<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-06-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001046203</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GUARANTY FEDERAL BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GFED</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001580580</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Castle Creek Capital Partners V, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO, PO BOX 1329</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001589685</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Castle Creek Capital V LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO, PO BOX 1329</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197257</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EGGEMEYER JOHN M III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO, PO BOX 1329</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242722</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS J MIKESELL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO, PO BOX 1329</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001332829</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MERLO MARK G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO, PO BOX 1329</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001481798</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pietrzak John</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO, PO BOX 1329</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>894022</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are held directly by Castle Creek Capital Partners V, LP (&quot;Fund V&quot;).  Mr. Eggemeyer, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Merlo, and Mr. Pietrzak are managing principals of Castle Creek Capital V LLC, the sole general partner of Fund V.  Castle Creek Capital V LLC, Mr. Eggemeyer, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Merlo, and Mr. Pietrzak each disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Castle Creek Capital V LLC, Mr. Eggemeyer, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Merlo, or Mr. Pietrzak is the beneficial owner of such shares of Common Stock for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS V, LP, By: /s/ John M. Eggemeyer, Name: John M. Eggemeyer, Title: President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL V LLC, By: /s/ John M. Eggemeyer, Name: John M. Eggemeyer, Title: President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOHN M. EGGEMEYER, By: /s/ John M. Eggemeyer, Name: John M. Eggemeyer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. MIKESELL THOMAS, By: /s/ J. Mikesell Thomas, Name: J. Mikesell Thomas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MARK G. MERLO, By: /s/ Mark G. Merlo, Name: Mark G. Merlo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOHN T. PIETRZAK, By: /s/ John T. Pietrzak, Name: John T. Pietrzak</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
