-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 oD5zqi1C0/dO9h6coB2y+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-010577.txt : 20030611
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-010577.hdr.sgml : 20030611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030611111649
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-010577
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030611

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 FRANK B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000923507

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16715
		FILM NUMBER:		03740014

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST CO
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1377
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27577
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9199893201

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST CO
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1377
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27577
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd10894.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAY 21, 2003 FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798941</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCNCA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923507</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLDING FRANK B</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>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>278</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>99.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>120186</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
<footnoteId id="F4"/>
<footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>By spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>150</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>99.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>267333</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>By adult children and their spouses and children</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">In addition to the listed shares, the reporting person directly owns 1,633,003 shares of the issuer&apos;s Class A common stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">In addition to the listed shares, the reporting person may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 428,889 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 extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">In addition to the listed shares of Class A common stock, the reporting person may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own shares of the issuer&apos;s Class B common stock as follows: 250 shares held by his spouse; and 545,287 shares of Class B held by or in trust for the reporting person&apos;s adult children, their spouses and their children.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all those 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="F4">In addition to the listed shares of Class A common stock, the reporting person may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own an aggregate of 69,344 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="F5">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or for any other purpose.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Frank B. Holding, By : William R. Lathan, Jr., Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-06-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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