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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,
 E/rexKMnoNMcvH//0A75aSaYq2dbMkwDleNMvadd4PYcxy7LPNxIV90QvjLNmHPl
 XtXBTeRbEIkaPyhpx6XjXw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001304884-05-000001.txt : 20050114
<SEC-HEADER>0001304884-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050114133230
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001304884-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sanderson Terry Glenn
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001304884

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16461
		FILM NUMBER:		05530132

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		256-536-0558

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		159 MORRING LANE
		CITY:			BROWNSBORO
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35741

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000752195
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				630868361
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAIN ST P O BOX 1000
		CITY:			BLOUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35031
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2054291000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAIN STREET PO BOX 1000
		CITY:			BLOUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35031

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BLOUNTSVILLE BANCSHARES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000752195</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>comb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001304884</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sanderson Terry Glenn</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>159 MORRING LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROWNSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35741</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2005 Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.81</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Terry Glenn Sanderson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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