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, 33-57871, 333-
03989, 333-50035, 333-69823, 333-81471, 333-36540, 333-36538 and 333-52278
filed on Form S-8 and Registration Statement File Nos. 33-57859, 33-57861, 333-
02899, 333-27755 and 333-35879 filed on Form S-3.

                                          Arthur Andersen LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina
July 25, 2001

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