UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(AMENDMENT NO.    )

Filed by the Registrant    ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    ☐

Check the appropriate box:

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA

CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

March 6, 2019

To the Shareholders of Fifth Third Bancorp:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Fifth Third Bancorp to be held at the Renaissance Hotel, at 36 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. eastern daylight saving time for the purposes of considering and acting upon the following:

Shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2019 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Even if you plan to attend the meeting in person, please vote at your earliest convenience by signing and returning the proxy card you receive or by voting over the internet or by telephone.

If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please call D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is assisting us, toll-free at 1-800-488-8035.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Susan B. Zaunbrecher

Corporate Secretary

38 Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, Ohio 45263

2019 Proxy Statement

This proxy statement, notice of the 2019 Annual Meeting, notice of internet availability, form of proxy, and the Annual Report of the Company for the year 2018 are first being sent or made available to shareholders on or about March 6, 2019.

What is this document?

This document is called a proxy statement. This proxy statement includes information regarding the matters to be acted upon at the 2019 Fifth Third Bancorp Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and certain other information required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”).

When is the Annual Meeting and where will it be held?

The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 36 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio at 11:30 a.m. eastern daylight saving time.

Why am I being provided this proxy statement?

Fifth Third Bancorp (the “Company” or “Fifth Third”) is required by the SEC to give you, or provide you access to, this proxy statement because it is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares of Fifth Third stock at the Annual Meeting. The enclosed proxy statement summarizes information you need in order to vote at the Annual Meeting.

What is a proxy?

A proxy is your designation of another person to vote stock you own. That other person is called a proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document is also called a proxy or a proxy card. When you designate a proxy, you may also direct the proxy how to vote your shares. Three Fifth Third directors, Emerson L. Brumback, Greg D. Carmichael, and Marsha C. Williams, have been designated as the proxies to cast the votes of Fifth Third’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting.

What actions are shareholders approving at the Annual Meeting?

Election of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has recommended a slate of nominees for election to the Board of Directors. Information about these nominees may be found in the proxy statement section titled “Election of Directors.”

Company Proposal 1: Approval of Appointment of Auditors. This is a proposal to ratify the reappointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent external audit firm for 2019. This approval is not required by law to appoint an independent external audit firm, but the appointment is submitted by the Audit Committee in order to give shareholders a voice in the designation of the independent external audit firm. If this resolution is rejected by the shareholders, then the Audit Committee will reconsider its choice of independent external audit firm. Even if this resolution is approved, the Audit Committee, at its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent external audit firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in our best interests and the best interest of our shareholders.

Company Proposal 2: Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation. Company Proposal 2 is an annual advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers (“NEOs”). The Board will strongly consider the outcome of this advisory vote in determining the compensation of such executives. In 2018, 95% of our shareholders who cast a vote on our executive compensation program voted to approve it.

Company Proposal 3: Advisory Vote to Determine Frequency of Executive Compensation Votes. Company Proposal 3 is an advisory vote to determine how often shareholders will be given the opportunity to approve the compensation of our NEOs: either every one, every two, or every three years. The Board will strongly consider the outcome of these votes in determining how often the shareholders are provided a say on pay vote. At the 2018 Annual Meeting, our shareholders supported the Board’s recommendation that shareholders be provided the option to cast an advisory vote every one year on the compensation of our NEOs. Accordingly, the Board decided to hold a “say on pay” vote annually.

Company Proposal 4: Approval of the Fifth Third Bancorp 2019 Incentive Compensation Plan. This is a proposal to approve the Fifth Third Bancorp 2019 Incentive Compensation Plan, including the issuance of shares of common stock authorized thereunder. The 2019 Incentive Compensation Plan, if approved, will replace the 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan, which was approved by the shareholders on April 18, 2017. Information about the 2019 Incentive Compensation Plan may be found in the proxy statement section entitled “Company Proposal 4: Proposal to Approve the Fifth Third Bancorp 2019 Incentive Compensation Plan Including the Issuance of Shares of Common Stock Authorized Thereunder.”

Company Proposal 5: Approval of an Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to Authorize a New Class of Preferred Stock. This is a proposal to approve an Amendment to the Fifth Third Bancorp Amended Articles of Incorporation to authorize a new class of preferred stock. Information about the proposed amendment may be found in the proxy statement section entitled “Company Proposal 5: Proposal to Approve an Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to Authorize a New Class of Preferred Stock.”

What vote is required to approve the proposals considered at the Annual Meeting?

Election of Directors. As long as cumulative voting is not in effect, in an uncontested election of directors, each nominee for director receiving a greater number of votes “for” his or her election than votes “against” his or her election will be elected as a director. In the event of a contested election or if cumulative voting is in effect, the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes “for” his or her election shall be elected. Abstentions and shares not voted by brokers and other entities holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners will not be counted and will have no effect on the outcome of the election.

Company Proposals 1-4. Company proposals 1-4 at the Annual Meeting require the affirmative vote of a majority of the common shares present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote cast against a proposal. Shares not voted by brokers or other entities holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners will have no effect on the outcome.

Company Proposal 5. Company Proposal 5 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds the voting power of the Company’s outstanding common shares. Abstentions and shares not voted by brokers or other entities holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners will have the same effect as a vote cast against a proposal.

