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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WiCXuZkWlkt3dOFGHPpGeNeVJbifWb9w9OGry78A19hnRXOv2fv/zGCyST3TJiuk
 l3KN0KDm8nHptwbRhZgbWg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-009556.txt : 20031030
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-009556.hdr.sgml : 20031030
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031030130115
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-009556
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031029
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031030

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCAVOY STEPHEN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207194

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10521
		FILM NUMBER:		03965954

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		606 S. OLIVE STREET, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2133472653

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CITY NATIONAL CORP ,GENERAL COUNSEL
		STREET 2:		400 N ROXBURY DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000201461</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITY NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYN</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207194</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCAVOY STEPHEN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>606 S. OLIVE STREET, 6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-29</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>37.063</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-29</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>60.15</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.063</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-29</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1999-03-02</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2008-03-01</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options vested in four equal annual installments beginning on this date.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Stephen D. McAvoy</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-30</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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