-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EX6vuiw5Nw/kdtIZREyMpTIrLKLEzhLX/jIqDXXz+YtWuuscE7Ujy1wxqXK6QkwU
 voMT3mH/vuqc406NjjVOyA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000913849-05-000702.txt : 20051004
<SEC-HEADER>0000913849-05-000702.hdr.sgml : 20051004
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051004184938
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000913849-05-000702
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051004
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051004

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRIVATEBANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000889936
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				363681151
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TEN NORTH DEARBORN SUITE 900
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126837100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TEN NORTH DEARBORN STREET
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUYETTE JAMES M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184762

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25887
		FILM NUMBER:		051123175

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PRICELINE COM INC
		STREET 2:		800 CONNECTICUT AVENUE
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06854
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2032998000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 TOLLGATE WAY
		CITY:			FALLS CHURCH
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22046
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000889936</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRIVATEBANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PVTB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUYETTE JAMES M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 TOLLGATE WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FALLS CHURCH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22046</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>98.02</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.28</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>98.02</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2806.97</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units convert to common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units are to be settled in common stock upon the date elected by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Lisa M. O'Neill, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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