SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934




        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 22, 2001



                         GREENE COUNTY BANCSHARES, INC.
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             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


               Tennessee               0-14289                 62-1222567
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   (State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
         of Incorporation)            File Number)         Identification No.)

            100 North Main Street, Greeneville, Tennessee 37743-4992
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                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (423) 639-5111
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               Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former Name or former address, if changed since last report)


Item 5. Other Events.
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     On August 29, 2001, the Registrant's wholly owned subsidiary, Greene County
Bank,  issued a press release  announcing that on August 22, 2001 it had entered
into a non-binding letter of intent with SunTrust Bank to acquire three SunTrust
branches in Hawkins  County,  Tennessee.  The  transaction is subject to further
negotiation  and will not be  consummated  until Greene County Bank and SunTrust
enter into a definitive  agreement.  See the attached press release,  at Exhibit
99.1, for further information.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
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   (a) - (b)      Not applicable.

         (c)      The following exhibit is filed as part of this report.

                  Exhibit 99.1      Press release dated August 29, 2001




                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                        GREENE COUNTY BANCSHARES, INC.


Date:   August 29, 2001                 By:  \s\ R. Stan Puckett
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                                             R. Stan Puckett
                                             President, Chief Executive Officer
                                                and Director
                                             (Duly Authorized Representative)