SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                           The Securities Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 2, 1996
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                               CENTURA BANKS, INC.
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               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)




                                               

North Carolina                      1-10646                   56-1688522
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(State of Incorporation)  (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)



134 North Church Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina          27804
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(Address of principal executive office)                      (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:          (919) 977-4400
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                                       N/A
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)









Exhibit Index on Page 4.













Item 5.  Other Events:
On July 2, 1996,  Centura Banks,  Inc.  ("Centura")  announced  earnings for the
three month and six month  periods  ending June 30, 1996.  Centura's  net income
increased 13.9 percent to $16.5 million or $0.71 per fully-diluted share for the
three months ended June 30, 1996 versus $14.5 million or $0.62 per fully-diluted
share for the  comparable  quarter  last  year.  Net income  increased  to $32.4
million or $1.39 per fully-diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 1996,
versus $29.0 million or $1.27 per  fully-diluted  share for the  comparable  six
month period of 1995. A press release is attached as Exhibit 99.







Item 7.  Financial statements and Exhibits.
The  exhibit  listed  in the  Exhibit  Index is filed  herewith  as part of this
Current Report on Form 8-K.











                                   SIGNATURES

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.


                               CENTURA BANKS, INC.
                               Registrant


Date: July 2, 1996       By:  /s/ Frank L. Pattillo
                              Frank L. Pattillo
                              Chief Financial Officer









                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                               Sequential
                                                               Page
Exhibit               Description of Exhibit                   Number


99                Press release dated July 2, 1996               5