<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-28</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001085551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMMONS L E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-28</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>4.613</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1095.417</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Dividend Reinvestment Plan</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>143.9545</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>50.33</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>143.9545</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>8123.1845</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each phantom stock unit represents one share of the Company's Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom stock units are paid out as cash upon the earlier of resignation, retirement or death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Simmons also holds 32,000 shares under the title &quot;Stock Option (right to buy)&quot;</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On the date indicated, the reporting person acquired the shares indicated under the Zions Bancorporation Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reporting person also holds 89,314 shares of the company's Common Stock directly, and the following indirectly: 1,814,488 shares by Crestwood Communications*, 178,723 shares by Simmons Family Foundation*, 83,982 by shares Virginia &amp; L.E. Simmons Foundation* and 5,600 shares as custodian for minor children. *The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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4
2003-05-28
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001085551
SIMMONS L E
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-05-28
5
A
0
E
4.613
0
A
1095.417
I
By Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Phantom Stock
0
2003-07-01
2003-07-02
4
A
0
143.9545
50.33
A
1988-08-08
1988-08-08
Common Stock
143.9545
8123.1845
D
Each phantom stock unit represents one share of the Company's Common Stock.
Phantom stock units are paid out as cash upon the earlier of resignation, retirement or death.
Mr. Simmons also holds 32,000 shares under the title "Stock Option (right to buy)"
On the date indicated, the reporting person acquired the shares indicated under the Zions Bancorporation Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.
Reporting person also holds 89,314 shares of the company's Common Stock directly, and the following indirectly: 1,814,488 shares by Crestwood Communications*, 178,723 shares by Simmons Family Foundation*, 83,982 by shares Virginia & L.E. Simmons Foundation* and 5,600 shares as custodian for minor children. *The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact
2003-07-07