Grew deposits and continued to improve liquidity and capital; maintained strong credit quality

Raised quarterly common stock dividend 2 cents, or 6%, to $0.35 per share

Reported results included a negative $0.01 impact from a certain item on page 2 of the earnings release

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB):

Our third quarter results were once again strong, as we have continued to navigate the challenging environment well. Our key return and profitability metrics remained resilient despite the market-related headwinds that all banks are facing. We generated strong fee growth compared to the year-ago quarter while maintaining expense discipline. Our credit metrics remained strong, with net charge-offs for the quarter in-line with our expectations. Additionally, early-stage delinquencies and nonperforming loans improved sequentially, reflecting our disciplined approach to client selection.

We reduced our risk-weighted assets and accreted over 30 basis points of CET1 capital. We generated strong deposit outcomes, growing average deposits 4% compared to the year-ago quarter while the industry continued to shrink. As a result, we achieved our goal of full LCR compliance for the quarter.

We continue to prudently invest in this environment, adding net new households in consumer and new quality middle market relationships in commercial. While the economic and regulatory environments remain uncertain, Fifth Third has spent nearly a decade focused on positioning the bank to outperform peers through the cycle. We will continue to follow our guiding principles of stability, profitability, and growth – in that order.

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ^®: FITB) today reported third quarter 2023 net income of $660 million compared to net income of $601 million in the prior quarter and $653 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income available to common shareholders in the current quarter was $623 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, compared to $562 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the prior quarter and $631 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Balance sheet actions continued to reflect a defensive positioning given the uncertain economic and regulatory environments. NII decreased $18 million, or 1%, compared to the prior quarter. Actions undertaken during the quarter include reducing risk-weighted assets, issuing long-term debt, securitizing an automobile loan portfolio, and continued strategies to generate core deposit growth, which resulted in a strong liquidity position. The costs associated with the deposit growth were partially offset by improved loan yields from higher market rates and the impact of day count. Compared to the prior quarter, NIM decreased 12 bps, primarily reflecting the aforementioned deposit dynamics and the impact of day count, partially offset by higher loan yields. NIM results continue to be impacted by the decision to carry additional liquidity, with the combination of cash and due from banks and other short-term investments reaching approximately $22 billion at quarter-end.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, NII decreased $57 million, or 4%, reflecting the impact of the deposit mix shift from demand to interest-bearing accounts and continued deposit repricing dynamics, partially offset by higher loan yields. Compared to the year-ago quarter, NIM decreased 24 bps, reflecting the aforementioned deposit dynamics and the decision to carry additional liquidity, partially offset by higher loan yields and higher investment portfolio yields.

Reported noninterest income decreased $11 million, or 2%, from the prior quarter, and increased $43 million, or 6%, from the year-ago quarter. The reported results reflect the impact of certain items in the table below, including securities gains/losses which incorporate mark-to-market impacts from securities associated with non-qualified deferred compensation plans.

Noninterest income excluding certain items decreased $17 million, or 2%, from the prior quarter, and increased $5 million, or 1%, from the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, service charges on deposits increased $5 million, or 3%, reflecting an increase in both commercial treasury management and consumer deposit fees. Commercial banking revenue increased $8 million, or 5%, primarily reflecting higher M&A advisory revenue and institutional brokerage revenue, partially offset by a decrease in client financial risk management revenue. Mortgage banking net revenue decreased $2 million, or 3%, primarily reflecting a decrease in origination fees and gains on loan sales, partially offset by a decrease in MSR asset decay. Wealth and asset management revenue increased $2 million, or 1%, primarily driven by higher personal asset management revenue. Card and processing revenue decreased $2 million, or 2%, driven by lower interchange revenue. Leasing business revenue increased $11 million, or 23%, primarily reflecting higher lease remarketing revenue. The decrease in other noninterest income was primarily due to strong equity fund and direct investment income in the prior quarter.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, service charges on deposits increased $6 million, or 4%, reflecting an increase in both commercial treasury management and consumer deposit fees. Commercial banking revenue increased $20 million, or 15%, primarily driven by increased corporate bond fees, loan syndication revenue, and institutional brokerage revenue. Mortgage banking net revenue decreased $12 million, or 17%, primarily reflecting lower origination fees and gains on loan sales, as well as an increase in MSR asset decay. Wealth and asset management revenue increased $4 million, or 3%, driven by higher personal asset management revenue. Card and processing revenue decreased $1 million, or 1%, driven by higher rewards partially offset by higher interchange revenue. Leasing business revenue decreased $2 million, or 3%, primarily reflecting lower operating lease revenue.

