-----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,
 UMqaq2iW44r3vmyosZ+OtraRnlVkuHu8Mex1f6LVScffOxD4l7oFPXCQodcBd7aa
 s2yEO9GrKQR9/Mz04DSHXQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-010145.txt : 20030605
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-010145.hdr.sgml : 20030605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030605170924
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-010145
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030604
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030605

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798941
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				561528994
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		239 FAYETTEVILLE STREET MALL
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9197557000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 27131
		STREET 2:		CTWO7
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27611-7131

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOLDING LEWIS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014532
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16715
		FILM NUMBER:		03734514

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		POST OFFICE BOX 151
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		919755701

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 151
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd10548.xml
<DESCRIPTION>JUNE 4, 2003 FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-04</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798941</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCNCA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014532</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLDING LEWIS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-04</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>100</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>100.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>22027</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
<footnoteId id="F4"/>
<footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">In addition to the listed shares of Class B common stock, the reporting person may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own shares of the issuer&apos;s Class B common stock as follows:  12,025 shares held by his spouse and 581 shares held by his adult daughter.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all those indirectly held shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of those shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Act of 1934 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">In addition to the listed shares of Class B common stock, the reporting person may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own an aggregate of 70,019 shares of the issuer&apos;s Class B common stock held by corporations in which he is a director and/or principal shareholder, but he disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">In addition to the listed shares of Class B common stock, the reporting person directly owns 695,529 shares of the issuer&apos;s Class A common stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">In addition to the listed shares of Class B common stock, the reporting person may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own shares of the issuer&apos;s Class A common stock as follows:  48,963 shares held by his spouse and 25,129 shares held by his adult daughter.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all those indirectly held shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of those shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
<footnote id="F5">In addition to the listed shares of Class B common stock, the reporting person may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own an aggregate of 411,029 shares of the issuer&apos;s Class A common stock held by corporations in which he is a director and/or principal shareholder, but he disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares except to the extenet of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Lewis R. Holding, By: William R. Lathan, Jr., Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-06-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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