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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-30</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>2012-03-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>291.432</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-09-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>291.432</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5554.2839</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-09-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>36000.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36000.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Comp</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>998.1579</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>998.1579</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </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 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="F3">The Stock Units will be paid in cash in increments of 100% as of September 30, 2012</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares are paid out in cash or stock upon date or age elected at time of deferral, or upon termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes shares acquired pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Thomas E. Laursen as attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-03-30
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
2012-03-30
4
A
0
291.432
0
A
2012-09-30
Common Stock
291.432
5554.2839
D
Stock Option (right to buy)
0
2012-09-30
Common Stock
36000.
36000.
D
Deferred Comp
0
Common Stock
998.1579
998.1579
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 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
Shares are paid out in cash or stock upon date or age elected at time of deferral, or upon termination of employment.
Includes shares acquired pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment.
By Thomas E. Laursen as attorney in fact
2012-04-04