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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,
 RL0tNH0xBS1ppYl+2KLx31ZDP08WtLkEssSRXmz5uWNm5h0Fe+H5JXRYs0xmUln5
 9iYz6/lUcHuFzS5X3zRAZA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001220219-03-000002.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001220219-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030613131111
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001220219-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030613

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMON LEONARD S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001220219

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15495
		FILM NUMBER:		03743354

	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>c0001220219d20030613f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000819692</issuerCik><issuerName>CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001220219</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SIMON LEONARD S</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>6.2</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>362492</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFor
mType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>31.8</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>312492</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified   Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.2</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transac
tionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-01-03</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-11-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>145118</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Vana</signa
tureName><signatureDate>2003-06-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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