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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,
 TKBbdzo6ONIfVZdb7+XOZQW0cZJ6f7nsoNHXJbt6+PfgHiWKuAWh5uP59ZRMydZW
 7mqTJnm8+GO/HZWOe06LPw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-018442.txt : 20030821
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-018442.hdr.sgml : 20030821
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030821163148
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-018442
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030821

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:		03860457

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNA
		STREET 2:		CNA PLAZA, 40S
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c78595-03jrl.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-20</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></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>President &amp; CEO, P&amp;C </officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><non
DerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>737</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.16</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9263</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 obli
gations 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>2003-08-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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