<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-03</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814184</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TCF FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TCB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVANS ROBERT ENGLES</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>2003-07-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>173.1032</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>40.427</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>173354.7926</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Deferred Comp. Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that the undersigned is, for the purpose of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this statement other than those owned directly by the undersigned.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The shares noted are derivative securities based on the Reporting Person's benefits under a non-qualified plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Other holdings: Common Stock - Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s): 206,175; Direct Ownership (D)</footnote><footnote id="F4">Other holdings: Common Stock - Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s): 2,660 (see Footnote #1); Indirect Ownership (I); Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership: By IRA Spouse</footnote><footnote id="F5">Other holdings: Common Stock - Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s): 15,000 (see Footnote #1); Indirect Ownership (I); Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership: By Spouse</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert E. Evans By POA Pam Hulwi</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

