-----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,
 C9nUbUQmpAA8Wff1vPgYc3Z+lwgp5oXNObpI5pbBKxmALd2q06fODGIghHzW0Plu
 e0oi/AdD0fOLsicIrMnDgA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-017261.txt : 20030808
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-017261.hdr.sgml : 20030808
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030808163620
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-017261
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030808

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUERRA R DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256138

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09439
		FILM NUMBER:		03832223

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1359
		CITY:			LAREDO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9567227611

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTERNATIONAL BANCSHARES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000315709
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				742157138
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12OO SAN BERNARDO AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1359
		CITY:			LAREDO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78040-1359
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9567227611

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1359
		STREET 2:		1200 SAN BERNARDO
		CITY:			LAREDO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78040
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-08-08</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000315709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERNATIONAL BANCSHARES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IBOC</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256138</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUERRA R DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>8298</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>37.75</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>249503</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/S/ R. DAVID GUERRA</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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