Reported diluted earnings per share of $0.68

Reported results included a negative $0.01 impact from certain item(s) on page 2 of the 1Q22 earnings release

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB):

Key Highlights

Select Business Highlights:

• Named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere in March 2022 for the third time
• Generated consumer household growth of 3% compared to 1Q21
• Announced $20/hour minimum wage for eligible employees effective July 2022

Select Financial Highlights:

• ROTCE^(a) of 13.4%; adjusted ROTCE^(a) of 13.7% excl. AOCI
• Net interest income^(a) stable compared to 4Q21, or up 1% excluding the impact of PPP; NIM^(a) up 4 basis points compared to 4Q21
• Average C&I loan growth ex. PPP of 8% compared to 4Q21
• Average securities balances increased $5 billion compared to 4Q21
• Core deposits increased 1% compared to 4Q21; Interest bearing deposit costs flat
• Benign credit quality continued, including near-record low NCO ratio, stable non-performing loans and lower commercial criticized assets

CEO Commentary

Fifth Third continued to produce solid financial results in a volatile first quarter of 2022 while fully supporting customers, communities, and employees. We continue to navigate the economic environment with a disciplined approach focused on long-term through-the-cycle outperformance, and remain extremely well positioned to benefit from higher short-term interest rates. We generated strong loan growth during the quarter, including average C&I growth of 8% excluding PPP. Also excluding PPP, net interest income increased 1% sequentially, reflecting the partial impact of our decision to begin growing the securities portfolio.

We had yet another quarter of benign credit quality reflecting our disciplined approach to client selection and underwriting, which resulted in near-record low charge-offs of just 12 basis points. Additionally, commercial criticized assets continued to improve.

Last week, I announced my plans to retire as CEO and transition to Executive Chairman, effective July 5, 2022. As part of our thorough succession planning process, I am excited and proud to announce the Board of Directors has appointed Tim Spence to succeed me as our next CEO. I believe this is the right time for a transition, given Fifth Third’s tremendous financial health and performance. Being the CEO of Fifth Third has been an honor of a lifetime. I am grateful for the hard work, dedication, and support of all our employees over the years. I am also grateful for the confidence the Board and shareholders have had in me throughout my tenure.

Tim is an outstanding and visionary leader. He has been an integral part of Fifth Third's leadership team since 2015, helping develop the strategies and vision that we continue to execute with excellence through innovation and technology. I have no doubt that Tim’s focus on operational discipline will extend our track record for delivering on our commitments to continue generating sustainable, top quartile results among regional banks.

-Greg D. Carmichael, Chairman and CEO

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ^®: FITB) today reported first quarter 2022 net income of $494 million compared to net income of $662 million in the prior quarter and $694 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income available to common shareholders in the current quarter was $474 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, compared to $627 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, in the prior quarter and $674 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, NII was stable, as the impacts of lower day count, lower PPP-related income, and a decline in residential mortgage balances (primarily from previous purchases of government guaranteed loan buyouts from a third party) were partially offset by higher commercial & industrial (C&I) loan balances, higher investment portfolio balances, and the impact of higher market rates. PPP-related income was $20 million in the current quarter compared to $36 million in the prior quarter. Excluding the impact of PPP-related income, NII increased $14 million, or 1%, sequentially. Compared to the prior quarter, reported NIM increased 4 bps, primarily due to a decrease in other short-term investments (primarily interest-bearing cash), the impact of lower day count, and higher market rates.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, NII increased $19 million, or 2%, primarily reflecting higher C&I and indirect secured consumer loan balances, higher investment portfolio balances, and a reduction in long-term debt, partially offset by lower PPP-related income and lower home equity balances. Excluding the impact of PPP-related income, NII increased $52 million, or 5%, year-over-year. Compared to the year-ago quarter, reported NIM decreased 3 bps, primarily reflecting loan spread compression, partially offset by lower other short-term investments (primarily interest-bearing cash) and lower long-term debt and deposit costs.

Reported noninterest income decreased $107 million, or 14%, from the prior quarter, and decreased $65 million, or 9%, from the year-ago quarter. The reported results reflect the impact of certain items in the table below. Reported current quarter results included $14 million of net securities losses, which comprised of $14 million in net losses attributable to mark-to-market impacts related to non-qualified deferred compensation assets and a $12 million loss attributable to market value changes on Fifth Third's shares of AvidXchange Holdings, Inc., partially offset by $12 million in net gains related to investment portfolio activity.

