<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000109380</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZION</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184843</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAVAGE STANLEY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SOUTH MAIN STREET, 15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84133-1109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP &amp; Pres. Of Subsidiary</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8880.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28390.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1578.726</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>612.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-09-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>612.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6867.531</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>670.337</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-09-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>670.337</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7537.868</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted units granted under the Zions Bancorporation 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  Restricted units vest 25% per year for 4 years. Any vesting or lapse of restrictions is subject to TARP regulations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On April 12, 2010 the Zions Bancorporation 401(K) Plan was converted from a unitized stock fund to real-time traded stock.  The shares reported reflect the converted amount.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of ZION common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are issuable in respect of restricted stock units that represent a portion of the reporting person's salary, net of withholdings and deduction, and that were issued under the Zions Bancorporation 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  For more information, please see the Current Report 8-K filed by Zions Bancorporation on January 26, 2011.  Restricted stock units are 100% vested on the date of grant but are subject to transfer restrictions that lapse beginning on September 30, 2012 and that lapse in full on the reporting person's earlier death.  These units will settle in cash payments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The Stock Units will be paid in cash in increments of 100% as of September 30, 2012</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Thomas E. Laursen as attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-01-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0304
4
2012-01-27
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001184843
SAVAGE STANLEY D
ONE SOUTH MAIN STREET, 15TH FLOOR
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84133-1109
0
1
0
0
Exec VP & Pres. Of Subsidiary
Common Stock
2012-01-27
4
A
0
8880.
A
28390.
D
Common Stock
1578.726
I
By 401(k) Plan
Phantom Stock
2012-01-27
4
A
0
612.
0
A
2012-09-30
Common Stock
612.
6867.531
D
Phantom Stock
2012-01-27
4
A
0
670.337
0
A
2012-09-30
Common Stock
670.337
7537.868
D
Restricted units granted under the Zions Bancorporation 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  Restricted units vest 25% per year for 4 years. Any vesting or lapse of restrictions is subject to TARP regulations.
On April 12, 2010 the Zions Bancorporation 401(K) Plan was converted from a unitized stock fund to real-time traded stock.  The shares reported reflect the converted amount.
Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of ZION common stock.
These shares are issuable in respect of restricted stock units that represent a portion of the reporting person's salary, net of withholdings and deduction, and that were issued under the Zions Bancorporation 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  For more information, please see the Current Report 8-K filed by Zions Bancorporation on January 26, 2011.  Restricted stock units are 100% vested on the date of grant but are subject to transfer restrictions that lapse beginning on September 30, 2012 and that lapse in full on the reporting person's earlier death.  These units will settle in cash payments.
The Stock Units will be paid in cash in increments of 100% as of September 30, 2012
By Thomas E. Laursen as attorney in fact
2012-01-31