Fifth Third (NASDAQ: FITB) cleared to acquire Comerica bank after key approvals
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Fifth Third Bancorp reported progress on its planned acquisition of Comerica Incorporated, confirming it has received approval from the Federal Reserve Board to complete the merger. This follows prior approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on December 15, 2025 and shareholder approvals from both Fifth Third and Comerica on January 6, 2026. The companies now expect to close the transaction on February 1, 2026, subject to satisfaction or waiver of remaining conditions in the merger agreement. After closing, Comerica’s banking subsidiaries are expected to merge into Fifth Third Bank, National Association, which will remain the surviving bank. The filing also reiterates extensive forward‑looking statement cautions, highlighting risks around regulatory conditions, integration, costs, economic conditions and potential dilution from additional Fifth Third common shares issued in connection with the merger.
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Insights
Regulatory approvals substantially advance Fifth Third’s planned Comerica acquisition, though closing and integration risks remain.
The update shows that Fifth Third Bancorp has secured key regulatory and shareholder approvals for its merger with Comerica Incorporated. The Federal Reserve Board has approved Fifth Third’s acquisition of Comerica and its bank subsidiaries, following earlier approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and shareholder votes at both institutions. The parties now target a
The combined structure will have Comerica and Comerica Holdings merge into a Fifth Third subsidiary, followed by bank mergers into Fifth Third Bank, National Association. The extensive risk discussion underscores uncertainties around realizing cost savings and synergies, potential delays or termination if conditions are not met, regulatory and legal outcomes, and macroeconomic and credit conditions. It also notes the potential dilution from Fifth Third issuing additional common shares for the transaction.
The overall impact depends on execution after closing, including integration of operations, management of reputational and customer reactions, and how economic and interest‑rate trends affect the enlarged franchise. Future company filings and disclosures after the anticipated
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
As previously announced, on October 5, 2025, Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (“Fifth Third”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Comerica Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“Comerica”), Comerica Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Comerica (“Comerica Holdings”), and Fifth Third Financial Corporation, an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third (“Fifth Third Intermediary”).
The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, (i) Comerica will merge with and into Fifth Third Intermediary (the “Merger”), with Fifth Third Intermediary continuing as the surviving corporation in the Merger, and (ii) immediately thereafter, Comerica Holdings will merge with and into Fifth Third Intermediary (the “Second Step Merger”, and together with the Merger, the “Mergers”), with Fifth Third Intermediary continuing as the surviving corporation. Following the completion of the Mergers, at a time determined by Fifth Third, Comerica Bank, a Texas banking association and wholly owned subsidiary of Comerica, and Comerica Bank & Trust, National Association, a national bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Comerica Holdings, will each merge with and into Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a national banking association and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Intermediary (each, a “Bank Merger” and, collectively, the “Bank Mergers”), with Fifth Third Bank, National Association continuing as the surviving bank in each of the Bank Mergers. The transaction is described in more detail in Fifth Third’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 8, 2025.
On January 13, 2026, Fifth Third and Comerica issued a joint press release announcing that Fifth Third has received approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to acquire Comerica, and thereby indirectly acquire Comerica Bank and Comerica Bank & Trust, National Association. This follows receipt of the approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on December 15, 2025 and the approval of Fifth Third’s and Comerica’s shareholders on January 6, 2026. The closing of the proposed transaction is expected to occur on February 1, 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. A copy of the joint press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “achieve,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “could,” “deliver,” “drive,” “enhance,” “estimate,” “expect,” “focus,” “future,” “goal,” “grow,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “position,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “trajectory,” “trend,” “will,” “would,” and other similar words and expressions or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our business strategy, goals and objectives, projected financial and operating results, including outlook for future growth, and future common share dividends, common share repurchases and other uses of capital. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent our beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of our control.
Comerica Incorporated’s (“Comerica”) and Fifth Third Bancorp’s (“Fifth Third”) actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause Comerica’s and Fifth Third’s actual results, financial condition and predictions to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include, in addition to those set forth in our and Fifth Third’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”): (1) the risk that the cost savings and synergies from the merger of Comerica with Fifth Third (the “Transaction”) may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized; (2) the failure of the closing conditions in the merger agreement between Comerica and Fifth Third providing for the Transaction to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing the Transaction or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances, including the impact and timing of any government shutdown, that could delay the Transaction or could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (3) the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings or governmental inquiries or investigations that may be currently pending or later instituted against Comerica, Fifth Third or the combined company; (4) the possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, stockholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Transaction); (5) the risk that the benefits from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Comerica and Fifth Third operate; (6) disruption to the parties’ businesses as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Transaction; (7) the costs associated with the anticipated length of time of the pendency of the Transaction, including the restrictions contained in the definitive merger agreement on the ability of Comerica or Fifth Third to operate its business outside the ordinary course during the pendency of the Transaction; (8) risks related to management and oversight of the expanded business and operations of the combined company following the closing of the proposed Transaction; (9) the risk that the integration of each party’s operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected or that the parties are otherwise unable to successfully integrate each party’s businesses into the other’s businesses; (10) the possibility that the Transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (11) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of Comerica or Fifth Third customers, employees, vendors, contractors or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the Transaction; (12) the dilution caused by Fifth Third’s issuance of additional shares of its common stock in connection with the Transaction; (13) a material adverse change in the condition of Comerica or Fifth Third; (14) the extent to which Comerica’s or Fifth Third’s businesses perform consistent with management’s expectations; (15) Comerica’s and Fifth Third’s ability to take advantage of growth opportunities and implement targeted initiatives in the timeframe and on the terms currently expected; (16) the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; (17) the execution and efficacy of recent strategic investments; (18) the timing and impact of Comerica’s Direct Express transition; (19) the impact of macroeconomic factors, such as changes in general economic conditions and monetary and fiscal policy, particularly on interest rates; (20) changes in customer behavior; (21) unfavorable developments concerning credit quality; (22) declines in the businesses or industries of Comerica’s or Fifth Third’s customers; (23) the possibility that the combined company is subject to additional regulatory requirements as a result of the proposed Transaction of expansion of the combined company’s business operations following the proposed Transaction; (24) general competitive, political and market conditions and other factors that may affect future results of Comerica and Fifth Third including changes in asset quality and credit risk; (25) security risks, including cybersecurity and data privacy risks, and capital markets; (26) inflation; (27) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (28) capital management activities; (29) competitive product and pricing pressures; (30) the outcomes of legal and regulatory proceedings and related financial services industry matters; and (31) compliance with regulatory requirements. Any forward-looking statement made in this communication is based solely on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. These and other important factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in Comerica’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at:
https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000028412/000002841225000108/cma-20241231.htm), and in Fifth Third’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at: https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000035527/000003552725000079/fitb-20241231.htm), as well as Comerica’s and Fifth Third’s subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date they were first issued, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Comerica and Fifth Third disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Joint Press Release of Fifth Third Bancorp and Comerica Incorporated, dated as of January 13, 2026. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| FIFTH THIRD BANCORP | ||||||
| (Registrant) | ||||||
| Date: January 13, 2026 | /s/ Christian Gonzalez | |||||
| Christian Gonzalez | ||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | ||||||
FAQ
What did Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) announce in this 8-K?
What regulatory approvals has Fifth Third (FITB) obtained for the Comerica acquisition?
Have shareholders approved the Fifth Third and Comerica merger?
When is the Fifth Third–Comerica merger expected to close?
What will happen to Comerica’s banks after the merger with Fifth Third?
What key risks does Fifth Third highlight about the Comerica transaction?
Where can investors find more risk information about Fifth Third (FITB) and Comerica?
