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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PggkkyDSMD7TuwjC0axzgYk7AfzjiKcllkrgw8QL77JJ8UAVHp4BBDnu5wGHLem5
 XRsKZgKpF9ItYxiiwgodbg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000939057-03-000356.txt : 20031117
<SEC-HEADER>0000939057-03-000356.hdr.sgml : 20031117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031117162311
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000939057-03-000356
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031117

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANNER CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000946673
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				911691604
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 S FIRST AVENUE
		CITY:			WALLA WALLA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99362
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5095273636

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 S FIRST AVENUE
		CITY:			WALLA WALLA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99362

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST WASHINGTON BANCORP INC /WA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980727

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST SAVINGS BANK OF WASHINGTON BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950614

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOSTER JESSE G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187848

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26584
		FILM NUMBER:		031008258

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BANNER CORP
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 907
		CITY:			WALLA WALLA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99362
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5095273636

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BANNER CORP
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 907
		CITY:			WALLA WALLA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99362
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-14</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946673</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANNER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BANR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187848</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOSTER JESSE G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BANNER CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 907</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALLA WALLA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99362</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5.18</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.28</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11463</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom Stock Units acquired pursuant to deferred compensation agreement; settled in stock at termination of service.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes direct ownership of 986 shares through Deferred Compensation Plan and 4,366 shares through Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  Also includes indirect ownership of 4,686 shares through spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jesse G. Foster</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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