Exhibit 23(e)

                     Consent of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

   We hereby consent to (i) the use of our form of opinion letter to the Board
of Directors of Area Bancshares Corporation (the "Company") included in Annex C
to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed merger of the
Company and with BB&T Corporation, and (ii) the references to such opinion in
such the Proxy Statement-Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not admit
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we
hereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Registration
Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                          J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

                                          By:   /s/ Michael F. Marek
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                    Michael F. Marek
                                                     Vice President

February 11, 2002