New SunTrust Programs Respond to Consumers' Desires for Financial Control and Prosperity

ATLANTA, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Finding that consumers have resonated positively with a more solid, frugal approach to spending and saving, SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI) introduced two programs to empower individuals to take more control of their financial lives.

Online Banking with Bill Pay

Launched Monday, February 1, SunTrust's "Solid Rewards Responsibility" program rewards clients for banking solid.  New checking account clients can earn up to $150 – and current clients $100 - for using Online Banking and paying bills online.  For more information and to enroll in the program, visit www.suntrust.com/solid.

• Individuals who open a new personal checking account and make three payments online within two months of initial account opening could receive a $50 reward and an additional $100 reward by paying three or more bills online each month for three consecutive months.  
• Clients who already have a personal checking account could receive a $100 reward by paying three or more bills online each month for three consecutive months.

"SunTrust is encouraging consumers to use Online Bill Pay as an easy first step to manage finances, scrutinize expenses and ensure that bills are paid on time," said C.T. Hill, head of SunTrust's Retail Line of Business.  "We want our clients to reap the benefits of saving time and money while also controlling when they pay bills and easily tracking where their money goes."

Paying bills online can help consumers protect their credit ratings since approximately 35 percent of a typical credit score is determined by the history of paying bills on time.  

(Source: "What's In Your FICO Score", FICO™, 2010)

Moreover, a national survey* reflected that users of online bill pay registered high levels of satisfaction with the service.  Findings include:

• More than 70 percent of respondents indicated that paying online was easier than paying by check, gave them more control over the timing of payments and they liked saving money on stamps.
• Nearly 60 percent of people who received e-bills said that environmental impact was either important or very important in their decision to view and pay bills online.

(*Source: 2009 Consumer Billing and Payment Trends survey, sponsored by Fiserv; conducted by The Marketing Workshop and Harris Interactive)

LiveSolid.com

As part of its ongoing commitment to financial education advocacy, SunTrust has introduced www.LiveSolid.com, an online resource center to help navigate the intersection of life and money.  Available to everyone, LiveSolid.com takes a holistic approach by combining financial and personal interests to help consumers learn about managing finances, as well as their overall well being.  

The robust Web site provides hundreds of tools, calculators, articles, guides, videos, podcasts and tips that help individuals make financial decisions that impact many aspects of their lives.  More than 100 calculators help answer questions, such as:  How much home can I afford? How can I pay down my debt? How can I budget for a vacation and unforeseen expenses?   Moreover, individuals can access tools to budget effectively, teach children about money, learn about retirement planning, or discover ways to balance life and manage stress.  

Menu categories are matched to key interests and stages in someone's life:  My Well Being, My Money, My Relationships, My Children, My Future Plans, and My Retirement.  LiveSolid.com provides an integrated forum for individuals to engage via the site (www.LiveSolid.com), LiveSolid Facebook page, and LiveSolid on Twitter.

Rilla Delorier, SunTrust's Chief Marketing Officer, noted, "We recognize that life and money intersect everyday.  LiveSolid enables people to benefit from experts and also connect with and share information with other people experiencing the same life situations.  We urge people to visit LiveSolid and join the conversation on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter."

LiveSolid.com does not replace SunTrust.com, which is still the best way to access SunTrust's  banking services.  Rather, it integrates financial and personal interests and provides comprehensive information.

About SunTrust Banks, Inc.

SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation's largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients.  As of December 31, 2009, SunTrust had total assets of $174.2 billion and total deposits of $121.9 billion.  The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels.  The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally.  Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services.  Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and capital markets services.  SunTrust's Internet address is SunTrust.com.

SOURCE SunTrust Banks, Inc.