EXHIBIT 5.1


                        [SUNTRUST BANKS, INC. LETTERHEAD]


April 16, 2002

Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for SunTrust
Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), I am familiar with the preparation and filing of
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"),
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on or
about April 16, 2002, with respect to 8,000,000 shares of the Company's common
stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Plan Shares"), issuable pursuant to the
SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2002 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") as referenced in the
Registration Statement.

I have reviewed the Plan and the Registration Statement, and I have examined and
am familiar with, the original or copies, certified or otherwise, of the
documents, corporate records and other instruments of the Company relating to
the proposed issuance of the Plan Shares which I deem relevant and which form
the basis of the opinion hereinafter set forth.

I am of the opinion that:

         1.       Under the laws of the State of Georgia, the jurisdiction in
which the Company is incorporated and the jurisdiction in which the Company has
its principal office, the Company is duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing; and

         2.       The issuance of the Plan Shares has been duly authorized by
the Company and, upon issuance pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Plan
Shares will be legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable,
and no personal liability will attach to the holders of the Plan Shares.

The undersigned counsel to the Company hereby consents to the filing of this
opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,



/s/ Raymond D. Fortin
-----------------------------
Raymond D. Fortin