Our history

Making banking a Fifth Third Better®, since 1858.

In 1858, William W. Scarborough and eleven bold entrepreneurs opened The Bank of the Ohio Valley in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their purpose and promise was noble – to help improve the lives of their customers and communities through sound banking principles and superior service. This unwavering vision remains at the heart of everything we do today.

     

     

JUNE 17, 1858

June 17, 1858

Fifth Third traces its origins back to The Bank of the Ohio Valley which organized in June 1858. Founded by William W. Scarborough, the bank opened on Third Street between Vine and Walnut Streets, then the city’s financial district.

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LATE 1800s

Late 1800s

With no Federal Reserve System in place, Cincinnati banks open and close frequently in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Numerous banks in Fifth Third’s family tree emerged during this time including Queen City National Bank, Market National Bank, Union Savings Bank and Trust, and Third National Bank.

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EARLY 1900s

Early 1900s

Numerous banks in Fifth Third’s family tree emerged during this time including Queen City National Bank, Market National Bank, Union Savings Bank and Trust, and Third National Bank.

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1920s

1920s

In 1927, Fifth-Third National and The Union Trust Company consolidated to become The Fifth Third Union Trust Company, a name that will last through the late 1970s though most Cincinnatians referred to the bank as “Fifth Third.”

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1930s

1930s

The Fifth Third Union Trust Company emerged from the Great Depression as one of the strongest banks in its market, and acquired three smaller banks from 1930 to 1933.

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1940s

1940s

Fifth Third Union Trust played a significant role in the War Bond effort for World War II and in supporting U.S. troops at home and abroad.

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1950s

1950s

This decade marked Fifth Third’s focus on convenience and service. By 1956, Fifth Third Union Trust had 27 offices, including branches located in shopping centers.

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1960s

1960s

Fifth Third continued to expand its branch system and earned the reputation for being the most convenient bank in Cincinnati while also supporting Cincinnati’s redevelopment efforts on Fountain Square.

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1970s

1970s

This “can do” decade introduced customers to many firsts for Fifth Third, including JEANIE®—an online automated teller system and first shared ATM network in the United States.

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1980s

1980s

The 80s marks Fifth Third’s greatest period of growth in its history.

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1990s

1990s

Seeking to expand its footprint in other states, Fifth Third entered Naples, Florida where many Midwesterners spend winter months. By 1999, Fifth Third had 384 banking centers in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky and debuted on the Fortune 500 list.

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2000s

2000s

While the national financial crisis loomed large in the latter half of this decade, Fifth Third experienced smart growth and expanded its services to communities. To accommodate growth in data processing, payments and customer service, Fifth Third opened the George A. Schaefer, Jr. Operations Center in Madisonville, Ohio.

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2010s

2010s

In 2016, Fifth Third made a $30 billion Community Commitment over five years to lend or invest in low- and moderate-income (LMI) borrowers and in LMI communities through the year 2020.

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TODAY

Today

With more than 20,000 employees and more than 1,100 banking centers in 11 states, we are proud of our heritage to work hard to improve the lives of our customers, communities and employees. We’re working hard to make banking a Fifth Third better®.

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