Change In Control Agreements Between The Registrant And James M. Wells III

Exhibit 10.1

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

(As amended and restated) This Change in Control Agreement, as amended and restated (" Agreement" ), is entered into by and between SunTrust Banks, Inc., a Georgia corporation (" SunTrust" ), and James M. Wells III (" Executive" ).

WHEREAS, Executive is employed by SunTrust or provides services directly or indirectly to SunTrust as a senior executive of SunTrust or one, or more than one, SunTrust Affiliate; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to a prior Change in Control Agreement between the Executive and SunTrust (the " Prior Agreement" ), the Board and the Compensation Committee decided that SunTrust should provide certain benefits to Executive in the event Executive' s employment is terminated without Cause or Executive resigns for Good Reason following a Change in Control; and

WHEREAS, SunTrust and Executive desire to amend and restate the terms of the Prior Agreement to comply with Code Section 409A, and the terms of this Agreement shall supersede the terms of the Prior Agreement and govern the Executive' s rights to such benefits in the event of a Change in Control.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, SunTrust and Executive hereby agree as follows:

a7 1.

Definitions

1.1 Board . The term " Board" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean the Board of Directors of SunTrust.

1.2 Cause . The term " Cause" for purposes of this Agreement shall (subject to a7 1.2(e)) mean:

(a) The willful and continued failure by Executive to perform satisfactorily the duties of Executive' s job;

(b) Executive is convicted of a felony or has engaged in a dishonest act, misappropriation of funds, embezzlement, criminal conduct or common law fraud;

(c) Executive has engaged in a material violation of the SunTrust Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or the Code of Conduct of a SunTrust Affiliate; or

(d) Executive has engaged in any willful act that materially damages or materially prejudices SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate or has engaged in conduct or activities materially damaging to the property, business or reputation of SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate; provided, however, (e) No such act, omission or event shall be treated as " Cause" under this Agreement unless (i) Executive has been provided a detailed, written statement of the basis for SunTrust' s belief that such act, omission or event constitutes " Cause" and an opportunity to meet with the Compensation Committee (together with Executive' s counsel if Executive chooses to have Executive' s counsel present at such meeting) after Executive has had a reasonable period in which to review such statement and, if the allegation is under a7 1.2(a), has had at least a thirty (30) day period to take corrective action and (ii) the Compensation Committee after such meeting (if Executive meets with the Compensation Committee) and after the end of such thirty (30) day correction period (if applicable) determines reasonably and in good faith and by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Compensation Committee then in office at a meeting called and held for such purpose that " Cause" does exist under this Agreement. 1.3 Change in Control . The term " Change in Control" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean a change in control of SunTrust of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect at the time of such " change in control" , provided that such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any " person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power for election of directors of the then outstanding securities of SunTrust or any successor of SunTrust; (ii) during any period of two consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) there is a consummation of any reorganization, merger, consolidation or share exchange as a result of which the common stock of SunTrust shall be changed, converted or exchanged into or for securities of another corporation (other than a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunTrust) or any dissolution or liquidation of SunTrust or any sale or the disposition of 50% or more of the assets or business of SunTrust; or (iv) there is a consummation of any reorganization, merger, consolidation or share exchange unless (A) the persons who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding shares of the common stock of SunTrust immediately before the consummation of such


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transaction beneficially own more than 65% of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the successor or survivor corporation in such transaction immediately following the consummation of such transaction and (B) the number of shares of the common stock of such successor or survivor corporation beneficially owned by the persons described in a7 1.3(iv)(A) immediately following the consummation of such transaction is beneficially owned by each such person in substantially the same proportion that each such person had beneficially owned shares of SunTrust common stock immediately before the consummation of such transaction, provided (C) the percentage described in a7 1.3(iv)(A) of the beneficially owned shares of the successor or survivor corporation and the number described in a7 1.3(iv)(B) of the beneficially owned shares of the successor or survivor corporation shall be determined exclusively by reference to the shares of the successor or survivor corporation which result from the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of SunTrust by the persons described in a7 1.3(iv)(A) immediately before the consummation of such transaction.

