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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WBASgdH1RYeNXFIPZG2RZedjlN3LqgT3weKm12PJey9uJQu5mw7e5xiDHp07r1OI
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001207149-08-000004.txt : 20080423
<SEC-HEADER>0001207149-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080423
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080423155913
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001207149-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080304
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080423
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080423

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SULLIVAN ROBERT D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207149

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09047
		FILM NUMBER:		08771836

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7818786100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O INDEPENDENT BANK CORP
		STREET 2:		288 UNION STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INDEPENDENT BANK CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000776901
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042870273
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		288 UNION STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7818786100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		288 UNION STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370
</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>2008-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000776901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INDEPENDENT BANK CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INDB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207149</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SULLIVAN ROBERT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INDEPENDENT BANK CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>288 UNION STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02370</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>818</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12780.139</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14258.777</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10331</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trusts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares received by virtue of exchange of Slade's Ferry Bancorp. shares for Independent Bank Corp. shares due to acquisition</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Independent Bank Corp. awarded restricted stock to reporting person</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Direct holdings include 1,200 shares of restricted stock; 8,008 shares held i/n/o Chrystine M. Sullivan Revocable Trust Dated 2/3/90 on which Mr. Sullivan is a Trustee and Beneficiary, and 3,157.9075 shares held jt. w/spouse.  Holdings also reflect 24.0397 shares received pursuant to the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan since the last Form 4 filing (4/7/08), which are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Total holdings include 6,356 shares held i/n/o Special Marital Trust of R.J. Sullivan on which Mr. Sullivan is a Trustee and 3,975 shares held i/n/o Joseph Sullivan Irrevocable Trust on which Mr. Sullivan is a Trustee.  The filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that the undersigned is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Linda M. Campion, Power of Attorney for Robert D. Sullivan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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