SunTrust Enters Multi-Year Pact with NASCAR

ATLANTA, June 19 -- SunTrust Banks, Inc. announced today a multi-year agreement with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to become the "Official Bank of NASCAR." SunTrust's relationship with NASCAR, one of the largest and most popular sports in the country, reinforces the company's commitment to serve the financial needs of the motorsports industry. Under terms of the agreement, SunTrust will be involved in NASCAR at many levels, including supporting the sport's diversity initiatives, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, grassroots racing, and various charitable and community programs.

"SunTrust is extremely proud to join the family of great sponsors of one of America's premier sports. As the 'Official Bank of NASCAR', we now have the unique opportunity to offer our products and services directly to the most loyal fans in all of sports," said Craig Kelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for SunTrust Banks. "We understand that NASCAR is a lifestyle for its fans, and we want to be a small but important part of the everyday lives of these great fans."

In order to best serve the NASCAR community of drivers, owners and teams, SunTrust will build upon its Motorsports Banking Group announced earlier this year. The expanded unit will support both the financial needs of NASCAR's drivers and teams as well as assist with the sport's community-related programs that directly benefit the families of NASCAR's drivers and teams. Sanctioned organizations that will receive immediate support from SunTrust Motorsports Banking include Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports (WAM), which helps to provide support for the families of NASCAR racers; Motor Racing Outreach (MRO), a non-denominational group that provides religious services for NASCAR and other racing series; and Victory Junction Gang Camp, a retreat for children living with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

SunTrust will also take its sponsorship to the track and broaden the number of NASCAR fans it reaches across the country by becoming an associate sponsor of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team to be named, as well as a contingency award sponsor of NASCAR's Dodge Weekly Racing Series, NASCAR's grassroots racing series. This local program will also include sponsorship of several grassroots racing facilities.

"SunTrust has been instrumental in the growth of our sport from day one when they helped my grandfather, Bill France, Sr., secure the funds to build Daytona International Speedway," said Brian France, Chairman and CEO of NASCAR. "Like NASCAR, SunTrust understands the path to customer loyalty is providing the right products with exceptional service. The company's commitment to our sport is far reaching and helps support our teams, drivers, tracks and community organizations in very meaningful ways."

The agreement with NASCAR augments the growing motorsports platform that SunTrust began building late last year with the company's announcement as "The Official Bank of Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series" and its sponsorship of the #10 Daytona Prototype car running in the series.

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 .