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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184841</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PORTER ROGER B</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Comp</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75.1126</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>71.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75.1126</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14842.5313</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Comp</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-10-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>202.6555</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>71.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>202.6555</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15045.1868</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">On the date indicated, the reporting person acquired the
shares indicated through the reinvestment of dividends paid
on shares held in their deferred compensation account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom stock units are settled in cash upon the
earlier of death or retirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The deemed execution date for this transaction is
10/6/05. This is the date Company was notified of the
transaction's execution by the Company's third-party
administrator.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas E. Laursen as Attorney in Fact for R Porter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-10-03
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001184841
PORTER ROGER B
ONE SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUITE 1134
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
1
0
0
0
Deferred Comp
0
2005-08-24
5
J
0
75.1126
71.13
A
Common Stock
75.1126
14842.5313
D
Deferred Comp
0
2005-10-03
2005-10-06
4
A
0
202.6555
71.50
A
Common Stock
202.6555
15045.1868
D
Each unit represents one share of the company's Common
Stock.
On the date indicated, the reporting person acquired the
shares indicated through the reinvestment of dividends paid
on shares held in their deferred compensation account.
The phantom stock units are settled in cash upon the
earlier of death or retirement.
The deemed execution date for this transaction is
10/6/05. This is the date Company was notified of the
transaction's execution by the Company's third-party
administrator.
Thomas E. Laursen as Attorney in Fact for R Porter
2005-10-06