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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,
 KaWhDbSx9sfX5HYbCOweCXf4s7V3gKK6yhJymMvbS0emsV5UejtCQGLIu49C9CQt
 Fxm+cbg3MkMth1gr+4IXlA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-08-002730.txt : 20080501
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-08-002730.hdr.sgml : 20080501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080501102754
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-08-002730
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080429
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080501

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000700863
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				232201716
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26 N CEDAR ST
		CITY:			LITITZ
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17543
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7176264721

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1000
		STREET 2:		26 NORTH CEDAR ST
		CITY:			LITITZ
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17543

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sears Christine
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001334536

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33872
		FILM NUMBER:		08792802

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		717-626-4721

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES, INC.
		STREET 2:		26 N CEDAR STREET
		CITY:			LITITZ
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17543
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000700863</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUSQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334536</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sears Christine</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>26 NORTH CEDAR STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITITZ</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17543</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.18</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>248</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Abram G. Koser, attorney-in-fact for Christine Sears</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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