SEC Form 5

FORM 5		UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0362 Estimated average burden hours per response: 1.0
	Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
	Form 3 Holdings Reported.
X	Form 4 Transactions Reported.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* BALKCOM JAMES RJR (Last) (First) (Middle) #150 THE PARKSIDE 78 LINDBERGH DRIVE NE (Street) ATLANTA GA 30305 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol BANCTRUST FINANCIAL GROUP INC [ BTFG ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X Director 10% Owner Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
	3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2004
	4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)	4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock $.01 Par	12/31/2004		J4(1)	2,061	A	$0.00	24,574(2)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)	5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
					(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Acquired shares were through a director deferred comp plan. Adjustment to allocation based on year end reconcilement of director's accounts

2. Rabbi Trust

Remarks:

During 2004, purchases made in the director deferred compensation plan (RABBI Trust) are reported monthly based on actual purchase price. The shares are not allocated to the directors accounts until the end of each quarter. The shares are allocated based on average purchase price. Additionally, 4 of the directors received additional shares during 2004 when shares were converted in a merger transaction.

	James R Balkcom by Leigh Thompson, POA	03/10/2005
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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