-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GK21Pt7IRpDf4VrIPNcfUt7jS+xtIL0dPL9ZbmVBDUifEP0X+f4Rlch6DpDqRwow
 ESMyvvxDVkyb5eR+PBKnBA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001180839-04-000001.txt : 20040112
<SEC-HEADER>0001180839-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040112154935
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001180839-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABERNETHY BRUCE R SR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180839

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22817
		FILM NUMBER:		04520781

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5807 S INDIAN RIVER DR
		CITY:			FT PIERCE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34982
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7724641555

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARBOR FLORIDA BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001029407
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				650813766
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 S SECOND ST
		CITY:			FORT PIERCE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34950
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5614612414

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 249
		CITY:			FORT PIERCE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34954

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HARBOR FLORIDA BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961219
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001180839d20040112f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001029407</issuerCik><issuerName>HARBOR FLORIDA BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HARB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001180839</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ABERNETHY BRUCE R SR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>5807 SOUTH INDIAN RIVER DR.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>FT. PIERCE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>34982</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>11500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.69</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>182956</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativ
eHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>160004</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Deferred Compensation Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (Disclaimed)</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14981</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.69</value></conversionOrExerci
sePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>11500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.69</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-09-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>11500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>34459</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</v
alue></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Gary Barnett</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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