Compared to the prior quarter, noninterest income excluding certain items decreased $120 million, or 14%. Compared to the year-ago quarter, noninterest income excluding certain items decreased $50 million, or 7%.

Compared to the prior quarter, service charges on deposits decreased $4 million, or 3%, primarily reflecting a decrease in consumer deposit fees. Commercial banking revenue decreased $36 million, or 21%, primarily driven by lower M&A advisory revenue and loan syndication revenue, partially offset by higher customer financial risk management revenue. Mortgage banking net revenue increased $17 million, or 49%, reflecting a $14 million increase from MSR net valuation adjustments and an $11 million decrease in MSR asset decay reflecting slower prepayment speeds, partially offset by a $12 million decrease in origination fees and gains on loan sales. Wealth and asset management revenue decreased $1 million, or 1%, as the impact of lower market values was mostly offset by seasonally strong tax-related private client service revenue combined with continued asset inflows. Card and processing revenue decreased $7 million, or 7%, primarily driven by seasonally lower spend volume. Leasing business revenue decreased $12 million, or 16%, primarily driven by a decrease in lease remarketing revenue. The decline in other noninterest income was primarily attributable to the prior quarter recognition of tax receivable agreement revenue as well as lower private equity income.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, service charges on deposits increased $8 million, or 6%, reflecting an increase in commercial treasury management fees. Commercial banking revenue decreased $18 million, or 12%, primarily driven by decreases in corporate bond fees, partially offset by an increase in customer financial risk management revenue. Mortgage banking net revenue decreased $33 million, or 39%, reflecting a $64 million decrease in origination fees and gains on loan sales and a $9 million reduction from MSR net valuation adjustments, partially offset by a $28 million decrease in MSR asset decay reflecting slower prepayment speeds. Wealth and asset management revenue increased $6 million, or 4%, primarily driven by higher personal asset management revenue. Card and processing revenue increased $3 million, or 3%, primarily driven by higher spend volumes, partially offset by higher rewards. Leasing business revenue decreased $25 million, or 29%, primarily reflecting a decrease in lease syndication revenue.

Reported noninterest expense increased $16 million, or 1%, from the prior quarter. The results in the prior period were impacted by the item shown in the table below.

Compared to the prior quarter, noninterest expense excluding certain items increased $26 million, or 2%, primarily reflecting a seasonal increase in compensation and benefits expense and a $21 million impact from the previously communicated special broad-based compensation bonus, partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation and marketing expense. Noninterest expense in the current quarter included a $12 million benefit related to the impact of non-qualified deferred compensation mark-to-market (compared to $10 million expense in the prior quarter).

Compared to the year-ago quarter, noninterest expense increased $7 million, or 1%, reflecting an increase in technology and communications expense related to continued modernization investments, and an increase in compensation and benefits expense. These items were partially offset by lower card and processing expense due to contract renegotiations.

Compared to the prior quarter, total average portfolio loans and leases increased 4%, reflecting an increase in both commercial loan and lease balances and consumer loans. Average commercial portfolio loans and leases increased 5%, primarily reflecting of 8% in C&I loans excluding PPP. Average consumer portfolio loans increased 2%, reflecting higher indirect secured consumer and residential mortgage loans, partially offset by lower home equity and other consumer loan balances.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, total average portfolio loans and leases increased 4%, reflecting an increase in both consumer loans and commercial loans and leases. Average commercial portfolio loans and leases increased 3%, primarily reflecting growth of 16% in C&I loans excluding PPP, partially offset by PPP forgiveness and lower commercial construction loans. Average consumer portfolio loans increased 6%, as higher indirect secured consumer and residential mortgage loans were partially offset by lower home equity and other consumer loan balances.

Average loans and leases held for sale were $4 billion in the current quarter compared to $5 billion in the prior quarter and $5 billion in the year-ago quarter. Current quarter average loans and leases held for sale were impacted by a decline in residential mortgage balances (primarily from a decline in government loan buyouts purchased from a third party).

Average securities (taxable and tax-exempt) of $42 billion in the current quarter increased $5 billion, or 13%, compared to the prior quarter and increased $6 billion, or 17%, compared to the year-ago quarter. Average other short-term investments (including interest-bearing cash) of $28 billion in the current quarter decreased $6 billion, or 18%, compared to the prior quarter and decreased $4 billion, or 13%, compared to the year-ago quarter.

