<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-22</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790183</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROGRESS FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PFNC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerName>MAY A JOHN III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PEPPER, HAMILTON LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 BERWYN PARK, 899 CASSATT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BERWYN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19312</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

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            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

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                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>6.56</value>
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                <value>2004-01-20</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>317</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.56</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1996-12-31</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-12-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>317</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>13.57</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>636</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.57</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-12-31</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>636</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>7.14</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>637</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.14</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-31</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>637</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.11</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>775</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.11</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-02</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>775</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.69</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>636</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.69</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>636</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>11.06</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>637</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.06</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>637</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.45</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>637</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>971</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.43</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-22</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>971</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>645</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.34</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>645</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFNC Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>968</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.2</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-04-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>968</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael B. High, POA for A. John May, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