1.4 Code . The term " Code" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.5 Compensation Committee . The term " Compensation Committee" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

1.6 Confidential or Proprietary Information . The term " Confidential or Proprietary Information" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean any secret, confidential, or proprietary information of SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate (not otherwise included in the definition of Trade Secret in a7 1.24 of this Agreement) that has not become generally available to the public by the act of one who has the right to disclose such information without violating any right of SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate. 1.7 Current Compensation Package . The term " Current Compensation Package" for purposes of a7 3.1(c)(1) of this Agreement shall mean the sum of the amounts described in a7 1.7(a) and in a7 1.7(b) and, if applicable, in a7 1.7(c) as follows:

(a) Base Salary . Executive' s highest annual base salary from SunTrust and any SunTrust Affiliate which (but for any salary deferral election) is in effect at any time during the one-year period which ends on the date Executive' s employment with SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate terminates under the circumstances described in a7 3.1 or a7 3.6.

(b) Bonus Award .

(1) General Rule . If Executive participates in the MIP at termination, the amount described in this a7 1.7(b) shall (subject to a7 1.7(b)(2)) be the greater of (i) Executive' s target annual bonus under the MIP for the calendar year in which Executive' s employment with SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate terminates under the circumstances described in a7 3.1 or a7 3.6, or (ii) the average of the annual bonus earned by Executive


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(disregarding any deferral) for the 3 full calendar years in which Executive participated in the MIP (or, if less, the number of full calendar years in which Executive participated in the MIP) which immediately precede the calendar year in which Executive' s employment so terminates. If Executive was not eligible to participate in the MIP at termination, but participates in a FIP, the amount described in this a7 1.7(b)(1) shall (subject to a7 1.7(b)(2)) be the greater of (i) Executive' s target annual bonus under the FIP for the calendar year in which Executive' s employment with SunTrust or a SunTrust Affiliate terminates under the circumstances described in a7 3.1 or a7 3.6, or (ii) the average of the annual bonus earned by Executive (disregarding any deferral) for the three (3) full calendar years in which Executive participated in the FIP (or, if less, the number of full calendar years in which Executive participated in the FIP) which immediately precede the calendar year in which Executive' s employment so terminates. In the event Executive was not eligible to participate in the MIP or any FIP at termination, the amount described in this a7 1.7(b)(1) shall (subject to a7 1.7(b)(2)) be the last annual bonus earned by Executive (disregarding any deferral). (2) Exceptions to General Rule .

(i) No MIP . If Executive participates in a FIP but not in the MIP, or if Executive is not eligible to participate in the MIP or any FIP at termination, the amount described in this a7 1.7(b) shall not exceed the amount which would have been described in a7 1.7(b)(1) if Executive instead had been a participant in the MIP.

(ii) Determination Rules . SunTrust shall determine the amount which would have been described in a7 1.7(b)(1) if Executive had been a participant in the MIP based on the target bonus or, if greater, the projected bonus for a MIP participant, or for a class of such participants, whose duties, responsibilities and compensation match, or most closely match, Executive' s duties, responsibilities and compensation before Executive' s employment terminated. (c) PUP Awards . To the extent applicable, the amount described in this a7 1.7(c) shall be the average of the PUP bonus earned by the Executive (disregarding any deferral) for the three (3) full performance cycles ending before 2008, if any, in which Executive participated in the PUP (or, if less, for the number of full performance cycles in which Executive participated in the PUP) and which ended in the three (3) calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which Executive' s employment terminates under the circumstances described in a7 3.1 or a7 3.6. For example, if an Executive terminates from employment during 2009, the amount described in this a7 1.7(c) shall be the average of PUP amounts earned for performance cycles ending on December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 (no PUP awards exist for periods ending after December 31, 2007).


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1.8 Disability Termination . The term " Disability Termination" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean a termination of Executive' s employment exclusively as a result of an event causing such Executive to become eligible to receive disability income benefits under SunTrust' s long term disability plan or any successor to or replacement for such plan.

