SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   FORM 10-K/A
                                 Amendment No. 1

(Mark One)
[X]  Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 or
                                          -------------------

[ ]  Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from          to
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Commission file number     1-10312

                             SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


     Georgia                                                58-1134883
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation              (I.R.S. Employer
 or organization)                                           Identification No.)

One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue
Suite 301, Columbus, Georgia                                    31901
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)          (706) 649-5220

               Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class                    Name of each exchange on which registered
-------------------                    -----------------------------------------
Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value                 New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock Purchase Rights                  New York Stock Exchange

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                      NONE

         Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                  YES    X                             NO___________
                     -----------

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

         As of February 15, 2002, 294,807,278 shares of the $1.00 par value
common stock of Synovus Financial Corp. were outstanding, and the aggregate
market value of the shares of $1.00 par value common stock of Synovus Financial
Corp. held by non-affiliates was approximately $6,650,587,000 (based upon the
closing per share price of such stock on said date).

         Portions of Registrant's Proxy Statement, including Financial Appendix,
dated March 14, 2002 are incorporated in Parts I, II, III and IV of this report.




         The undersigned registrant hereby amends Item 14 of its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 by adding Exhibit 99.1,
the Annual Report on Form 11-K for the Synovus Financial Corp. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan for the year ended December 31, 2001 and by adding Exhibit 99.2,
the Annual Report on Form 11-K for the Synovus Financial Corp. Director Stock
Purchase Plan for the year ended December 31, 2001 as set forth below and in the
attached exhibits.

                                     Part IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a)  1.  Financial Statements

                  The following Consolidated Financial Statements of Synovus
                  Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries are specifically
                  incorporated by reference from pages F-2 through F-22 and F-24
                  of the Financial Appendix to Synovus' Proxy Statement in
                  connection with its Annual Shareholders' Meeting to be held on
                  April 24, 2002, in response to Item 8, Part II, Financial
                  Statements and Supplementary Data.

                    Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2001 and 2000

                    Consolidated Statements of Income - Years Ended December 31,
                    2001, 2000 and 1999

                    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity -
                    Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

                    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years Ended
                    December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

                    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - December 31,
                    2001, 2000 and 1999

                    Independent Auditors' Report

              2.  Financial Statement Schedules

                  Financial Statement Schedules - None applicable because the
                  required information has been incorporated in the Consolidated
                  Financial Statements of Synovus Financial Corp. and its
                  subsidiaries incorporated by reference herein.

                                       2

              3.  Exhibits

                  Exhibit
                  Number   Description
                  -------  ------------

                    3.1    Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of Synovus
                           Financial Corp. ("Synovus") incorporated by reference
                           to Exhibit 4(a) of Synovus' Registration Statement on
                           Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange
                           Commission on July 23, 1990 (File No. 33-35926).

                    3.2    Bylaws, as amended, of Synovus, incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Synovus' Registration
                           Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and
                           Exchange Commission on May 31, 2000 (File No.
                           333-38232).

                    4.1    Form of Rights Agreement incorporated by reference to
                           Exhibit 4.1 of Synovus' Registration Statement on
                           Form 8-A dated April 28, 1999 filed with the
                           Commission on April 28, 1999 pursuant to Section 12
                           of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         10.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS

                    10.1   Employment Agreement of James D. Yancey with Synovus
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Synovus'
                           Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
                           Commission on December 18, 1990 (File No. 33-38244).

                    10.2   Incentive Bonus Plan of Synovus incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Synovus' Registration
                           Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission on
                           December 18, 1990 (File No. 33-38244).

                    10.3   Director Stock Purchase Plan of Synovus incorporated
                           by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Synovus' Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                           December 31, 1999, as filed with the Commission on
                           March 22, 2000.

                    10.4   Synovus Financial Corp. 2002 Long-Term Incentive
                           Plan.

                    10.5   Synovus Financial Corp. Deferred Stock Option Plan.

                    10.6   Consulting Agreement of H. Lynn Page with Synovus
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of Synovus'
                           Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                           December 31, 1992, as filed with the Commission on
                           March 29, 1993.

