Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Price, News & Analysis

The Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile, also known as the eBus, has successfully served over 1,000 community members within the first 60 days of its 2024 tour. Launched on May 3, the eBus has traveled nearly 3,000 miles, visiting 18 communities across Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.

The eBus offers enhanced services including immediate checking account opening, face-to-face consultations, and access to credit counseling. In collaboration with SpringFour, the eBus connects visitors to over 24,000 financial wellness resources, such as food savings, rental resources, and employment services.

Plans are in place for the eBus to return to Ohio in early August for a statewide tour, covering regions like Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland.

Fifth Third Bank introduces new features in its Fifth Third Momentum Banking products and mobile app to simplify banking and enhance customer experience. Key updates include a Direct Deposit Switch, enabling easy switching of direct deposits, and a Free Overdraft Window, offering no overdraft fees for the first 90 days. The bank also launched SmartShield, a suite of security tools to protect customers' financial assets. These enhancements aim to reduce stress for customers by providing faster access to funds and stronger security measures.

The Fifth Third Foundation has awarded $62,500 in scholarships to children of Fifth Third employees for college studies. This scholarship program, established in 2005, grants $2,500 one-time awards annually. Over 450 students have benefited since its inception. The awards recognize academic achievements and are administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. The recipients for this year include students from various states such as Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, and Florida. The Foundation, founded in 1948, supports education, health, community development, and the arts.

Fifth Third Bank has announced the second cohort of its Empowering Community Leaders (ECL) program, aimed at developing nonprofit leaders across its service areas. The 18-month program, jointly funded by Fifth Third Foundation and Fifth Third, offers resources and training in leadership development, technical skills, and specialized certifications. Participants include leaders from various organizations such as AQUME Foundation, Avondale Development , and Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley. Training partners include Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education and Resilia. The program supports nonprofit growth, more effective community programs, and job creation.

Fifth Third has announced the opening of a new commercial banking office in Birmingham, Alabama, marking its initial entry into the Alabama market. Expanding its operations in the Southeast, which began seven years ago, the bank already has a presence in Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida. The new office will offer commercial and treasury management services and eventually include a Private Bank office. Leading the Alabama team are seasoned professionals from BB&T (now Truist), such as Joshua Petty and Burton McDonald, who bring decades of experience in commercial and middle market banking. This expansion aims to attract and retain local talent to cater to Birmingham's unique market needs.

The Fifth Third Foundation has announced a $300,000 grant to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) LIFT Financial Center of Excellence. This three-year grant will aid the center in providing financial education, coaching, networking, and funding opportunities for women business owners. The initiative is part of Fifth Third's commitment to inclusion and community well-being. The WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence aims to advance gender parity for women entrepreneurs via financial education and funding. The grant will enable more comprehensive support for women in accessing capital and achieving financial growth.

Fifth Third announced that its George A. Schaefer, Jr. Madisonville Operations Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, has received the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification for exceptional energy efficiency. This addition brings the bank’s total ENERGY STAR-certified space to over 1.2 million square feet. With an ENERGY STAR Score of 79, the Madisonville center surpasses 79% of similar properties nationwide. This certification marks Fifth Third’s 150th building to earn the rating, demonstrating sustained energy savings and environmental commitment. The bank has reduced its energy usage by 45% over the past decade and aims for a 40% reduction by 2030, a goal already surpassed last year. Fifth Third continues to implement advanced technologies and processes to enhance energy efficiency across its facilities.

Fifth Third has been honored by DiversityComm Magazine as a 2024 Top Diverse Employer, recognizing its dedication to minority groups, veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. Chief Inclusion Officer Stephanie A. Smith emphasized the company's commitment to creating an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and respected. Key initiatives include nine Business Resource Groups and a long-standing partnership with Project SEARCH, aiding students with disabilities in workforce transition. Fifth Third has consistently earned top marks for diversity, including a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index for eight consecutive years and recognition in various diversity-focused rankings by Forbes and Newsweek.

Fifth Third Bank has reached a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to resolve litigation and investigations related to its sales practices and auto finance servicing activities. The Bank will pay $15 million for sales practices and $5 million for auto finance servicing violations. The settlement requires Fifth Third to maintain current policies, develop compliance plans, and work with the CFPB to implement remediation plans for affected customers. The issues addressed in the settlement pertain to accounts opened between 2010 and 2016 and an auto insurance program discontinued in 2019. Fifth Third aims to focus on long-term value creation following the resolution of these matters.