Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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 *
  HILL C T
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/12/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SUNTRUST BANKS INC [STI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
919 EAST MAIN STREET
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Corp. Executive Vice President
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

RICHMOND, VA 23219
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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 27,448
D
 
Common Stock 18,708.75
I
401(k) (1)
Common Stock 20,249
I
Restricted Stock (2)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock Units (3)   (3)   (3) Common Stock 808.3116 $ (3) D  
Phantom Stock Units (4)   (4)   (4) Common Stock 452.8692 $ (4) D  
Option (5) 12/31/2000 02/08/2009 Common Stock 1,534 $ 65.1875 D  
Option (5) 11/09/2002 11/09/2009 Common Stock 6,000 $ 73.0625 D  
Option (6) 11/14/2003 11/14/2010 Common Stock 15,000 $ 51.125 D  
Option (6) 11/13/2004 11/13/2011 Common Stock 15,000 $ 64.57 D  
Option (6) 02/11/2006 02/11/2013 Common Stock 15,000 $ 54.28 D  
Option (6) 02/10/2007 02/10/2014 Common Stock 18,000 $ 73.19 D  
Option (7) 02/08/2008 02/08/2015 Common Stock 18,000 $ 73.14 D  
Option (7) 02/14/2009 02/08/2016 Common Stock 20,000 $ 71.03 D  
Option (7) 02/13/2010 02/13/2017 Common Stock 19,000 $ 85.06 D  
Option (7) 02/12/2011 02/12/2018 Common Stock 34,500 $ 64.58 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
HILL C T
919 EAST MAIN STREET
RICHMOND, VA 23219
      Corp. Executive Vice President  

Signatures

David A. Wisnewski, Attorney-in-Fact for C.T. Hill 12/22/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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) 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.
(2) Restricted stock held under SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2004 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.
(3) The reported phantom stock units were acquired under the SunTrust Banks, Inc.'s 401(k) excess benefit plan. These securities convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis.
(4) The reported phantom stock units were acquired under Crestar Bank's ANEX plan. These securities convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis.
(5) Granted pursuant to the 1995 SunTrust Executive Stock Plan.
(6) Granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.
(7) Granted pursuant to the SunTrust Banks, Inc. 2004 Stock Plan.

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