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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 BU4OJDFYxqJLInsh2anWEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-001405.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-001405.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602132309
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-001405
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030530
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITY NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000201461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				952568550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N ROXBURY DR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3108886000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N ROXBURY DR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHEN  HENG W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207193

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10521
		FILM NUMBER:		03727659

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CITY NATIONAL BANK
		STREET 2:		606 S. OLIVE STREET, SIXTH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2133472646

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CITY NATIONAL CORP ,GENERAL COUNSEL
		STREET 2:		400 N ROXBURY DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-05-30
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000201461</issuerCik><issuerName>CITY NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001207193</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>CHEN  HENG W</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Assistant Treasurer</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par 
value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>11.375</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>41726</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transa
ctionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>13.50</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>49726</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</tr
ansactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1996-02-22</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-02-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employ
ee stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-02-21</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-02-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOw
nedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person also currently indirectly owns 2,758 shares in his 401(k) Plan.  The number of shares held in the Plan has increased by 57 shares since the last report filed.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The options vest in four equal annual installments commencing on this date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael B. Cahill, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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