UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 29, 2005

SunTrust Banks, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Georgia 001-08918 58-1575035
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

303 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (404) 588-7711

 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]  U Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. ("SunTrust" or the "Registrant") entered into a Change in Control Agreement with Thomas E. Panther, SunTrust's Senior Vice President and Controller, effective as of November 29, 2005 (the "Agreement"). The Agreement is for a base term of three years, and will be automatically extended for one year terms unless either SunTrust or Mr. Panther provide notice to the contrary.

The Agreement provides, among other things, that if a Change in Control (as defined therein) occurs during the term of the Agreement and (i) SunTrust terminates Mr. Panther's employment without Cause (as defined therein) during the term of the Agreement or (ii) Mr. Panther resigns for Good Reason (as defined therein) during such term, then, among other things, (1) SunTrust will pay Mr. Panther two times his then-current salary and bonus (under certain SunTrust bonus plans) in cash in a lump sum within 30 days after the date Mr. Panther's employment so terminates, (2) each outstanding stock option granted to Mr. Panther by SunTrust will immediately become fully vested and exercisable on the date Mr. Panther's employment so terminates and Mr. Panther shall be deemed to continue to be employed by SunTrust for the two year period following the date of the Change in Control for purposes of determining when Mr. Panther's right to exercise each such option expires notwithstanding the terms of any plan or agreement under which such option was granted, (3) any restrictions on any outstanding restricted or performance stock grants to Mr. Panther by SunTrust will immediately expire and Mr. Panther's right to such stock will be non-forfeitable notwithstanding the terms of any plan or agreement under which such grants were made, (4) Mr. Panther will be eligible, under certain circumstances, to be paid a bonus based on the projected bonus to which Mr. Panther would have otherwise been entitled under certain SunTrust bonus plans, and (5) following the date of such termination of employment until the date that is two years following the date of the Change in Control, SunTrust will provide to Mr. Panther medical, dental and life insurance benefits which are similar in all material respects as those benefits provided under SunTrust's employee benefit plans, policies and programs to senior executives of SunTrust who have not terminated their employment.

The foregoing description of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, a copy of which is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

10.1  Change in Control Agreement, by and between SunTrust and Thomas E. Panther, dated as of November 29, 2005.



SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the Undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


  SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.
               (Registrant)
Date: November 30, 2005 By: /s/ Raymond Fortin
    Raymond Fortin
Corporate Executive Vice President and
General Counsel