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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RYshgd82HE13YYhcyryW89xQh236byrqNd5XOMBHlbtxlywTtic9dA5iQoZjBZH2
 ekn1WRI3kKsD7Xzy/3RzQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721994-04-000014.txt : 20040116
<SEC-HEADER>0000721994-04-000014.hdr.sgml : 20040116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040116160735
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721994-04-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040116

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000721994
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				351559596
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		202 E CENTER ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1387
		CITY:			WARSAW
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46581-1387
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5742676144

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		202 E CENTER ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1387
		CITY:			WARSAW
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46581

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEININGER DONALD B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189419

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11487
		FILM NUMBER:		04529886

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LAKE CITY BANK
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1387
		CITY:			WARSAW
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46581-1387
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5742676144

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6914 WOODCROFT
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46804
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001189419d20040116f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000721994</issuerCik><issuerName>LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>LKFN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001189419</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>STEININGER DONALD B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>6914 WOODCROFT</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>FORT WAYNE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>46804</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable>
</nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-06-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-06-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.37</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2008-12-09
</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>252.5</value></underlyingSecurityShares></unde
rlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>252.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-10-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><val
ue></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-16</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>252.5</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>36.3</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-16</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-16</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyi
ngSecurityShares><value>252.5</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>252.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Each phantom stock unit exersises into 1 share of Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom stock is exercisable after the directors' retirement as a Board member.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Phantom shares expire after the directors' retirement as a Board member.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Teresa A. Bartman, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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