-----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,
 Q71pjyRbz1x37/lztY/cqn6mvI5GqbCD2XRuuisVYG2i9bFeZDffY5QBMU7rDwtu
 KywhaX8KK8oVlDBZ6Z+TWA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001242221-03-000002.txt : 20031104
<SEC-HEADER>0001242221-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20031104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031104152234
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001242221-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EATON DWIGHT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242221

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13349
		FILM NUMBER:		03976129

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 316
		CITY:			BROOKSVILLE
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04617

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAR HARBOR BANKSHARES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000743367
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				010393663
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			ME
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		82 MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 400
		CITY:			BAR HARBOR
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04609-0400
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2072883314

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		82 MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 400
		CITY:			BAR HARBOR
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04609-0400
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000743367</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAR HARBOR BANKSHARES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BHB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EATON DWIGHT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 316</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOKSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ME</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>04617</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Bar Harbor Bankshares Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>140</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8975</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dwight L. Eaton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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