-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 HB89mgXZyOviawO1HGAX3w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000100893-03-000108.txt : 20031016
<SEC-HEADER>0000100893-03-000108.hdr.sgml : 20031016
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031016203006
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000100893-03-000108
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031014
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031016

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNION PLANTERS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000100893
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				620859007
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UNION PLANTERS ADMINSTRATIVE CENTER
		STREET 2:		6200 POPLAR AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38119
		BUSINESS PHONE:		905-580-6000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6200 POPLAR AVE.
		STREET 2:		HQ4
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHENCK STEVE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181809
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10160
		FILM NUMBER:		03944756

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNION PLANTERS CORP
		STREET 2:		6200 POPLAR AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38119
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9015805769

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNION PLANTERS CORP
		STREET 2:		6200 POPLAR AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38119
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-14</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000100893</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNION PLANTERS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>upc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181809</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHENCK STEVE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNION PLANTERS CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6200 POPLAR AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38119</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO Union Planters Bank IN</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-10-14</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60978</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-10-16</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6750</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>67728</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp. Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-10-14</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>93750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-10-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>93750</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>93750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock acquired under the 1992 Stock Option Incentive Plan.  Restriction lapses in 1/6 annual increments for a six year period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of restricted stock acquired under the Executive Performance Restricted Stock Plan.  Restriction lapses in 1/6 annual increments for a six year period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option becomes exerciseable in three equal installments on October 14, 2004, 2005 and 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>E. James House, Jr - Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----