-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IY+qC41vrd0vDidyeuBgXV2aQLwedT54KNXn8WmH619bavAjD7MTXe2V+mMwaYTd
 9b0vso0mZbNZuHc011BGMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183733-06-000114.txt : 20060502
<SEC-HEADER>0001183733-06-000114.hdr.sgml : 20060502
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060502152526
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183733-06-000114
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060502
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060502

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

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:		06799321

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMPASS BANCSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		15 SOUTH 20TH STREET
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35233
</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>2006-04-28</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>2006-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2006-05-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12.141</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>55.2567</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>12.141</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>846.893</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were acquired under the issuer's ESOP Benefit Restoration Plan. Each unit represents the right to receive the cash value of one share of the issuer's common stock upon the reporting person's retirement or the occurrence of certain other events, including termination of employment, death or change in control of the issuer. Subject to the terms of the plan, the reporting person may transfer amounts allocated to his phantom stock account into an alternative investment option at any time.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jerry W. Powell, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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