Exhibit 5.1

[Squire Sanders (US) LLP Letterhead]

November 21, 2012

BB&T Corporation

200 West Second Street

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to BB&T Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (the “Corporation”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-175538) (the “Registration Statement”) filed on July 13, 2011 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the issuance and sale of the above-referenced Senior Notes pursuant to a Syndicated Underwriting Agreement dated November 14, 2012 (the “Syndicated Underwriting Agreement”), among the Corporation, on the one hand, and Barclays Capital Inc., BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Jefferies & Company, Inc., on the other hand, which Syndicated Underwriting Agreement is delivered pursuant to the Distribution Agreement dated August 12, 2011 (the “Distribution Agreement”), among the Corporation and the agents listed on Schedule A thereto. The Senior Notes are being issued under that certain Indenture dated as of May 24, 1996, as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 4, 2009 (as so amended, the “Senior Indenture”), between the Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association (as successor to the corporate trust business of State Street Bank and Trust Company), as Trustee, copies of which are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(c) of the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-02899), filed with the Commission on April 26, 1996, and Exhibit 4.2 of the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 4, 2009, respectively.

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Syndicated Underwriting Agreement, the Distribution Agreement, the Senior Indenture and duplicates of the global notes representing the Senior Notes. We are familiar with the corporate proceedings of the Corporation to date with respect to the issuance and sale of the Senior Notes, and we have examined such corporate records of the Corporation and such other documents and certificates as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In rendering this opinion, we have assumed, without any independent investigation, that (i) all documents that have been submitted to us as originals are authentic, and that all documents that have been submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, original documents; and (ii) all persons executing agreements, instruments or documents examined or relied upon by us had the capacity to sign such agreements, instruments or documents, and all such signatures are genuine.

BB&T Corporation

November 21, 2012

Page 2 of 2

We have assumed that each of the documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto other than the Corporation and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of such parties enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity, constitutional rights and public policy, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

Based on the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the Senior Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Corporation and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Corporation, enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with their terms.

The opinion set forth above regarding the enforceability of the Senior Notes is subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

This opinion is given on the basis of the law and the facts existing as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to advise you of changes in matters of fact or law which may thereafter occur. Our opinion is based on statutory laws and judicial decisions that are in effect on the date hereof, and we do not opine with respect to any law, regulation, rule or governmental policy which may be enacted or adopted after the date hereof.

We are licensed to practice law in the State of New York and, accordingly, we do not express any opinion concerning any law other than the laws of the State of New York and applicable federal laws of the United States of America. Insofar as the opinions expressed herein relate to or are dependent upon matters governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, we have relied upon the opinion of Robert J. Johnson Jr., Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Corporate Governance Officer of the Corporation. We do not express any opinion on any issue not expressly addressed above.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Corporation filed with the Commission on November 21, 2012, and thereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm contained therein.