-----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,
 DalVdEej1Bz7bCsunl030XrDzzcCR8cF7gG0HNMpwetVqHSjpCGDofgMsC8fEKQW
 D1HsfLsoHB4AAdRhlCqnnA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-048334.txt : 20050823
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-048334.hdr.sgml : 20050823
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050823124533
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-048334
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050823
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050823

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CNA FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000021175
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				366169860
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNA PLZ
		STREET 2:		235
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3128225000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNA PLAZA
		STREET 2:		235
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEWIS JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201423

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05823
		FILM NUMBER:		051043104

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNA
		STREET 2:		CNA PLAZA, 40S
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd90202.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000021175</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CNA FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201423</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEWIS JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CNA CENTER, 40S</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60685</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres.&amp;CEO, P&amp;C Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>782</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7744</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Company's 2000 Incentive Compensation Plan permits the withholding of shares of common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations of the participants upon the lapse of restrictions on those shares. As previously reported, these shares were granted to Mr. Lewis on September 21, 2001. These shares are not sold on the open market but are retired.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James R. Lewis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----