-----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,
 UXMnjInrtmzJjuhNyzW5bgL8jBWvp/i9nT4QYdm8kbsIaqOW/o5xILCpDX5lEsdP
 BO9htZ0I3ZVtXzLBf0CqkA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183733-05-000270.txt : 20051017
<SEC-HEADER>0001183733-05-000270.hdr.sgml : 20051017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051017174123
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183733-05-000270
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051014
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051017
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HELMS WILLIAM C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197095

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31272
		FILM NUMBER:		051141638

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMPASS BANCSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		15 SOUTH 20TH STREET
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35233

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMPASS BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018568
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				630593897
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 SOUTH 20TH ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 10566
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35233
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2059333000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL BANCSHARES OF THE SOUTH INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL & STATE NATIONAL CORP OF ALABAMA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730212
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018568</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMPASS BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197095</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HELMS WILLIAM C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15 SOUTH 20TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Exec. VP (Issuer Subsidiary)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units (ESOP Benefit Restoration Plan)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-10-17</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15.642</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.3657</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15.642</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>632.523</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The units were acquired under the issuer's ESOP Benefit Restoration Plan and will be settled 1-for-1 in the issuer's common stock upon the reporting person's retirement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jerry W. Powell, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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