Reported noninterest expense decreased $43 million, or 3%, from the prior quarter, and increased $21 million, or 2%, from the year-ago quarter. The reported results reflect the impact of a certain item in the table below.

Compared to the prior quarter, noninterest expense excluding certain items decreased $31 million, or 3%, primarily driven by decreases in compensation and benefits expense and other noninterest expense reflecting overall expense discipline, partially offset by higher marketing expense. Noninterest expense in the current quarter included a $5 million benefit related to the impact of non-qualified deferred compensation mark-to-market compared to a $10 million expense in the prior quarter (both of which were largely offset in net securities gains/losses through noninterest income).

Compared to the year-ago quarter, noninterest expense increased $21 million, or 2%, primarily driven by higher compensation and benefits expense, net occupancy expense, and technology and communications expense related to continued modernization investments, partially offset by lower other noninterest expense. The year-ago quarter included a $7 million benefit to noninterest expense related to the impact of non-qualified deferred compensation mark-to-market (which was largely offset in net securities losses through noninterest income).

Compared to the prior quarter, total average portfolio loans and leases decreased 1%, reflecting the aforementioned reduction in risk-weighted assets initiative which impacted both commercial and consumer portfolios. Average commercial portfolio loans and leases decreased 2%, reflecting a decrease in commercial and industrial (C&I) loan balances. Average consumer portfolio loans decreased 1%, primarily reflecting a decrease in indirect secured consumer loan balances, partially offset by an increase in other consumer loan balances driven by Dividend Finance.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, total average portfolio loans and leases increased 2%, reflecting an increase in both commercial and consumer portfolios. Average commercial portfolio loans and leases increased 1%, primarily reflecting an increase in commercial mortgage loan balances and C&I loan balances, partially offset by a decrease in commercial lease balances. Average consumer portfolio loans increased 3%, primarily reflecting an increase in other consumer loan balances driven by Dividend Finance, partially offset by a decrease in indirect secured consumer loan balances and residential mortgage loan balances.

Average loans and leases held for sale were $0.6 billion in the current quarter compared to $0.7 billion in the prior quarter and $2.3 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Average securities (taxable and tax-exempt; amortized cost) of $57 billion in the current quarter were flat compared to the prior quarter and decreased $1 billion, or 1%, compared to the year-ago quarter. Average other short-term investments (including interest-bearing cash) of $13 billion in the current quarter increased $5 billion, or 66%, compared to the prior quarter and increased $7 billion, or 125%, compared to the year-ago quarter.

Total period-end commercial portfolio loans and leases of $75 billion decreased 2% compared to the prior quarter, primarily reflecting a decrease in C&I loan balances. Compared to the year-ago quarter, total period-end commercial portfolio loans and leases decreased 1%, primarily reflecting a decrease in C&I loan balances and commercial lease balances, partially offset by an increase in commercial mortgage loan balances. Period-end commercial revolving line utilization was 36%, compared to 35% in the prior quarter and 37% in the year-ago quarter.

