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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NbuUi3lPAnAnBbYh4WkcEdmoMuUvefDQE6Q/43X/3xe3JTxzk2K9nPgL54tNLXCV
 oqahy80YSciFio2n2LjrtA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001220183-03-000003.txt : 20031222
<SEC-HEADER>0001220183-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031222164105
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001220183-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOCH CHARLES JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001220183

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15495
		FILM NUMBER:		031068041

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL INC
		STREET 2:		1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165665300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000819692
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				341567092
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1215 SUPERIOR AVE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165665300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		STREET 2:		1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001220183d20031222f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000819692</issuerCik><issuerName>CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001220183</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KOCH CHARLES JOHN</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>44114-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and Chief Executive O</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></r
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alue></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2007-01-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3052</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3052</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.57</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-01-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-01-17</value></e
xpirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>422130</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>422130</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.17</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>248494</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sh
aresOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>248494</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-01-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>133315</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>133315</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></n
atureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.28</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>260979</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>260979</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.09</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDat
e><value>2002-01-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>263081</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>263081</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.01</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>238
385</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>238385</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-12-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>263803</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>263803</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwne
rship><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.09</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-01-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>251563</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>251563</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTi
tle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.76</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-19</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>251948</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2007-01-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>251948</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>251948</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTran
sactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Balance reflects 3000 less shares due to transfer of shares to the Family Limited Partnership.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 3000 shares transferred from direct holdings.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Became general partner along with brother, John D. Koch, on December 19, 2003. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of CF common stock held by FLP except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Vana, Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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