-----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,
 Wf/pq60C31sE1vNSwCMixGOnNVLu+N/jIMmZ35Buf/EFUFYBp0t5y999B084TXTN
 sB4+TRppNTX1Hr9VhAHdiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000930609-04-000100.txt : 20040818
<SEC-HEADER>0000930609-04-000100.hdr.sgml : 20040818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040818162226
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000930609-04-000100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040816
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040818

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRILL ALAN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001263184

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16761
		FILM NUMBER:		04984467

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HC 87 BOX 11
		CITY:			YELLOW SPRING
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26865

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES INC /WV/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000756862
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				550650743
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 929
		CITY:			PETERSBURG
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26847
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3042574111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 929
		CITY:			PETERSBURG
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26847
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000756862</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES INC /WV/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HBSI.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263184</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRILL ALAN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HC 87 BOX 11</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>YELLOW SPRING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>26865</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>HBSI Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>131</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1337</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>HBSI Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>150</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Cust. with minor child</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alan L. Brill</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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