                                       3

                    10.7   Synovus Financial Corp. Directors' Deferred
                           Compensation Plan.

                    10.8   Wage Continuation Agreement of Synovus incorporated
                           by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Synovus' Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                           December 31, 1992, as filed with the Commission on
                           March 29, 1993.

                    10.9   1991 Stock Option Plan for Key Executives of Synovus
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Synovus'
                           Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                           December 31, 1992, as filed with the Commission on
                           March 29, 1993.

                    10.10  Synovus Financial Corp. 1992 Long-Term Incentive Plan
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1992, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 29, 1993.

                    10.11  Agreement in Connection with Use of Aircraft
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1992, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 29, 1993.

                    10.12  Life Insurance Trusts incorporated by reference to
                           Exhibit 10.12 of Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K
                           for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992, as filed
                           with the Commission on March 29, 1993.

                    10.13  Supplemental Compensation Agreement, Incentive
                           Compensation Agreements and Performance Compensation
                           Agreement with Richard E. Anthony; which Agreements
                           were assumed by Synovus on December 31, 1992 as a
                           result of its acquisition of First Commercial
                           Bancshares, Inc.; and which stock awards made
                           pursuant to the Agreements were converted at a ratio
                           of 1.5 to 1, the exchange ratio applicable to the
                           merger incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1992, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 29, 1993.

                    10.14  1993 Split Dollar Insurance Agreement of Synovus
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1993, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 28, 1994.

                    10.15  1995 Split Dollar Insurance Agreement of Synovus
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1994, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 24, 1995.

                                       4

                    10.16  Synovus Financial Corp. 1994 Long-Term Incentive Plan
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of
                           Synovus'Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1994, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 24, 1995.

                    10.17  Synovus Financial Corp./Total System Services, Inc.
                           Deferred Compensation Plan.

                    10.18  Synovus Financial Corp. Executive Bonus Plan
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1995, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 25, 1996.

                    10.19  Change of Control Agreements incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 10.19 of Synovus' Annual Report
                           on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                           1995, as filed with the Commission on March 25, 1996.

                    10.20  Consulting Agreement of Joe E. Beverly incorporated
                           by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of Synovus' Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                           December 31, 1996, as filed with the Commission on
                           March 6, 1997.

                    10.21  Employment Agreement of James H. Blanchard
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of Synovus'
                           Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                           September 30, 1999, as filed with the Commission on
                           November 15, 1999.

                    10.22  Synovus Financial Corp. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan
                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of
                           Synovus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                           year ended December 31, 1999, as filed with the
                           Commission on March 22, 2000.

                    20.1   Proxy Statement, including Financial Appendix, for
                           the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Synovus to be
                           held on April 24, 2002 certain specified pages of
                           which are specifically incorporated herein by
                           reference.

                    21.1   Subsidiaries of Synovus Financial Corp.

                    23.1   Independent Auditors' Consents.

                                       5

                    24.1   Powers of Attorney contained on the signature pages
                           of the 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

                    99.1   Annual Report on Form 11-K for the Synovus Financial
                           Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the year ended
                           December 31, 2001.

                    99.2   Annual Report on Form 11-K for the Synovus Financial
                           Corp. Director Stock Purchase Plan for the year ended
                           December 31, 2001.

         Synovus agrees to furnish the Commission, upon request, a copy of each
instrument with respect to issues of long-term debt. The principal amount of any
individual instrument, which has not been previously filed, does not exceed ten
percent of the total assets of Synovus and its subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis.

         (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

                  On October 17, 2001, Synovus filed a Form 8-K with the
Commission in connection with the announcement of its earnings for the third
quarter of 2001.

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                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Synovus Financial Corp. has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                             SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
                                                  (Registrant)

April 8, 2002                      By: /s/James H. Blanchard
                                        James H. Blanchard,
                                        Chairman of the Board and
                                        Principal Executive Officer









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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number      Description
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23.1        Auditors' Consents

99.1        Annual Report on Form 11-K for the Synovus Financial Corp. Employee
            Stock Purchase Plan for the year ended December 31, 2001.

99.2        Annual Report on Form 11-K for the Synovus Financial Corp. Director
            Stock Purchase Plan for the year ended December 31, 2001.



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