Total period-end consumer portfolio loans of $45 billion decreased 1% compared to the prior quarter, primarily reflecting a decrease in indirect secured consumer loan balances and residential mortgage loan balances, partially offset by an increase in other consumer loan balances driven by Dividend Finance. Compared to the year-ago quarter, total period-end consumer portfolio loans increased 2%, primarily driven by an increase in other consumer loan balances driven by Dividend Finance, partially offset by a decrease in indirect secured consumer loans and residential mortgage loan balances.

Total period-end securities (taxable and tax-exempt; amortized cost) of $57 billion in the current quarter were stable compared to the prior quarter and decreased $1 billion, or 2%, compared to the year-ago quarter. Period-end other short-term investments of approximately $19 billion increased $8 billion, or 73%, compared to the prior quarter, and increased $12 billion, or 187%, compared to the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, total average deposits increased 3%, as increases in money market and interest checking account balances were partially offset by a decrease in demand account balances. Average demand deposits represented 28% of total core deposits in the current quarter, compared to 30% in the prior quarter. Compared to the prior quarter, average consumer segment deposits increased 2%, average commercial segment deposits increased 4%, and average wealth & asset management segment deposits decreased 2% reflecting clients' alternative investment options. Period-end total deposits increased 2% compared to the prior quarter.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, total average deposits increased 4%, primarily reflecting an increase in interest checking and time deposit balances, partially offset by a decrease in demand account balances. Period-end total deposits increased 4% compared to the year-ago quarter.

The period end portfolio loan-to-core deposit ratio was 74% in the current quarter, compared to 77% in the prior quarter and 75% in the year-ago quarter. Estimated uninsured deposits were approximately $68 billion, or 41% of total deposits, as of quarter end.

Compared to the prior quarter, average wholesale funding decreased 5%, primarily reflecting a decrease in FHLB advances, partially offset by an increase in long-term debt (driven by the aforementioned long-term debt issuance and an automobile loan portfolio securitization), and CDs over $250,000 (which consists primarily of retail brokered CDs which are fully covered by FDIC insurance). Compared to the year-ago quarter, average wholesale funding increased 10%, primarily reflecting an increase in CDs over $250,000 and long-term debt, partially offset by a decrease in FHLB advances.

Nonperforming portfolio loans and leases were $570 million in the current quarter, with the resulting NPL ratio of 0.47%. Compared to the prior quarter, NPLs decreased $59 million with the NPL ratio decreasing 5 bps. Compared to the year-ago quarter, NPLs increased $48 million with the NPL ratio increasing 3 bps.

Nonperforming portfolio assets were $612 million in the current quarter, with the resulting NPA ratio of 0.51%. Compared to the prior quarter, NPAs decreased $49 million with the NPA ratio decreasing 3 bps. Compared to the year-ago quarter, NPAs increased $66 million with the NPA ratio increasing 5 bps.

The provision for credit losses totaled $119 million in the current quarter. The allowance for credit loss ratio represented 2.11% of total portfolio loans and leases at quarter end, compared with 2.08% for the prior quarter end and 1.91% for the year-ago quarter end. In the current quarter, the allowance for credit losses represented 443% of nonperforming portfolio loans and leases and 413% of nonperforming portfolio assets.

Net charge-offs were $124 million in the current quarter, resulting in an NCO ratio of 0.41%. Compared to the prior quarter, net charge-offs increased $34 million and the NCO ratio increased 12 bps. Commercial net charge-offs were $64 million, resulting in a commercial NCO ratio of 0.34%, which increased 18 bps compared to the prior quarter. Consumer net charge-offs were $60 million, resulting in a consumer NCO ratio of 0.53%, which increased 3 bps compared to the prior quarter.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, net charge-offs increased $62 million and the NCO ratio increased 20 bps, reflecting a normalization from near-historically low net charge-offs in the year-ago quarter. The commercial NCO ratio increased 17 bps compared to the prior year, and the consumer NCO ratio increased 25 bps compared to the prior year.

