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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000945235</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>M &amp; F WORLDWIDE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MFW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001306819</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dinh Viet D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>600 NEW JERSEY AVENUE NW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1306</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1306</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23521</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These stock units were issued because of the reporting person's participation in the issuer's Amended and Restated Outside Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), under which director fees otherwise payable in cash may be paid in the form of stock units. This Form 4 is being filed in respect of a  June 30, 2011 grant to the reporting person under the Plan of 1,306 stock units. As of June 30, 2011, the reporting person has been granted a total of 23,521 stock units under the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of the issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock units will be paid in the form of either cash or shares of the issuer's common stock after the termination of the reporting person's tenure as a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The stock units were granted based on the closing market price of the common stock of the issuer on June 30, 2011 of  $25.84, in respect of $33,750 of deferred compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Viet D. Dinh</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
