-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FWGz21gA9Au7pKhBwxVy068W57wkgLG258VylEjv7m/z1KEJNvBZvBw2YS5goukw
 vf9aVbKiJn9Q/pjs9ze0HA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-039729.txt : 20040811
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-039729.hdr.sgml : 20040811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040811095852
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-039729
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040809
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040811

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRAWFORD STEPHEN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195224

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15423
		FILM NUMBER:		04965911

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HAND ARENDALL L L C
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 123
		CITY:			MOBILE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			36601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANCTRUST FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000783739
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				630909434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ST JOSEPH ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 3067
		CITY:			MOBILE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			36602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2514317800

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTH ALABAMA BANCORPORATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010411

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MOBILE NATIONAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd50296.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000783739</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANCTRUST FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BTFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRAWFORD STEPHEN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HAND ARENDALL, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 123</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOBILE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>36601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Legal Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>102000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen G. Crawford, by Pamela S. Watson POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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