Suntrust Banks 10-Q 2004 Q3 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SunTrust Banks, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, L. Phillip Humann, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ L. Phillip Humann

L. Phillip Humann

Chairman of the Board, President

and Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 10, 2004