-----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,
 RwevLoMkXDs7EDEC9+7bGm71qb2XVm5wSE3gBRi581314rSIsYeaP6YO4pqKRTu7
 QIIR6xcos7kDMXytnHnQLw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001276854-09-000002.txt : 20090130
<SEC-HEADER>0001276854-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090130110828
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001276854-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALL LAWRENCE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276854

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15204
		FILM NUMBER:		09556563

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2908 WAKFIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			BLACKSBURG
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24060

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000796534
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				541375874
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUBBARD STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 90002
		CITY:			BLACKSBURG
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24060
		BUSINESS PHONE:		540-951-6300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUBBARD STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 90002
		CITY:			BLACKSBURG
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24060
</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>2009-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000796534</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nksh</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276854</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALL LAWRENCE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1811 MOUNTAINSIDE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLACKSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>24060</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>2009-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>699</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2699</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lawrence J. Ball</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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