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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUCHANAN DANNE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUITE 1134</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice Pres.</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Comp</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>171.9723</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>57.2243</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>171.9723</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>171.9723</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each unit represents one share of the company's Common
Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The deemed execution date for this transaction is
3/25/2004. This is the date the shares were distributed to
each employee by the Company's third-party administrator
and the Company was notified of the transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This amount represents Employer profit sharing
distributions attributable to deferred compensation amounts
and compensation in excess of IRS limitations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Units are paid out in cash upon the earlier of death,
retirement or termination of employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clark Hinckley, Attorney In Fact for D. Buchanan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2004-03-22
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001184831
BUCHANAN DANNE L
ONE SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUITE 1134
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
0
1
0
0
Executive Vice Pres.
Deferred Comp
0.00
2004-03-22
4
J
0
171.9723
57.2243
A
Common Stock
171.9723
171.9723
D
Each unit represents one share of the company's Common
Stock.
The deemed execution date for this transaction is
3/25/2004. This is the date the shares were distributed to
each employee by the Company's third-party administrator
and the Company was notified of the transaction.
This amount represents Employer profit sharing
distributions attributable to deferred compensation amounts
and compensation in excess of IRS limitations.
Units are paid out in cash upon the earlier of death,
retirement or termination of employment.
Clark Hinckley, Attorney In Fact for D. Buchanan
2004-03-25