1.9 Exchange Act . The term " Exchange Act" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

1.10 FIP . The term " FIP" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean an alternative functional incentive plan which provides a short-term bonus or commissions to certain Executives that are not eligible to participate in the MIP.

1.11 Good Reason . The term " Good Reason" for purposes of this Agreement shall (subject to a7 1.11(e)) mean: (a) SunTrust or any SunTrust Affiliate after a Change in Control but before the end of Executive' s Protection Period reduces Executive' s base salary or opportunity to receive comparable incentive compensation or bonuses without Executive' s express written consent;

(b) SunTrust or any SunTrust Affiliate after a Change in Control but before the end of Executive' s Protection Period reduces the scope of Executive' s principal or primary duties, responsibilities or authority, without Executive' s express written consent;

(c) SunTrust or any SunTrust Affiliate at any time after a Change in Control but before the end of Executive' s Protection Period (without Executive' s express written consent) transfers Executive' s primary work site from Executive' s primary work site on the date of such Change in Control or, if Executive subsequently consents in writing to such a transfer under this Agreement, from the primary work site which was the subject of such consent, to a new primary work site which is outside the " standard metropolitan statistical area" which then includes Executive' s then current primary work site unless such new primary work site is closer to Executive' s primary residence than Executive' s then current primary work site; or (d) SunTrust or any SunTrust Affiliate after a Change in Control but before the end of Executive' s Protection Period fails (without Executive' s express written consent) to continue to provide to Executive health and welfare benefits, deferred compensation and retirement benefits, stock option and restricted stock grants that are in the aggregate comparable to those provided to Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided, however,


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(e) No such act or omission shall be treated as " Good Reason" under this Agreement unless:

(1) (i) Executive delivers to the Compensation Committee a detailed, written statement of the basis for Executive' s belief that such act or omission constitutes Good Reason, (ii) Executive delivers such statement before the later of (A) the end of the ninety (90) day period which starts on the date there is an act or omission which forms the basis for Executive' s belief that Good Reason exists or (B) the end of the period mutually agreed upon for purposes of this a7 1.11(e)(1)(ii) in writing by Executive and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, (iii) Executive gives the Compensation Committee a thirty (30) day period after the delivery of such statement to cure the basis for such belief and (iv) Executive actually submits Executive' s written resignation to the Compensation Committee during the sixty (60) day period which begins immediately after the end of such thirty (30) day period if Executive reasonably and in good faith determines that Good Reason continues to exist after the end of such thirty (30) day period, or

(2) SunTrust states in writing to Executive that Executive has the right to treat such act or omission as Good Reason under this Agreement and Executive resigns during the sixty (60) day period which starts on the date such statement is actually delivered to Executive; (f) If (1) Executive gives the Compensation Committee the statement described in a7 1.11(e)(1) before the end of the thirty (30) day period which immediately follows the end of the Protection Period and Executive thereafter resigns within the period described in a7 1.11(e)(1), or (2) SunTrust provides the statement to Executive described in a7 1.11(e)(2) before the end of the thirty (30) day period which immediately follows the end of the Protection Period and Executive thereafter resigns within the period described in a7 1.11(e)(2); then (3) such resignation shall be treated under this Agreement as if made in Executive' s Protection Period; and

(g) If Executive consents in writing to any reduction described in a7 1.11(a) or a7 1.11(b), to any transfer described in a7 1.11(c) or to any failure described in a7 1.11(d) in lieu of exercising Executive' s right to resign for Good Reason and delivers such consent to SunTrust, the date such consent is delivered to SunTrust thereafter shall be treated under this definition as the date of a Change in Control for purposes of determining whether Executive subsequently has Good Reason under this Agreement to resign under a7 a7 3.1 or a7 3.6 as a result of any subsequent reduction described in a7 1.11(a) or a7 1.11(b), any subsequent transfer described in a7 1.11(c) or any subsequent failure described in a7 1.11(d).


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1.12 Gross Up Payment . The term " Gross Up Payment" for purposes of this Agreement shall mean a payment to or on behalf of Executive which shall be sufficient to pay (i) any excise tax described in a7 9 in full, (ii) any federal, state and local income tax and social security and other employment tax on the payment made to pay such ...