-----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,
 Oj8aqyjdA81le/3aC0/Qp+9Wvi/0DiqojHoY8IjJCkXzi2xv7SA8qMuXxT/29iUo
 be4w71iFMF9x8oxv9dgtrg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000854395-08-000031.txt : 20080818
<SEC-HEADER>0000854395-08-000031.hdr.sgml : 20080818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080818110215
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000854395-08-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080818
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080818

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000854395
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				611168311
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2323 RING ROAD
		CITY:			ELIZABETHTOWN
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2707652131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2323 RING ROAD
		CITY:			ELIZABETHTOWN
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42701

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST FEDERAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHANEY CHARLES E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18832
		FILM NUMBER:		081024274

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 5006
		CITY:			ELIZABETHTOWN
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42702-5006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2707652131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
		STREET 2:		2323 RING ROAD
		CITY:			ELIZABETHTOWN
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			42701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000854395</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFKY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHANEY CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2323 RING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELIZABETHTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>42701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>565</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5349</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles E. Chaney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----