EXHIBIT 99.1



                                                                            News



SUNTRUST
Contact:          Mike McCoy
                  (404) 588-7230

For Immediate Release
April 20, 2004

  JEFFREY CROWE AND ROBERT M. BEALL, II JOIN THE BOARD OF SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.

ATLANTA - SunTrust Banks, Inc., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
L. Phillip Humann announced today that Jeffrey C. Crowe and Robert M. Beall, II
have been elected to SunTrust's Board of Directors.

         "We welcome Mr. Crowe and Mr. Beall to the SunTrust Board and look
forward to benefiting from the unique and valuable perspectives they can bring
to our organization," said Mr. Humann at today's annual meeting of SunTrust
shareholders. "We also appreciate the dedication and long-time service of three
directors -- Summerfield K. Johnston, Jr., R. Randall Rollins and James B.
Williams - who, having reached mandatory retirement age, are retiring today."

         Mr. Johnston served as a director for the past 7 years, Mr. Rollins has
served as a director for the past 9 years and Mr. Williams has served as a
director for the past 20 years.

         Mr. Crowe is chairman and chief executive officer of Jacksonville,
Fla.-based Landstar System, Inc. Landstar System, Inc., and its affiliates
provide transportation services to customers throughout North America. He is
also chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of
directors of Silgan Corporation. He is a member of the board of trustees for the
United Way of Northeast Florida and served as chairman of the board of the
National Defense Transportation Association until October 2003.

         Since 1994, Mr. Beall has served as chairman and chief executive
officer of Beall's, Inc., the privately held parent company of Beall's
Department Stores, Inc., Beall's Outlet Stores, Inc. and Burke's Outlet stores.
Through its subsidiaries, Beall's, Inc. operates more than 375 retail stores
located from Florida to California. Mr. Beall also serves on the board of
directors of FPL Group, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, the Florida Council
of 100, and the National Retail Federation. He is a past chairman of the Florida
Chamber of Commerce.


                                     -more-



         SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the
nation's largest commercial banking organizations. As of March 31, 2004 SunTrust
had total assets of $125.2 billion and total deposits of $80.9 billion. The
company operates through an extensive distribution network primarily in Florida,
Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia and the District of Columbia and also
serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include
deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the
company provides credit cards, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and
capital markets services. SunTrust's Internet address is www.suntrust.com.

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