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Exhibit 5
[Letterhead of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC]
_________________, 2000
BB&T Corporation
200 West Second Street
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration
Statement") with respect to shares to be issued pursuant to
the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and between BB&T
Corporation ("BB&T") and FirstSpartan Financial Corp. dated as
of September 5, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to BB&T in connection with the registration of
4,141,352 shares of its common stock, par value $5.00 per share (the "Shares"),
issuable pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as set forth in the Registration
Statement that is being filed on the date hereof by BB&T with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"). This opinion is provided pursuant to the
requirements of Item 21(a) of Form S-4 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.
In connection with the foregoing, we have examined such records,
documents, and proceedings as we have deemed relevant as a basis for the opinion
expressed herein, and we have relied upon an officer's certificate as to certain
factual matters.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, when issued upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement under the
heading "LEGAL MATTERS" as attorneys who passed upon the validity of the Shares
and to the filing of a copy of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the
category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act
or other rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE,
A Professional Limited Liability Company
By:_____________________________
Garza Baldwin, III
