Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Price, News & Analysis

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.

Fifth Third has been named the Best Treasury and Cash Management Bank (US, Regional) by Global Finance magazine. The accolade is part of the magazine's 24th annual Best Treasury and Cash Management Banks awards for 2024.

The selection process involved multiple tiers, including input from industry analysts, corporate executives, and technology experts. Criteria considered include profitability, market share, customer service, competitive pricing, and product innovation.

Bridgit Chayt, head of commercial payments and treasury management at Fifth Third, emphasized that the recognition validates the company's vision and innovation in meeting client needs.

Global Finance also recognized other top banks globally, regionally, and in over 70 countries. Winners were chosen across multiple categories and regions.

Fifth Third announced it exceeded its community and environmental commitments in 2023, as detailed in its latest Sustainability Report. The bank surpassed its $2.8 billion pledge to the Accelerating Racial Equity, Equality, and Inclusion (AREEI) initiative, providing funding, access to capital, and financial education for underserved communities. It also delivered $199.1 million through its Neighborhood Investment Program, exceeding its three-year $180 million commitment in just two years.

Fifth Third achieved 160% of its Community Development Banking goal, funding $734 million in loans and investments to create affordable housing. The bank's spending with diverse suppliers reached $189.2 million, a 1,500% increase since 2014. It reached 37.6% of its $100 billion environmental and social finance target, including $1.3 billion for renewable energy projects in 2023.

Fifth Third also invested $35.3 million in philanthropic efforts and employees volunteered 110,697 hours. Its sustainability efforts earned recognition from several organizations, including Ethisphere and Newsweek.

Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) has announced its preliminary stress capital buffer requirement following the Federal Reserve Board's annual stress test. The buffer is set at 3.2%, effective October 1, 2024. Fifth Third's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio as of March 31, 2024, is 10.5%, far exceeding the regulatory minimum of 4.5% plus the stress capital buffer.

Fifth Third plans to recommend a 2-cent increase in its quarterly cash dividend per share and may repurchase shares, aligning with its CET1 target. Future capital actions will depend on various factors, including company performance and economic conditions.

According to Tim Spence, CEO of Fifth Third, the results underscore the company's strong capital levels and diversified business model, allowing for potential dividend increases, share repurchases, and capital growth to support investments and lending.

Fifth Third Bank has received a 2024 CSO Award from Foundry's CSO, recognizing their innovative security projects and initiatives. The award highlights the Bank’s significant contributions in delivering security-enabled value through its Identity Centric Security program, which is intelligence-driven and supports Bank modernization.

Lori Anello, chief information security officer at Fifth Third, emphasized that this achievement showcases their approach to enabling business transformation at scale. Beth Kormanik, content director for the CSO Conference & Awards, noted the importance of these efforts in addressing the expanding threat landscape, including AI threats and zero trust.

The award will be celebrated at the CSO Conference & Awards this fall.