Fifth Third Recognized Among World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere for the Seventh Year

Key Terms

ethics quotient technical

A company's ethics quotient is an overall measure of how well it behaves responsibly and follows laws and social norms, combining factors like board conduct, transparency, labor and environmental practices, and honesty in reporting. For investors it matters because ethical lapses can damage reputation, trigger fines or boycotts, and raise long‑term risk—think of it like a company’s “ethics credit score” or report card that helps predict potential problems and resilience.

corporate governance regulatory

Corporate governance is the system of rules, roles and oversight that determines how a company is directed and controlled, including the responsibilities of its board, executives and shareholders. Like the steering wheel and map for a car trip, it shapes decisions, sets checks on power and defines who can hold leaders accountable; strong governance reduces risk, builds trust and helps investors judge whether a company is likely to protect capital and deliver reliable returns.

risk assessment technical

An evaluation of the possible things that could go wrong with an investment or business and how likely and severe those problems might be, covering factors like market swings, cash shortages, regulatory changes, or operational hiccups. Think of it like checking road conditions and fuel before a trip: it helps investors judge whether the potential reward is worth the chance of trouble, set appropriate prices or reserves, and plan steps to reduce or respond to losses.

third-party risk management technical

Third-party risk management is the process a company uses to identify, assess, monitor and reduce risks that come from outside vendors, suppliers, contractors or partners who provide goods, services or handle sensitive data. Investors care because weaknesses in these external relationships can cause outages, regulatory fines, extra costs or reputational damage that directly affect revenue and share value — like hiring a contractor for a home project and needing to ensure they won’t cause costly problems or delays.

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the seventh year, Fifth Third (Nasdaq: FITB) has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

Fifth Third is one of only three banks to earn a spot on this year’s list. In 2026, 138 companies globally were honored for their commitment to business integrity through robust ethics, compliance and governance programs.

“Earning this recognition for the seventh time is an honor that speaks to our consistent pursuit of excellence and our dedication to doing what’s right,” said Tim Spence, chairman, CEO and president of Fifth Third. “It reflects the quality of service we provide and our deep commitment to the communities we serve both inside and outside of work.”

Fifth Third’s ambition to be the one bank people most value and trust is guided by a purpose of serving customers and communities across all their financial needs. The Bank remains committed to operating in a way that reflects our values and creates long‑term, sustainable value for all stakeholders.

“This recognition reflects our colleagues’ unwavering commitment to living our values every day,” said Bob Shaffer, chief risk officer at Fifth Third. “Their dedication to upholding our responsibility to serve customers with accountability and to consistently do what’s right, strengthens our risk culture and reinforces the trust placed in us.”

“Congratulations to Fifth Third for achieving recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®. As we mark the 20th class of honorees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. Companies with strong ethics, compliance, and governance programs are built for better long-term performance,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair.

Ethics & Performance: The Ethics Premium

The 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies® Honorees outperformed a comparable index of global companies by 8.2 percentage points from January 2021 to December 2025.

Methodology & Scoring

The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient®, which requires companies to provide 240+ documented proof points on practices that support robust ethics and compliance, including: corporate governance; program structure & resourcing; written standards; training, awareness, & communication; risk assessment & auditing; investigations, enforcement, discipline & incentives; measurement of ethical culture; third-party risk management, and environmental & social impact. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by their panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year’s group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies^® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ^® Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

About Ethisphere

Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that strengthen corporate brands, build trust in the marketplace, and deliver business success. Companies turn ethics, compliance, and culture into a business advantage by leveraging Ethisphere’s data-driven program & culture assessments featuring the latest guidance and the practices of hundreds of global organizations across the 8 pillars of an ethical culture, and 240+ ethics, compliance, social, and governance data points delivered through a proprietary software platform. Ethisphere also honors superior integrity programs through World’s Most Ethical Companies® recognition, brings together a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and advances ethical business practices through the Global Ethics Summit, Ethisphere Magazine, and the Ethicast podcast. For more information, visit https://ethisphere.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260318455528/en/

Jordan DuShane (Media Relations)

Jordan.dushane@53.com

Matt Curoe (Investor Relations)

matt.curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345

Source: Fifth Third