Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
WELLS JAMES M III
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SUNTRUST BANKS INC [STI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice Chairman
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
303 PEACHTREE ST.
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/25/2004
(Street)

ATLANTA, GA 30308
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
05/27/2004
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 05/25/2004   M   40,320 A $ 19.7 140,792 D  
Common Stock 05/25/2004   S   23,000 D $ 64.58 117,792 D  
Common Stock 12/13/2004   G V 237 D (1) 117,555 D  
Common Stock 12/16/2004   G V 1 D (1) 117,554 D  
Common Stock 12/27/2004   G V 900 D (1) 116,654 D  
Common Stock               12,267 I Spouse
Common Stock               695.998 I 401(k) (2)
Common Stock               4,420 I Restricted Stock (3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock Units (4) (4)               (4)   (4) Common Stock 1,460.8488   1,460.8488 D  
Option $ 19.7 05/25/2004   M     5,076 01/26/1996 01/26/2005 Common Stock 5,076 $ 19.7 0 D  
Option $ 19.7 05/25/2004   M     12,244 01/26/1996 01/26/2005 Common Stock 12,244 $ 19.7 23,000 D  
Option $ 19.7 05/25/2004   M     23,000 01/26/1996 01/26/2005 Common Stock 23,000 $ 19.7 0 D  
Option $ 28.2             01/25/1997 01/25/2006 Common Stock 3,546   3,546 D  
Option $ 28.19             01/25/1997 01/25/2006 Common Stock 34,470   34,470 D  
Option $ 37.28             01/23/1998 01/23/2007 Common Stock 2,682   2,682 D  
Option $ 37.27             01/23/1998 01/23/2007 Common Stock 27,558   27,558 D  
Option $ 38.28             02/24/1998 02/24/2007 Common Stock 10,176   10,176 D  
Option $ 54.39             07/20/1998 01/22/2008 Common Stock 1,838   1,838 D  
Option $ 54.39             07/20/1998 01/22/2008 Common Stock 26,290   26,290 D  
Option $ 76.5             12/31/2001 12/31/2008 Common Stock 90,000   90,000 D  
Option (5) $ 73.0625             12/31/2001 11/09/2009 Common Stock 15,000   15,000 D  
Option (6) $ 50.5             03/06/2003 03/06/2010 Common Stock 24,000   24,000 D  
Option (6) $ 50.5             03/06/2005 03/06/2010 Common Stock 16,000   16,000 D  
Option (6) $ 51.125             12/31/2001 11/14/2010 Common Stock 15,000   15,000 D  
Option (6) $ 51.125             11/14/2003 11/14/2010 Common Stock 35,000   35,000 D  
Option (6) $ 64.57             12/31/2001 11/13/2011 Common Stock 15,000   15,000 D  
Option (6) $ 64.57             11/13/2004 11/13/2011 Common Stock 60,000   60,000 D  
Option (6) $ 54.28             02/11/2006 02/11/2013 Common Stock 100,000   100,000 D  
Option (6) $ 73.19             02/10/2007 02/10/2014 Common Stock 100,000   100,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
WELLS JAMES M III
303 PEACHTREE ST.
ATLANTA, GA 30308
      Vice Chairman  

Signatures

 Margaret Hodgson, Attorney-in-Fact for James M. Wells III   01/06/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) This transaction is a gift.
(2) 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. Reflects additional share equivalents acquired since the reporting person's last filing.
(3) Restricted stock held under SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan. Subject to certain vesting conditions. Restricted stock agreement contains tax withholding features allowing stock to be withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations. This plan is exempt under Rule 16(b)-3.
(4) 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. Reflects additional share equivalents acquired since the reporting person's last filing.
(5) Granted pursuant to the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan.
(6) Granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.

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