8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 24, 2006

Date of Report

(Date of Earliest Event Reported)

Synovus Financial Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Georgia
(State of Incorporation) 1-10312
(Commission File Number) 58-1134883
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1111 Bay Avenue, Suite 500, Columbus, Georgia 31901

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(706) 649-2267

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

________________________________________________

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01	Other Events.
	On March 27, 2006, Synovus Financial Corp. (“Registrant”) issued a press release announcing that it had completed its previously announced acquisition of Riverside Bancshares, Inc. on March 24, 2006. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
	(c)	Exhibits
	Exhibit No.	Description
	99.1	Registrant’s press release dated March 27, 2006 in connection with Riverside Bancshares, Inc.

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Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. (“Registrant”)
Dated: March 27, 2006	By:/s/ Kathleen Moates Senior Deputy General Counsel Kathleen Moates

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Contact:	Greg Hudgison	Patrick A. Reynolds
	Manager of Media and Public Relations	Director of Investor Relations
	(706) 644-0528	(706) 649-4973

Synovus Completes Acquisition of Riverside Bancshares, Inc.

Riverside Bank merges with Synovus’ Bank of North Georgia

Columbus, GA, March 27, 2006 – Synovus (NYSE: SNV), the Columbus, Georgia-based

diversified financial services company, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Riverside Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Marietta, Georgia-based Riverside Bank. Concurrently, Riverside Bank merged into Bank of North Georgia, an affiliate of Synovus headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, to form one bank under the Bank of North Georgia name. The acquisition of Riverside Bancshares, Inc. and merger of Riverside Bank and Bank of North Georgia mark a significant step in growing Synovus’ presence in the metropolitan Atlanta market.

Don Howard will continue in his current leadership role as Chairman and CEO of Bank of North Georgia and as the Regional CEO for Synovus’ Atlanta presence. Former Riverside Chairman and CEO Kessel Stelling Jr. has been named President and COO of Bank of North Georgia. Randy Carroll, previously Bank of North Georgia’s President and COO, has been named Vice Chairman.

Prior to the merger, Riverside Bank had just over $620 million in assets with nearly 90 team members serving customers through five bank locations in north metro Atlanta. With the merger of Riverside Bank and Bank of North Georgia, the combined bank now has $3.6 billion in assets, 497 team members, and 19 full service bank offices offering a full range of integrated financial services, including banking, trust, brokerage, mortgage, insurance, and full service ATMs. Synovus will serve the Atlanta metro area with a combined total of $5.4 billion in assets and 57 banking locations.

About Synovus

Synovus (NYSE: SNV) is a diversified financial services holding company with more than $29 billion in assets based in Columbus, GA.  Synovus provides integrated financial services including banking, financial management, insurance, mortgage and leasing services through 39 banks and other Synovus offices in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee; and electronic payment processing through an 81-percent stake in TSYS (NYSE: TSS), one of the world’s largest companies for outsourced payment services.  FORTUNE magazine has named Synovus one of “The 100 Best Companies to Work For” in America, and has recognized Synovus in its Hall of Fame for consecutive appearances on the list since its inception in 1998.  In 2005, Synovus also appeared on “America’s Most Admired Companies” list.  See Synovus on the web at www.synovus.com.