CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT -------------------------------- I, James H. Blanchard, Chief Executive Officer of Synovus Financial Corp. (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that: (1) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Dated: August 14, 2002 /s/James H. Blanchard -------------------------- James H. Blanchard Chief Executive Officer SNV\Periodic-certify.doc Exhibit 99.1