-----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,
 Uu25hckTf0+P6qwv1SfurZ7X947C0F+Scx3W+wm3VZyzAH0taCPc9OOvb41e8RR7
 24zkw8tdYKQV5Wo3haRBQw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750556-03-000010.txt : 20030509
<SEC-HEADER>0000750556-03-000010.hdr.sgml : 20030509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030509121129
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750556-03-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030509

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUNTRUST BANKS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000750556
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				581575035
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		303 PEACHTREE ST N E
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30308
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045887711

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		303 PEACHTREE ST N E
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30308

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IVESTER M DOUGLAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001019424

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08918
		FILM NUMBER:		03689532

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COCA COLA PLAZA
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30313
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4046762121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COCA COLA PLAZA
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30313
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000750556</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNTRUST BANKS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>STI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001019424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IVESTER M DOUGLAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25.974</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>57.75</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>C
ommon Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25.974</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5510.9158</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were accrued under the SunTrust Banks, Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled upon the reporting person's retirement.  Directors fees are deferred into this plan and are accounted for as if invested in SunTrust common stock.  The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.  In addition to these phantom stock units, Mr. Ivester owns directly 2,000 common stock options granted at $51.125 which are exercisable on 11/14/00 and expire on 11/14/10.  H
e owns directly 2,000 common stock options granted at $64.57 which are exercisable 11/13/01 and expire on 11/13/11.  Also, Mr. Ivester owns directly 2,000 common stock options granted at $54.28 which are exercisable on 2/11/03 and expire on 2/11/13.  All 6,000 common stock options were granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret U. Hodgson, Attorney-in-Fact for M. Douglas Ivester</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----