Exhibit 23

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation of our report included in this Form 8-K into BB&T Corporation's
previously filed Registration Statement File Nos. 33-52367, 33-57865, 33-57867,
333-03989 and 333-50035 filed on Form S-8 and Registration Statement File Nos.
33-57859, 33-57861, 33-57871 and 333-02899 filed on Form S-3.


                                                   ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina,
April 30, 1999.