-----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,
 TsM2SGiJiu5tklK8Q+ijealan9EAlZNQ7g23h3d7sP5lyPR8M6nqTzNG25iazH4t
 /txqKsXbyOmNJ2W8otsBcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750556-03-000013.txt : 20030529
<SEC-HEADER>0000750556-03-000013.hdr.sgml : 20030529
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030529153023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750556-03-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030528
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030529

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:			WOOD E JENNER III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015221
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08918
		FILM NUMBER:		03723510

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUNTRUST BANKS INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4418 MC 643
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045887165

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUNTRUST BANKS INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4418 MC643
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30302
</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>2003-05-28</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750556</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNTRUST BANKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOOD E JENNER III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4850</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>30.25</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27799</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwner
ship></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2482</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>59.09</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25317</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExerciseP
rice><value>30.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4850</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>59.09</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1995-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-08-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4850</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9610</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndi
rectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Mr. Wood owns 354 shares indirectly through his children.  He owns 24,559.390 shares indirectly in the 401(k) Plan.  Because the stock fund component of the 401(k) Plan is accounted for in unit accounting, the number of share equivalents varies based on the closing price of SunTrust stock on the applicable measurement date.  Mr. Wood also owns 44,210 shares indirectly in restricted stock held under the 1986 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan, the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan and the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan, which are subject to certain vesting conditions.  Restricted stock agreements contain tax withholding features allowing stock to be withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations.  All plans are exempt under Rule 16(b)-3.</footnote><footnote id="F2">This option is to buy shares under the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 1995 
Executive Stock Plan.  It becomes exercisable in 20% increments over 5 years or in the event of death, disability or change in control.  In addition, Mr. Wood owns 852.4871 phantom stock units directly, which were acquired under SunTrust Banks, Inc.'s 401(k) excess benefit plan.  He also owns 32,000 phantom stock units directly, which were granted in exchange for restricted stock and will be paid out on various dates.  These securities convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis.  </footnote><footnote id="F3">Mr. Wood owns directly options for 15,000 shares of common stock at a price of $73.0625, which are exercisable on 11/9/02 and expire on 11/9/09.  These options were granted pursuant to the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan.  Mr. Wood also owns directly the following options at the following prices, exercisable dates and expiration dates:  10,000 shares at $51.125, exercisable on 11/14/03 and expiring on 11/14/10; 10,000 shares at $64.57, exercisable on 11/13/04 and expiring on 11/13/11; 12,000 share
s at $54.28, exercisable on 2/11/06 and expiring on 2/11/13.  These options were granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret Hodgson, Attorney-in-Fact for E. Jenner Wood, III</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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