<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-24</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000753682</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCHANTS &amp; MANUFACTURERS BANCORPORATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mmbi</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237814</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CICHURSKI EDWARD H</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>subsidiary president</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $1.00 Par Value</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-24</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>95</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>35.15</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>2311</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>James Mroczkowski</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

