-----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,
 NCvHq7kxYFJN43nnXGuACmC+ZdwYDPop4z7aAK0I0I+rlVrtfWHJLXipLgNZThRo
 4NJur5GCPYWnlYMPdIZRfQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001238309-04-000001.txt : 20040504
<SEC-HEADER>0001238309-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040504120707
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001238309-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040504

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TUCKER ALLEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238309

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12431
		FILM NUMBER:		04776268

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNITYBANK CORP
		STREET 2:		64 OLD HWY 22
		CITY:			CLINTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08809

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITY BANCORP INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920427
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				223282551
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		64 OLD HIGHWAY 22
		CITY:			CLINTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08809
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9087307630

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		64 OLD HIGHWAY 22
		CITY:			CLINTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08809
</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>2004-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920427</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITY BANCORP INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>unty</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238309</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TUCKER ALLEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITYBANK CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>64 OLD HWY 22</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLINTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08809</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Vice-Chairman</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Connom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>420</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>115595</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Allen Tucker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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