-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ABLd6zcDfu/4AJLvEOgYAeeREBD5F2OzBeldZvgkbWNqXkjICe/ozvR5t8PnmJ2u
 H1jyybjGfbM/ExfVinrjRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018349-03-000043.txt : 20030611
<SEC-HEADER>0000018349-03-000043.hdr.sgml : 20030611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030611145157
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018349-03-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030610
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030611

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRIFFITH G SANDERS III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001128847

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10312
		FILM NUMBER:		03740566

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GARILOU PAGE
		STREET 2:		901 FRONT AVENUE, SUITE 202
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 FRONT AVENUE, SUITE 202
		STREET 2:		901 FRONT AVENUE, SUITE 202
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018349
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				581134883
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 FRONT AVENUE
		STREET 2:		STE 202 PO BOX 120
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7066494818

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 FRONT AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 202 PO BOX 120
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31902

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CB&T BANCSHARES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890912
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>gri145.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-06-10</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018349</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNV</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001128847</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRIFFITH G SANDERS III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Sr. EVP, Gen. Counsel &amp; Sec.</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-10</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>50070</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>6.74</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>128088</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-10</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			<footnoteId id="F1"/>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>50070</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>22.40</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>78018</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy) b</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>6.74</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-10</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>50070</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>0</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>1997-09-05</value>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>2003-09-04</value>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>50070</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>0</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">The sale of these shares was in connection with payment of the exercise price and taxes associated with the acquisition of shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option, as reported in this Form 4.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Mr. Griffith also beneficially owns the following shares of common stock:  24,236 shares held in a grantor retained annuity trust, 3072 shares held by his spouse, and 30 shares for each of his two children.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Signed by Garilou Page as Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-06-11</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----