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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NLsog1RQKJN3mkkYWpptxyg+/m4rJApO7zko74nAUcMF/S0MDzqdGu5oXS6FRDfN
 vMb5VuMYxlUhGzA7GBD8+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000700733-06-000003.txt : 20060104
<SEC-HEADER>0000700733-06-000003.hdr.sgml : 20060104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060104093332
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000700733-06-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAFER FRED D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22537-01
		FILM NUMBER:		06504568

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.
		STREET 2:		PHILADELPHIA & READING AVENUES
		CITY:			BOYERTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19512

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000700733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				232215075
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHILADELPHIA AND READING AVE
		STREET 2:		PO 547
		CITY:			BOYERTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19512
		BUSINESS PHONE:		1-800-822-3321

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		READING AND PHILADELPHIA AVES
		STREET 2:		P. O. BOX 547
		CITY:			BOYERTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19512
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000700733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NPBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAFER FRED D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PHILADELPHIA &amp; READING AVENUES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P. O. BOX 547</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOYERTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19512-0547</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2429.16</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12730.75</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2003.2687</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2003.2687</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5252.817</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 59.152 phantom stock units acquired upon reinvestment of dividend accrued on phantom stock units under the Directors' Fee Plan: 25.3425 on 8/17/05 and 33.8095 on 11/17/05.  Because the Company has a dividend reinvestment plan available to substantially all of its shareholders on terms similar to the dividend reinvestment feature of the Directors' Fee plan, the acquisition of phantom stock units with reinvested dividends is exempt from line item reporting under SEC Rule 16a-11.  Also includes 818.7227 shares acquired pursuant to the Company's payment of a five-for-four stock split declared August 24, 2005 and paid on September 30, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 104.16 shares acquired upon reinvestment of cash dividends under the Company's exempt Dividend Reinvestment Plan on November 17, 2005.  Also includes 2,325.00 shares acquired pursuant to the Company's payment of a 5-for-4 stock split declared on August 24, 2005 and paid on September 30, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom stock units were accrued under the National Penn Bancshares, Inc. Directors' Fee Plan and are to be settled in National Penn Bancshares, Inc. common stock upon the reporting person's retirement as a director or reaching the age of 65, as elected by such person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1 for 1</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Teresa D. Steuer/Sandra L. Spayd, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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