-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750556-06-000128.txt : 20060705
<SEC-HEADER>0000750556-06-000128.hdr.sgml : 20060704
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060705145310
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750556-06-000128
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060705
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060705

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:		4045811678

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARROTT THOMAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189588

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08918
		FILM NUMBER:		06943317

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		901-523-3368

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38150
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2006-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750556</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNTRUST BANKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STI</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>GARROTT THOMAS M</rptOwnerName>
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        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 11227</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
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    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.09</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-10-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <value>71.03</value>
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                <value>2016-02-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>122488</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value></value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30857.3375</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Thomas M. Garrott 2005-1 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Acquired under the National Commerce Financial Corporation Investment Plan, which was frozen 12/31/04, and merged into the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 401 (k) Plan on 7/1/05.  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">Held in trust for children.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Garrott 2005 Investments LTD with respect to which the Reporting Person serves as general partner.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Granted pursuant to the National Commerce Financial Corporation Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Granted pursuant to the National Commerce Financial Corporation 1994 Stock Plan Amended and Restated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Granted pursuant to the National Commerce Financial Corporation 2003 Stock and Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2004 Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Acquired under the National Commerce Financial Corporation Equity Investment Plan, which was frozen 12/31/04, and under the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 401(k) Excess Benefit Plan. These phantom stock units convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Raymond D. Fortin, Attorney-in-Fact for Thomas M. Garrott</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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