-----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,
 QYHMRK1ZZR7/uxeqjqqzUllkkLs26yACzdKPAsud7vt4zRPZOSK38SsnXSSEVxnf
 jntgaFDVtryudVkIz7BNwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-003389.txt : 20090212
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-003389.hdr.sgml : 20090212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090212133846
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-003389
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090212
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROSOFF WILLIAM A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193188

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14120
		FILM NUMBER:		09593578

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ADVANTA CORP
		STREET 2:		WELSH & MCLEAN ROAD P O BOX 918
		CITY:			SPRING HOUSE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19477-0918

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADVANTA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000096638
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERSONAL CREDIT INSTITUTIONS [6141]
		IRS NUMBER:				231462070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 844
		STREET 2:		WELSH & MCKEAN ROADS
		CITY:			SPRING HOUSE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19477
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2154445341

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WELSH & MCKEAN ROADS
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 844
		CITY:			SPRING HOUSE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19477-0844

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TSO FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880306

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TEACHERS SERVICE ORGANIZATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850812
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096638</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADVANTA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADVNB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193188</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROSOFF WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WELSH &amp; MCKEAN ROADS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 918</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRING HOUSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>194770918</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President and Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6667</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6667</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vested in four equal annual increments beginning on March 1, 2000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The two reported transactions involved the amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; option and the grant of a replacement option. The option was originally granted on March 1, 1999 and became fully vested on March 1, 2003. The option was due to expire on February 28, 2009 and now will expire on February 28, 2014.  All other terms of the option remain unchanged.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Liane Browne, attorney-in-fact for Reporting Person</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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