-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VYcQSs+/AbhCZLMHNOd6cw663qTjBxu4TltGwLCgMvYfQ4KaKv7binv69IgKrFUT
 v2+fUi2Sihyhzj4ockGpqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-033408.txt : 20031201
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-033408.hdr.sgml : 20031201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031201144052
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-033408
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031201

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMONWEALTH BANKSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000835012
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				541460991
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		403 BOUSH ST
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23510
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8044466900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		403 BOUSH STREET
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23510

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODWARD E J JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001261579

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17377
		FILM NUMBER:		031029786

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMMONWEALTH BANKSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1177
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23501-1177
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7574466900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMMONWEALTH BANKSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1177
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23501-1177
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd24198.xml
<DESCRIPTION>STOCK PURCHASE
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000835012</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMONWEALTH BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CWBS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001261579</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOODWARD E J JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 1177</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORFOLK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23501</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President/CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>48567.415</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares purchased for son in the name of Troy Brandon Woodard</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>E. J. Woodard, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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