)</val
ue><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-26</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>500</va
lue></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Director Stock Option, under City National Corporation 2002 Omnibus Plan, which is exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael B. Cahill, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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