Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Price, News & Analysis

Fifth Third (NASDAQ: FITB) has been recognized among Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies™ for the second consecutive year. The prestigious ranking evaluates corporate reputation across more than 50 industries globally, based on a poll of over 3,700 executives, directors, and analysts conducted by Korn Ferry.

Companies are rated on nine criteria including investment value, management quality, social responsibility, and talent attraction. The selection process involves evaluating 1,500 largest U.S. and global companies by revenue.

In 2024, Fifth Third has garnered multiple accolades, including:

• 'U.S. Best Super-Regional Bank' by Euromoney
• No. 1 for Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction in Florida by JD Power
• Forbes' 'Best Customer Service'
• Global Private Banker 'Best Private Bank for High Net Worth Clients'
• Energage 'Top Workplaces USA'

Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ: FITB) has announced that customers with Fifth Third Momentum® Banking accounts can now receive their tax refunds via direct deposit up to five days earlier than standard processing times, at no additional cost. This service positions Fifth Third as one of the few banks nationwide offering early tax refund deposits.

The bank has been pioneering early payment technology since 2021, when it first introduced early paycheck access. In 2022, they expanded services to include early payments for gig workers and government benefit recipients. The early tax refund feature, launched in 2023, builds upon this innovation track record.

Currently, more than two million customers use Fifth Third Momentum Banking, which combines financial technology to provide faster, easier, and more secure money access. According to IRS data, 90% of electronic filers choosing direct deposit typically receive refunds within 21 days.

Fifth Third Bank has opened a new full-service banking center in Charlotte's Historic West End Neighborhood, marking the first of 15 planned banking centers in low- and moderate-income (LMI) or high minority (HMT) population areas this year. The 1,900-square-foot facility features a drive-thru, ATM, and innovative open design.

This initiative is part of Fifth Third's Neighborhood Program, which aims to revitalize historically disinvested neighborhoods. Since 2021, the bank has invested $85.2 million in Charlotte's Historic West End, catalyzing an additional $28 million for a total impact of $113.2 million.

Key projects include the Thrive Food Hub, a 6,000-square-foot shopping center renovation, the Legacy at Carr Heights senior living complex with 120 affordable units, and the Hoskins Street Home Preservation project protecting 32 families from displacement. At the opening, the Fifth Third Foundation and LISC Charlotte presented $100,000 in grants to five local small businesses.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) reported Q4 2024 net income of $582 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, up from $532 million ($0.78/share) in Q3 2024 and $492 million ($0.72/share) in Q4 2023. The quarter included a negative $0.05 per share impact from certain items.

Key highlights include: Net interest income increased 1% sequentially to $1.437 billion, with net interest margin improving by 7 basis points to 2.97%. Fee performance showed strong growth with capital markets fees up 16%, wealth management revenue up 11%, and commercial payments up 7% year-over-year. Consumer and commercial loans increased 2% and 3% respectively compared to Q3 2024.

The bank maintained strong capital levels with a CET1 ratio of 10.51% and returned $1.6 billion to shareholders in 2024. Total consumer households surpassed 2.5 million, and the bank opened 21 new branches in high-growth markets during Q4.

Fifth Third Private Bank, a division of Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ: FITB), has been awarded Best Private Bank (US, Regional) for the sixth consecutive year and Best Private Bank for Entrepreneurs (Globally) for the second year by Global Finance in their 2025 World's Best Private Bank Awards.

The awards were determined by Global Finance's editorial board with input from industry insiders, based on performance from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. The selection process involved evaluating both objective and subjective factors, including submitted entries and independent research.

These recognitions highlight Fifth Third Private Bank's excellence in serving high-net-worth individuals' specialized needs, focusing on wealth enhancement, preservation, and succession planning. The bank's approach emphasizes building deep client relationships and delivering exceptional experiences through consultative services.

Fifth Third Bank announced an immediate decrease in its prime lending rate to 7.50%. This marks the second recent reduction in the prime rate, following a previous decrease from 8.00% to 7.75% on November 7, 2024.

Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ: FITB) has awarded over $25,000 in grants to small businesses through a social media competition and tipping campaign in November. The initiative included five $5,300 grants awarded to randomly selected businesses from 2,800 entries submitted by bank employees using #Love53. Additionally, employees distributed more than $53,000 in $53 tips at local businesses before Small Business Saturday.

The winning businesses include Kim's Kakes (Rossford, OH), Salon Impressions (Orland Park, IL), Magic Stitches (Raleigh, NC), The Corner Pizza Bar (Orlando, FL), and The Empanada's Box (Cincinnati, OH). The campaign is part of Fifth Third's broader commitment to supporting its 320,000+ small business clients through lending, investments, and technical assistance.

Fifth Third Bank's Newline™ platform has been named Most Innovative Financial Institution at the 2024 This Week in Fintech Awards in New York. Newline™, an API-first platform for embedded payment and deposit solutions, has strengthened its market position through notable partnerships with Trustly and Stripe. The platform was also recognized as Best New Embedded Finance Platform by Tearsheet in September.

Fifth Third's commercial payments business currently handles $17 trillion in annual payments volume, demonstrating its significant presence in the financial technology sector. The Bank has a long history of providing innovative payment strategies and scalable technology solutions, particularly in e-commerce.

Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ: FITB) announced plans to expand its retail footprint by opening over 200 new branches in the next four years, primarily in Southeast markets. The bank aims to achieve a 50-50 split between Midwest and Southeast presence by 2028, with plans to open 50+ branches annually and enter 11 new Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including two Alabama markets.

The expansion strategy leverages data analytics and proprietary technology, including a Market Strength Index and geospatial heatmap, to optimize branch placement. The bank's new Financial Centers feature an open concept layout, reduced transaction space, and modular meeting areas designed for enhanced customer interactions.