<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JEFFE ROBERT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>433 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREEN BAY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5353.62</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.87</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock $0.01 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5353.62</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14246.807</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock units are 100% vested at the time of the acquisition.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom stock units will remain in the Director's Deferred Compensation Plan until such account balance is distributed pursuant to Insider's distribution elections(s) on file.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each share of phantom stock entitled the reporting person to receive, the cash value of one share of ASB common stock. Prior to payment, the reporting person had the right to transfer the value of his phantom stock account into an alternative investment account. Phantom Stock units remained in the Director's Deferred Compensation Plan until January 2, 2020 on which date a portion of the account balance was distributed pursuant to the Insider's distribution election(s) on file.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lynn M. Floeter, attorney-in-fact for Robert A. Jeffe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
