If you opened a SunTrust home equity line of credit before December 2019, Truist Financial Corporation now services it. Your account number, credit limit, interest rate structure, and draw and repayment terms carried over unchanged, but every part of managing the loan — payments, draws, statements, tax forms, and customer service — runs through Truist.1Truist. BB&T and SunTrust Complete Merger of Equals to Become Truist
Where Your Account Lives Now
The old SunTrust online portal is gone. To see your balance, available credit, payment due date, and transaction history, sign in through Truist’s website or mobile app. If your HELOC has both variable-rate and fixed-rate balances, the portal displays them separately, and you may need to direct payments to the correct balance.
Third-party authorizations did not transfer automatically. If you had given an accountant, financial advisor, or family member access under SunTrust, you have to put that authorization in place again with Truist in writing.
For account questions, Truist’s number is 844-487-8478. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM EST and Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM EST. Sundays are automated only.2Truist. Truist Bank Customer Service and Contact Numbers
Making Payments and Drawing Funds
You can pay online, through the mobile app, by mail, or at a Truist branch. If you mail a payment, use the P.O. Box printed on your monthly statement, which routes to the Truist Item Processing Center.
To draw funds, initiate a transfer from your HELOC to a linked checking account through online banking. Each January, Truist posts Form 1098 to the online portal showing the mortgage interest you paid the prior year, and mails a copy as well.
Your Rate and Payment Structure
SunTrust HELOCs carry a variable interest rate that moves with the market. Your current APR is on your most recent statement.
During the draw period, three payment structures are available, and which one you’re on determines how quickly you pay down principal:3Truist. How Much Equity Do You Have? Use Our HELOC Calculator
- Variable-rate repayment: your minimum monthly payment equals 1.5% of the outstanding balance, covering interest plus a slice of principal.
- Interest-only repayment: you pay only the finance charges accrued the previous month. Payments stay low, but your principal balance doesn’t move.
- Fixed-rate repayment: you can lock individual draws into a fixed rate with a term of 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. Each fixed-rate advance must be at least $5,000, Truist charges a $15 service fee per advance, and the account is limited to five fixed-rate advances total.4Truist. Calculate and Tap Into the Equity in Your Home
The fixed-rate option is worth considering if you’ve taken a large draw for a specific project and want a predictable payment on that portion while the rest of the balance keeps floating.
How the Two Phases of Your HELOC Work
A SunTrust HELOC follows a 10-plus-10 structure, giving the loan a total life of 20 years:5Truist. Home Equity Line of Credit
- Draw period (years 1–10): you can access funds and your monthly payment is relatively low. The credit line stays open, and your available balance replenishes as you repay.
- Repayment period (years 10–20): the line closes to new draws. You repay the remaining balance, principal and interest, over the remaining term. Monthly payments rise, sometimes sharply.
What Happens When the Draw Period Ends
This is where SunTrust HELOC borrowers most often get caught out. When your 10-year draw period expires, two things happen at once: you lose access to the credit line, and your monthly payment rises because you’re now amortizing the full balance over the remaining 10 years. Federal banking regulators describe this jump as “payment shock” and have flagged it as a specific risk for HELOC borrowers.6Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Interagency Guidance on Home Equity Lines of Credit Nearing Their End of Draw Periods
If you spent the draw period making interest-only payments on a $60,000 balance, you still owe the full $60,000 when repayment starts, and now you have 10 years to pay it off instead of 20. The monthly increase can be hundreds of dollars.
You have more options if you act before the draw period closes. Paying principal voluntarily during the draw period shrinks the balance you’ll owe later. Converting part of the balance to a fixed-rate advance gives you a predictable payment on that portion. Refinancing the HELOC into a new one resets the clock with a fresh draw period, though you’ll go through underwriting again and need sufficient equity and creditworthiness to qualify.
Truist Can Freeze or Reduce Your Credit Line
Many borrowers assume the credit line will stay fully available throughout the draw period. Federal law gives the lender the right to suspend draws or cut your limit under specific circumstances. Under Regulation Z, a creditor can restrict a HELOC when:7eCFR. 12 CFR 1026.40 – Requirements for Home Equity Plans
- Your home’s value drops significantly below its appraised value at origination
- The lender reasonably believes you can’t meet repayment obligations because of a material change in your financial situation
- You default on a material obligation under the agreement
- Government action affects the lender’s security interest or its ability to charge the agreed rate
A freeze doesn’t erase your balance or change your repayment obligations. It only cuts off new borrowing. If a freeze was triggered by a property value decline, you can request reinstatement once values recover, though the lender is not obligated to agree.8HelpWithMyBank.gov. Can the Bank Freeze My HELOC Because the Value of My Home Declined This risk matters if you’re counting on the HELOC as an emergency fund. During a housing downturn, the line could be pulled precisely when you need it.
When HELOC Interest Is Deductible
Interest on your SunTrust HELOC is deductible only when you use the borrowed money to buy, build, or substantially improve the home that secures the loan.9Internal Revenue Service. Publication 936 (2025), Home Mortgage Interest Deduction Spending HELOC funds on debt consolidation, tuition, a car, or any purpose unrelated to the home means the interest on that portion is not deductible. Congress made this rule permanent in 2025, so it continues to apply for 2026 and beyond.
The deduction is capped at $750,000 of total qualifying mortgage debt, or $375,000 if you’re married filing separately. That cap covers all mortgages on your primary and second homes combined. If your original mortgage was taken out before December 16, 2017, a higher $1,000,000 limit applies to that grandfathered debt.
To claim the deduction, itemize on Schedule A (Form 1040) and report the interest from your Form 1098.10Internal Revenue Service. IRS Schedule A (Form 1040) – Itemized Deductions If you used HELOC funds for both qualifying and non-qualifying purposes, only the home-improvement portion counts. Keep receipts, invoices, and contractor agreements tying specific draws to specific projects. Without records, the deduction won’t survive an IRS inquiry.
Paying Off and Closing the Line
Closing a SunTrust HELOC for good takes a few steps beyond a normal monthly payment.11Truist. Mortgage Payoff Instructions and Final Payment Process
- Request a payoff statement showing the exact amount needed, including daily accrued interest. You can request one on Truist.com or by calling 800-634-7928.
- Submit the final payment. Truist accepts final payoffs only by wire transfer or certified funds. Mailed payments go to Truist Mortgage Payoff Department, 111 Millport Circle, MC 900-01-01-05, Greenville, SC 29607.
- Cancel any recurring automatic draft before the payoff processes so you don’t overpay.
- Wait for the lien release. Truist sends a mortgage satisfaction document to your county recorder’s office. Recording times vary by state, so give it several weeks.
Watch one cost. If Truist (or SunTrust originally) advanced your closing costs when the line opened, paying off within the first three years means those costs come back to you. After three years, that reimbursement obligation goes away.5Truist. Home Equity Line of Credit Confirm Truist has your current mailing address so the payoff confirmation and lien release reach you.