November 21, 2000


Synovus Financial Corp.
901 Front Avenue, Suite 301
Columbus, Georgia 31901

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         As Senior Vice President and Senior Deputy General Counsel of Synovus
Financial Corp. (the "Registrant"), I am familiar with the preparation and
filing of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on or about November 21, 2000, pursuant to
which the Registrant proposes to issue up to 3,295,392 shares of its $1.00 par
value common stock ("Registrant's Common Stock") to certain of the former
shareholders of Carolina Southern Bank upon its acquisition by Registrant.

         I have examined, and am familiar with, the originals or copies,
certified or otherwise, of the documents, corporate records and other
instruments of the Registrant relating to the proposed issuance of Registrant's
Common Stock which I deem relevant and which form the basis of the opinion
hereinafter set forth.

         I am of the opinion that under the laws of the State of Georgia, the
jurisdiction in which the Registrant is incorporated and the jurisdiction in
which the Registrant has its principal office, upon the issuance of the shares
of the Registrant's Common Stock pursuant to the aforesaid Registration
Statement, all such shares when so issued will be duly authorized, validly
issued and outstanding, and will be fully paid and non-assessable shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock, and no personal liability will attach to the holders
of any of the shares of the Registrant's Common Stock.

         The undersigned counsel to the Registrant hereby consents to the use of
my opinion as Exhibit 5 to the aforesaid Registration Statement.

                                           Sincerely,

                                           /s/Kathleen Moates

                                           Kathleen Moates
KM/bmk
                                    Exhibit 5