The basic steps to balance your SunTrust account
Balancing your SunTrust checking account means comparing what you think you have against what the bank says you have, then finding and fixing any differences. Start by gathering three things: your most recent bank statement (paper or online), your checkbook register or transaction list, and any deposit receipts you kept. Then follow the bank's reconciliation steps: list every transaction the bank shows that you haven't marked off yet, subtract any outstanding checks (ones you wrote but the bank hasn't cleared), add any deposits you made that haven't posted yet, and see if your adjusted balance matches what you calculated.
SunTrust (now Truist Financial Corporation after a 2019 merger) offers online and mobile banking tools that make this easier than doing it by hand. Log into your account on the SunTrust website or mobile app, find the reconciliation or balance tool (usually under Account Services or Tools), and the system will walk you through matching your transactions against the bank's record. The app shows you which checks have cleared and which are still pending, so you don't have to guess.
Key Takeaways
- Gather your bank statement, checkbook register, and any deposit slips before you start, so you have all the information in one place.
- Mark off every transaction that appears on both your records and the bank statement, then focus only on the ones that don't match.
- Outstanding checks (ones you wrote that haven't cleared yet) and pending deposits are the most common reasons your balance doesn't match the bank's.
- SunTrust's online and mobile banking tools include a built-in reconciliation feature that automates most of the work.
- If your balance still doesn't match after accounting for pending items, check for duplicate transactions, math errors, or fees you may have missed.
Finding and marking off cleared transactions
Open your bank statement and your checkbook register side by side. Go through the statement line by line and mark off each transaction in your register the moment you see it on the bank's list. This includes checks, debit card purchases, ACH transfers, and deposits. The order on the statement may not match the order in your register, so don't assume a transaction cleared just because it's in the right spot—check the date and amount.
SunTrust's online banking makes this faster because the system shows you pending and posted transactions separately. Pending transactions are ones you made but the bank hasn't processed yet; posted transactions have cleared. Focus on the posted ones first, because those are the ones that affect your actual available balance. Once you've marked everything off, any transaction still unmarked in your register is either pending or hasn't been processed by the bank yet.
Accounting for outstanding checks and pending deposits
An outstanding check is one you wrote and mailed or handed over, but the person who received it hasn't deposited it yet. The bank won't see it until they do, so it won't show on your statement even though you've already spent the money. List every check you wrote that doesn't appear on the statement, add up the amounts, and subtract that total from the bank's statement balance.
A pending deposit is money you put in that the bank hasn't credited yet. This usually takes one to two business days for in-person deposits and up to five for mobile deposits or mailed checks. List any deposits you made that don't show on the statement, add up those amounts, and add that total to the bank's statement balance. After you subtract outstanding checks and add pending deposits, your adjusted balance should match what you calculated in your register.
Using SunTrust's online reconciliation tool
Log into your SunTrust account online or through the mobile app and look for a Reconcile, Balance, or Account Services section. The exact name varies depending on whether you're using the website or app, but it's usually grouped with other account management tools. Click into it and the system will show you a list of all transactions from your statement period.
The tool lets you check off each transaction as you verify it, just like you would on paper. It automatically calculates your adjusted balance as you go, so you can see in real time whether you're getting closer to matching. If you get stuck, SunTrust's help section within the app or website explains what each transaction type means and walks through common reconciliation problems. You can also call SunTrust customer service at the number on the back of your card if the tool isn't working or you need someone to walk you through it.
What to do if your balance doesn't match
If your adjusted balance still doesn't match after accounting for outstanding checks and pending deposits, check for these common problems: a transaction you recorded twice, a math error in your register, a fee or charge you forgot to write down, or a deposit that bounced. Look at your statement for any items marked NSF (non-sufficient funds), overdraft fees, or monthly maintenance fees—these reduce your balance and are easy to miss.
Go back through your register and statement one more time, this time looking for duplicate entries. A transaction might show up twice if you recorded it and then the bank processed it differently than you expected. Check your math on any deposits or withdrawals you calculated by hand. If you still can't find the problem and the difference is small (under $10), it may be a timing issue—some transactions take longer to clear than others, and your balance should match on the next statement cycle.
If the difference is large or you suspect an error on the bank's side, contact SunTrust directly. Have your statement and register ready when you call, and be specific about which transaction you think is wrong. The bank can pull up the details and tell you exactly when it posted and for how much.
How often you should balance your account
Most people balance their account once a month when the statement arrives, which is the standard practice. However, if you write a lot of checks or make frequent transfers, balancing every two weeks or even weekly can help you catch errors faster and keep better track of what you're spending. The more often you balance, the fewer transactions you have to sort through each time.
If you use online banking and check your balance regularly, you may feel like you don't need to formally reconcile. That's partly true—you can see your balance in real time. But reconciliation is still worth doing because it catches errors the bank made, not just ones you made. A bank error is rare, but it happens, and reconciliation is how you find it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a check to clear at SunTrust?
Most checks clear within one to three business days after the recipient deposits them, but it can take up to five business days depending on the bank that receives it. SunTrust has no control over how fast the other bank processes it. You can see the status of your checks in your online account under pending transactions.
Why does my available balance differ from my account balance?
Your available balance is what you can spend right now; your account balance includes pending transactions that haven't cleared yet. If you wrote a check that hasn't cleared, it reduces your account balance but not your available balance until the bank processes it. This is why you can overdraft even if your available balance looks fine.
What should I do if SunTrust charged me a fee I don't recognize?
Check your statement for the fee description—it will say what it was for (overdraft, monthly maintenance, ATM, etc.). If you think it was charged in error, call SunTrust customer service with your statement in front of you. They can explain the fee and may reverse it if you have a valid reason.
Can I reconcile my account on the SunTrust mobile app?
Yes, SunTrust's mobile app includes a reconciliation tool that works the same way as the website version. Open the app, find the account management or tools section, and look for a reconcile or balance option. The mobile version is often faster if you're checking off transactions on the go.
What if I find a transaction I don't remember making?
Check the transaction details for the merchant name and date. If you still don't recognize it, it could be a subscription charge, a recurring payment you forgot about, or fraud. Contact SunTrust immediately if you think it's unauthorized. The bank can investigate and reverse it if it was fraudulent.