The CET1 capital ratio was 9.80%, the Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 7.49% excluding AOCI, and 4.51% including AOCI. The Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.05%, the Total risk-based capital ratio was 13.12%, and the Leverage ratio was 8.85%. Fifth Third did not execute share repurchases in the third quarter of 2023.

Fifth Third increased its quarterly cash dividend on its common shares by $0.02, or 6%, to $0.35 per share for the third quarter of 2023.

Tax Rate

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 22.0% compared with 22.5% in the prior quarter and 22.7% in the year-ago quarter.

Conference Call

Fifth Third will host a conference call to discuss these financial results at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) today. This conference call will be webcast live and may be accessed through the Fifth Third Investor Relations website at www.53.com (click on “About Us” then “Investor Relations”). Those unable to listen to the live webcast may access a webcast replay through the Fifth Third Investor Relations website at the same web address, which will be available for 30 days.

Corporate Profile

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.

Earnings Release End Notes

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains statements that we believe are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 3b-6 promulgated thereunder. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, capital actions or business. They usually can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as “will likely result,” “may,” “are expected to,” “is anticipated,” “potential,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “projected,” “intends to,” or may include other similar words or phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “trend,” “objective,” “continue,” “remain,” or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” or similar verbs. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as updated by our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (1) effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic; (2) deteriorating credit quality; (3) loan concentration by location or industry of borrowers or collateral; (4) problems encountered by other financial institutions; (5) inadequate sources of funding or liquidity; (6) unfavorable actions of rating agencies; (7) inability to maintain or grow deposits; (8) limitations on the ability to receive dividends from subsidiaries; (9) cyber-security risks; (10) Fifth Third’s ability to secure confidential information and deliver products and services through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks; (11) failures by third-party service providers; (12) inability to manage strategic initiatives and/or organizational changes; (13) inability to implement technology system enhancements; (14) failure of internal controls and other risk management systems; (15) losses related to fraud, theft, misappropriation or violence; (16) inability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (17) adverse impacts of government regulation; (18) governmental or regulatory changes or other actions; (19) failures to meet applicable capital requirements; (20) regulatory objections to Fifth Third’s capital plan; (21) regulation of Fifth Third’s derivatives activities; (22) deposit insurance premiums; (23) assessments for the orderly liquidation fund; (24) replacement of LIBOR; (25) weakness in the national or local economies; (26) global political and economic uncertainty or negative actions; (27) changes in interest rates and the effects of inflation; (28) changes and trends in capital markets; (29) fluctuation of Fifth Third’s stock price; (30) volatility in mortgage banking revenue; (31) litigation, investigations, and enforcement proceedings by governmental authorities; (32) breaches of contractual covenants, representations and warranties; (33) competition and changes in the financial services industry; (34) changing retail distribution strategies, customer preferences and behavior; (35) difficulties in identifying, acquiring or integrating suitable strategic partnerships, investments or acquisitions; (36) potential dilution from future acquisitions; (37) loss of income and/or difficulties encountered in the sale and separation of businesses, investments or other assets; (38) results of investments or acquired entities; (39) changes in accounting standards or interpretation or declines in the value of Fifth Third’s goodwill or other intangible assets; (40) inaccuracies or other failures from the use of models; (41) effects of critical accounting policies and judgments or the use of inaccurate estimates; (42) weather-related events, other natural disasters, or health emergencies (including pandemics); (43) the impact of reputational risk created by these or other developments on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity; (44) changes in law or requirements imposed by Fifth Third’s regulators impacting our capital actions, including dividend payments and stock repurchases; and (45) Fifth Third's ability to meet its environmental and/or social targets, goals and commitments.

You should refer to our periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC,” for further information on other factors, which could cause actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to us. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as may be required by law, and we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information contained herein is intended to be reviewed in its totality, and any stipulations, conditions or provisos that apply to a given piece of information in one part of this press release should be read as applying mutatis mutandis to every other instance of such information appearing herein.

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