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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750556-03-000023.txt : 20030813
<SEC-HEADER>0000750556-03-000023.hdr.sgml : 20030813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030813125941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750556-03-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030812
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030813

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:			CORRELL ALSTON D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001090722
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LUMBER & WOOD PRODUCTS (NO FURNITURE) [2400]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08918
		FILM NUMBER:		03839975

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		133 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		51ST FL
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045214000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		133 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		41ST FL
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CORRELL A D
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990715
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-12</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750556</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNTRUST BANKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001090722</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CORRELL ALSTON D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 105605</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30348</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15027.7353</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></tra
nsactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>49.9667</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>60.04</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>49.9667</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6618.8972</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>51.125</v
alue></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-11-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>64.57</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-11-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><u
nderlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>54.28</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-02-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><d
irectOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes additional shares acquired under the SunTrust dividend reinvestment plan since the reporting person's last filing.</footnote><footnote id="F2">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.  These securities convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis. </footnote><footnote id="F3">Granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Raymond Fortin, Attorney-in-Fact for Alston D. Correll</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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