-----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,
 MY0y9LFUOshhUa2nswxYyukiaFE7wJhjkVvCFbfQ253o1YhVvPTeAx4mfYcEa7ky
 x3Hscc54RJh1XlQb7umYgw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750556-03-000028.txt : 20030922
<SEC-HEADER>0000750556-03-000028.hdr.sgml : 20030922
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030922101155
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750556-03-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030922

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:		03903531

	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>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-22</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>200 SOUTH ORANGE AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31471</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfO
wnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>400</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>340.497</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) </value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><shar
esOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22210</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Restricted Stock </value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units </value><footnoteId id="F4"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F4"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2839.8484</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2839.8484</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectO
wnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units </value><footnoteId id="F5"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F5"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></securityTitle><conve
rsionOrExercisePrice><value>73.0625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-11-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-11-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>51.125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common St
ock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option </value><footnoteId id="F7"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>64.57</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>54.28</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-02-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1
">This transaction is a gift.</footnote><footnote id="F2">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.  </footnote><footnote id="F3">Restricted stock held under the 1986 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan, the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan and the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.  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="F4">The reported phantom stock units were acquired under SunTrust Banks, Inc.'s 401(k) excess benefit plan.  These securities convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis.   </footnote><footnote id="F5">Granted in exchange for restricted stock.  Will be paid out on various dates.  These securities convert to common stock on a 
one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Granted pursuant to the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Raymond Fortin, Attorney-in-Fact for George W. Koehn</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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