-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 J/L84l1OpaALroNQjeEOcMKglLHdS1N1cVgVMUQ7Q6dQ/LEKF2vyEF49ezSjzxFr
 WeHOZtsRCXh8+TIx0wFzrA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239172-09-000005.txt : 20090213
<SEC-HEADER>0001239172-09-000005.hdr.sgml : 20090213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090213111227
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239172-09-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Crist Frank C JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001363012

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12820
		FILM NUMBER:		09599442

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		434-239-2406

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		767 TURKEY FOOT ROAD
		CITY:			FOREST
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24551

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000741516
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				541284688
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1119

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		628 MAIN ST
		CITY:			DANVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24541
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4347925111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		628 MAIN STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 191
		CITY:			DANVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24543
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000741516</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>amnb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001363012</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Crist Frank C JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>767 TURKEY FOOT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>24551</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>American National Bankshares Inc.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1112.0281</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.5304</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>81034.9556</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>American National Bankshares Inc.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>572.9882</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by daughter</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received through DRIP Plan</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carolyn Compton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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