Total period-end commercial portfolio loans and leases of $73 billion increased 4% compared to the prior quarter, primarily reflecting growth of 6% in C&I loans excluding PPP, partially offset by PPP forgiveness. Compared to the year-ago quarter, total period-end commercial portfolio loans increased $4 billion, or 6%, primarily reflecting growth of 22% in C&I loans excluding PPP, partially offset by PPP forgiveness and lower construction loan balances. Period-end commercial revolving line utilization was 36%, compared to 33% in the prior quarter and 31% in the year-ago quarter.

Period-end consumer portfolio loans of $43 billion increased 3% compared to the prior quarter, primarily reflecting higher residential mortgage and indirect secured consumer loan balances, partially offset by a decline in home equity balances. Compared to the year-ago quarter, total period-end consumer portfolio loans increased $3 billion, or 8%, reflecting an increase in indirect secured consumer loans and residential mortgage balances, partially offset by lower home equity and other consumer loan balances.

Total period-end securities (taxable and tax-exempt; amortized cost) of $51 billion in the current quarter increased $13 billion, or 34%, compared to the prior quarter and increased $14 billion, or 38%, compared to the year-ago quarter. Period-end other short term investments of $21 billion in the current quarter decreased $14 billion, or 41%, compared to the prior quarter and decreased $14 billion, or 40%, compared to the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, average core deposits increased 1%, as increases in interest checking and savings deposit balances (led by consumer and wealth customer balance growth) were partially offset by decreases in demand and money market balances from commercial customer seasonal impacts. Average demand deposits represented 38% of total core deposits in the current quarter, relatively stable with the prior quarter. Average commercial transaction deposits decreased 2% and average consumer transaction deposits increased 4%.

Compared to the year-ago quarter, average core deposits increased 7%, reflecting ongoing success in generating consumer household growth. Average commercial transaction deposits increased 5% and average consumer transaction deposits increased 11%.

The period end portfolio loan-to-core deposit ratio was 68% in the current quarter, compared to 66% in the prior quarter and 68% in the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, average wholesale funding decreased 5%, reflecting the impact of reductions in long-term debt over the past two quarters (including the retirement of $800 million in long-term debt during the first quarter of 2022), as well as continued runoff in other short-term borrowings and jumbo CD balances. Compared to the year-ago quarter, average wholesale funding decreased 29%, reflecting decreases in long-term debt, jumbo CD balances, and other short-term borrowings.

Nonperforming portfolio loans and leases were $508 million in the current quarter, with the resulting NPL ratio of 0.44%. Compared to the prior quarter, NPLs increased $10 million. Compared to the year-ago quarter, NPLs decreased $233 million with the NPL ratio decreasing 24 bps.

Nonperforming portfolio assets were $540 million in the current quarter, with the resulting NPA ratio of 0.47%. Compared to the prior quarter, NPAs increased $13 million. Compared to the year-ago quarter, NPAs decreased $243 million with the NPA ratio decreasing 25 bps.

The provision for credit losses totaled $45 million in the current quarter. The allowance for credit loss ratio represented 1.80% of total portfolio loans and leases at quarter end, compared with 1.85% for the prior quarter end and 2.19% for the year-ago quarter end. In the current quarter, the allowance for credit losses represented 411% of nonperforming portfolio loans and leases and 386% of nonperforming portfolio assets.

Net charge-offs were $34 million in the current quarter, with the resulting NCO ratio of 0.12%. Compared to the prior quarter, net charge-offs decreased $4 million and the NCO ratio decreased 2 bps, reflecting lower charge-offs in the commercial portfolio. Compared to the year-ago quarter, net charge-offs decreased $37 million and the NCO ratio decreased 15 bps, reflecting improvement in both commercial and consumer portfolios.

The CET1 capital ratio was 9.28%, the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 6.96% excluding AOCI, and 6.48% including AOCI. The Tier I risk-based capital ratio was 10.60%, the Total risk-based capital ratio was 12.88%, and the Tier I leverage ratio was 8.32%. Certain capital ratios, including the Tier I leverage ratio, continued to be impacted by the increase in assets since the onset of the pandemic, predominantly from 0% risk-weighted assets resulting from interest-bearing cash as well as PPP loans.

Tax Rate

The effective tax rate was 19.2% compared with 20.1% in the prior quarter and 21.4% in the year-ago quarter.

Conference Call

Fifth Third will host a conference call to discuss these financial results at 10:00 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 Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $211 billion in assets and operates 1,079 full-service Banking Centers, and 2,201 Fifth Third branded ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 54,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of March 31, 2022, had $549 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $61 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.”

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; (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 sustainability 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.

Category: Earnings

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