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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,
 I4zpaYldIf3pDzCsSYfWUHr0l5yeQDAQTBTSjX1wCtK7D8e5VEtPL3MFMEvEquAX
 ideWRny9JizoTom8xbWXng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-001844.txt : 20030616
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-001844.hdr.sgml : 20030616
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030616133337
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-001844
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030613
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030616

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:		03745100

	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 -2003-06-13
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-13</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>2003-06-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9400</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>24.125</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>59126</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>24.125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><trans
actionDate><value>2003-06-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9400</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-02-24</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-02-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9400</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOw
nership><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.</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>2003-06-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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