-----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,
 RogFI+HCM2+LSxZ72kJInH6tuXd3kFwWMTSHJUb38qyhR7lgyg5cT9YjtL06XjGb
 6DAGd0adhCtyixu8OenYLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-003670.txt : 20030717
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-003670.hdr.sgml : 20030717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030717101538
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-003670
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030717

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000857593
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				460391436
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124-0001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7012985600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124-0001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANDERSON THOMAS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185786

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19368
		FILM NUMBER:		03790447

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		520 MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124-0001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7012985623

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		520 MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124-0001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-07</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000857593</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CFBX</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185786</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANDERSON THOMAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (CFBX)</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>19.5625</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50251</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (CFBX)</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7021</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>27.86</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43230</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (CFBX)</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>555</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>27.86</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47293</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option - Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.5625</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>19.5625</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1998-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2009-02-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option - Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.86</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7576</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>27.86</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2009-02-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>7576</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7576</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">The original filing on 5/7/03 was not accepted by the SEC due to system processing delays. The transaction was subsequently returned due to an input error.  Per instructions from the SEC, manual forms were resubmitted, but were not accepted, as the manual filing deadline had passed.  As of this date, 47,293 shares are held directly by the reporting person.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Securities sold to facilitate withholding relative to non-qualified options.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Includes 42675 shares held directly and 4618 shares held indirectly in 401(k) plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">The option becomes exercisable with respect to one-third of the shares per year, commencing one year from the date of grant, which is also nine years prior to the expiration date.</footnote>
<footnote id="F5">Option acquired via reload feature of $19.5625 option grant.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Galen O. Skarphol, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----