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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263181</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FEIGER GEORGE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SOUTH MAIN, 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 Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>276.121</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-03-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>276.121</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4301.4359</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each unit is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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 March 31, 2013, and that lapse in full on the reporting person's earlier death.  These units will settle in cash payments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock units will be paid in cash increments of 100% as of March 31, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Thomas E. Laursen as attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-01-04
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001263181
FEIGER GEORGE
ONE SOUTH MAIN, 15TH FLOOR
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84133-1109
0
1
0
0
Exec Vice President
Phantom Stock
2013-01-04
4
A
0
276.121
0
A
2013-03-31
Common Stock
276.121
4301.4359
D
Each unit is the economic equivalent of one share of 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 March 31, 2013, 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 increments of 100% as of March 31, 2013.
By Thomas E. Laursen as attorney in fact
2013-01-08