-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TfsvsXogz+HEXr06fRA4axdVjV+KLSdaTcYINGqC4YXAF3R5KMcykDemCLGq1rnW
 0C4l4Ljs7PYkyfbjKaB8lA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000860519-10-000006.txt : 20100201
<SEC-HEADER>0000860519-10-000006.hdr.sgml : 20100201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100201151756
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000860519-10-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100129
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100201
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Brown Francis A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001439244

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18560
		FILM NUMBER:		10563248

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 576
		CITY:			SAVANNAH
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAVANNAH BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000860519
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				581861820
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 BULL ST
		CITY:			SAVANNAH
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9126518200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 188
		CITY:			SAVANNAH
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31402-0188
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000860519</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVANNAH BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAVB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439244</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Brown Francis A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 576</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAVANNAH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>31402</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>2010-01-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14550</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Brown owns 14,550 individually.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael W. Harden Jr., Attorney in Fact for Francis A. Brown</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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