Retirement of Directors

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 8-K
Current Report


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

December 31, 2004

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)



BB&T Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission file number : 1-10853



North Carolina 56-0939887
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


200 West Second Street  
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


(336) 733-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


This Form 8-K has 3 pages.


ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

           On December 31, 2004, pursuant to BB&T Corporation’s (BB&T’s) director retirement policy, J. Ernest Lathem, Richard L. Player, Jr. and Jack E. Shaw retired from BB&T’s Corporate board of directors.



S  I  G  N  A  T  U  R  E

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                                                BB&T CORPORATION
                                                                                (Registrant)

                                                                                By: /S/ EDWARD D. VEST

                                                                                Edward D. Vest
                                                                                Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller
                                                                                (Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:       January 6, 2005