Exhibit 5

[Letterhead of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC]

January 31, 2003

BB&T Corporation

200 West Second Street

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with respect to shares to be issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and between Equitable Bank (“Equitable”), Branch Banking and Trust Company (“Branch Bank”) and BB&T Corporation (“BB&T”) dated as of November 12, 2002 (the “Merger Agreement”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to BB&T in connection with the registration of 1,560,000 shares of its common stock, par value $5.00 per share (the “Shares”), issuable pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as set forth in the Registration Statement that is being filed on the date hereof by BB&T with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This opinion is provided pursuant to the requirements of Item 21(a) of Form S-4 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with the foregoing, we have examined such records, documents, and proceedings as we have deemed relevant as a basis for the opinion expressed herein, and we have relied upon an officer’s certificate as to certain factual matters.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, when issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement under the heading “LEGAL MATTERS” as attorneys who passed upon the validity of the Shares and to the filing of a copy of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or other rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/    WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC

WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE,

A Professional Limited Liability Company