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

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-12-31</periodOfReport>

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    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790362</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL BANCSHARES CORP /OH/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBOH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001211714</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WENGER HOWARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FIRST NATIONAL BANK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 163</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORRVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44667</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            </securityTitle>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9950.8154</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Corporation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>National Bancshares Corporation common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-10-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55.5875</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10061.3043</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Corporation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend Reinvestment Plan Shares</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ellen Gerber POA Howard J Wenger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
