SunTrust 2011 Annual Report Download - page 4

It’s clear that the challenges faced by
our industry in 2011 masked a portion
of the real progress we’re making
as a Company. I also can assure you
that, as a team, we have never
been more committed to delivering
on our promises to our clients, our
communities, and our shareholders.
As usual, a complete review of our
2011 performance follows this letter
and I invite your attention to those
details. I’d like to use the remainder
of this message to share with you the
strengths that we believe differentiate
SunTrust from the competition and the
strategic priorities we have put in
place to transform the Company and
ultimately, increase shareholder returns.
our foundation
SunTrust’s Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
banking footprint is widely regarded
as one of the best in the industry. The
markets in which we operate have
attractive long-term demographic
and economic growth characteristics,
and we are well positioned within
them. As one of the nation’s largest
banks, we have the scale to compete.
More importantly to us, a top three
position in 80 percent of our major
markets demonstrates we are
relevant in the markets we serve.
Our revenue stream is diverse, and
benets from our ability to offer our
Consumer and Wholesale clients a
robust set of capabilities and products
in addition to industry-leading service.
Further, our operating model and
structure give us intimate connections
to each of our markets. Our locally
based market leaders and teams
provide a distinct competitive
advantage and represent a key
component to delivering on our
brand promise and driving ever-
improving client loyalty.
We also follow very clear guiding
principles: We go to market as
One Team, put the Client First,
and Focus on Protable Growth —
the ultimate objective.
Finally, we have the commitment
and drive of talented teammates
that deliver the institution to our
clients every day. They represent
one of our strongest competitive
advantages, and differentiate
SunTrust in the marketplace through
each client interaction.
our transformation
Over the course of the last several
years, we have steadily evolved to be
better positioned for protable growth
as we move beyond the current
cycle. A thorough evaluation of our
businesses and their performance
led to the development of strategic
priorities that are changing how we
do business, and guiding where our
efforts and investments are focused.
The result? We’ve changed the way
we compete for, win, retain, and expand
our relationships with consumer clients.
Our loan portfolio is increasingly
better diversied.We’ve identied,
and have begun realizing, meaningful
opportunities for growth in our
Wholesale businesses. And we have a
plan in place to further improve the
efciency of the organization.
All of this was designed to better
leverage our franchise, grow revenue,
reduce risk, improve protability, and
ultimately, enhance shareholder return.
We go to market as
One Team, put the
Client First, and Focus
on Profitable Growth —
the ultimate objective.
SUNTRUST 2011 ANNUAL REPORT