-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NkTVShnTnt0ozgwoPJiNMNtKBHFh6Pm3JHjWeKfsSvcXcVoWypcfv/8QNQemFZRY
 5VJZOV7jcqFDRcBr0EAcBw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750556-03-000021.txt : 20030716
<SEC-HEADER>0000750556-03-000021.hdr.sgml : 20030716
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030716150703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750556-03-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOEHN GEORGE W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181999

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08918
		FILM NUMBER:		03789180

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SUNTRUST BANKS INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4418 MAIL CODE 643
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045811678

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750556</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNTRUST BANKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181999</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOEHN GEORGE W</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>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>11350</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>30.25</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37350</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership><
/ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5579</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>61.54</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31771</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3
0.2500</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1450</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>61.54</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1996-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1450</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnershi
p><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30.2500</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>61.54</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts
><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30.2500</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>61.54</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity
><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30.2500</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>61.54</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>
D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Mr. Koehn owns indirectly 400 shares through his spouse and 340.594 shares 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 app
licable measurement date.  Mr. Koehn also owns indirectly 22,210 shares of 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.  The 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">These options were granted pursuant to the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Mr. Koehn also owns directly 2,839.8484 phantom stock units, which were acquired under SunTrust Banks, Inc.'s 401(k) excess benefit plan.  He owns directly 16,000 phantom stock units, 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.   In addition, Mr. Koehn owns directly options for 6,000 shares of common stock at $73.0625,
 exercisable on 11/9/02 and expiring on 11/9/09, which were granted pursuant to the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan.  Mr. Koehn also owns options at the following prices, exercisable dates and expiration dates:  15,000 shares at $51.125, exercisable on 11/14/03 and expiring on 11/14/10; 15,000 shares at $64.57, exercisable on 11/13/04 and expiring on 11/13/11; and 15,000 shares 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>Raymond Fortin, Attorney-in-Fact for George W. Koehn</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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