It is important to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting.

Who may vote and what constitutes a quorum at the meeting?

Holders of Fifth Third common stock on February 22, 2019 are entitled to vote on every matter that is to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

In order to conduct the Annual Meeting, a majority of shares of Fifth Third common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting on every matter that is to be voted on must be present in person or by proxy. This is called a quorum. Shareholders who deliver valid proxies or vote in person at the meeting will be considered part of the quorum. Once a share is represented for any purpose at the meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjourned meeting. Abstentions will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. Broker “non-votes” (which are explained below) are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum.

How many votes do I have?

Each share of Fifth Third common stock outstanding on February 22, 2019 is entitled to one vote on all proposals at the meeting. As of the close of business on February 22, 2019, there were approximately [686,981,953] shares of Fifth Third common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

If notice in writing is given by any shareholder to our President, a Vice President, or the Secretary not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time fixed for holding a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing directors that a shareholder desires that the voting at such election shall be cumulative, and if an announcement of the giving of such notice is made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chair or Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice, each shareholder shall have the right to cumulate such voting power as he or she possesses in voting for directors. This will not affect the voting procedures for the other proposals considered at the Annual Meeting.

How do I vote?

Record Shareholders. A shareholder who owns shares in Fifth Third directly, and not through a broker, bank, or other nominee (“record holder” or “record shareholder”), may vote in person at the Annual Meeting by filling out a ballot or may authorize a proxy to vote on his or her behalf. There are three ways to authorize a proxy:

Shareholders who vote over the Internet may incur costs, such as telephone and Internet access charges, for which the shareholder is responsible. The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate a shareholder’s identity and to allow a shareholder to vote his or her shares

and confirm that his or her instructions have been properly recorded. You may use the Internet or telephone to submit your proxy until 11:00 a.m., eastern daylight saving time, on the morning of the Annual Meeting, April 16, 2019.

Street Name Shareholders. Shareholders who hold shares in “street name,” that is, through a broker, bank, or other nominee (“beneficial holder” or “street name shareholder”), should instruct their nominee to vote their shares by following the instructions provided by the nominee. Your vote as a shareholder is important. Please vote as soon as possible to ensure that your vote is recorded. See “Can my broker vote for me?” on the following page.

What if I sign and date my proxy but do not provide voting instructions?

A proxy that is signed and dated, but which does not contain voting instructions, will be voted as follows:

Can my broker vote for me?

If you are a beneficial holder of shares and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions then, under applicable rules, the organization that holds your shares generally has discretionary authority to vote on “routine” matters without receiving instructions from you but cannot vote on “non-routine” matters unless you provide instructions. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, that organization will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on that matter with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

All proposals at the Annual Meeting except Company Proposal 1 (Approval of the Selection of Auditors) are considered non-routine matters under applicable rules. A broker, bank, or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore broker non-votes may exist in connection with the election of directors and Company Proposals 2, 3, 4, and 5. It is important to instruct your broker, bank, or other nominee to vote your shares.

The approval of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent external audit firm for 2019 (Company Proposal 1) is considered a routine matter under applicable rules. A broker or other

nominee generally exercises its discretionary authority to vote on routine matters without instructions. Although brokers and other nominees are not required to exercise discretionary authority, we expect that no broker non-votes will exist in connection with Company Proposal 1.

Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?

You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by filing with us an instrument revoking it, filing a duly executed proxy bearing a later date (including a proxy given over the Internet or by telephone), or by attending the meeting and electing to vote in person. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you are encouraged to vote your shares by proxy.

How are proxy materials delivered?

We control costs by following SEC rules that allow for the delivery of proxy materials to our shareholders primarily through the Internet. In addition to reducing the amount of paper used in producing these materials, this method lowers the costs associated with mailing the proxy materials to shareholders. Record holders will have a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials delivered directly to their mailing address. Beneficial holders will have a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials forwarded to them by the intermediary that holds the shares. Shareholders who have requested paper copies of all proxy materials and certain institutional and other shareholders will also receive paper copies of the other proxy materials including this proxy statement, the 2018 Annual Report of Fifth Third Bancorp, and a proxy card or voting instruction sheet.

If you received only a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request a copy by following the instructions on the notice. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also contains instructions for accessing and reviewing the proxy materials over the Internet and provides directions for submitting your vote over the Internet.

What if I share an address and a last name with other Fifth Third shareholders?

To reduce the expenses of delivering duplicate proxy materials to shareholders, we are relying upon SEC “householding” rules that permit delivery of only one set of applicable proxy materials to multiple shareholders who share an address and have the same last name, unless we receive contrary instructions from any shareholder at that address. Shareholders of record who have the same address and last name and have not previously requested electronic delivery of proxy materials will receive a single envelope containing the notices or the proxy statement and proxy card for all shareholders having that address. The notice or proxy card for each shareholder will include that shareholder’s unique control number needed to vote his or her shares. This procedure reduces our printing costs and postage fees. If, in the future, you do not wish to participate in householding and prefer to receive your Notice or Proxy Statement in a separate envelope, or if your household currently receives more than one Notice or Proxy Statement and in the future, you would prefer to participate in householding, please call 1-800-488-8035 (toll-free) in the U.S., or inform us in writing at: Fifth Third Bancorp, c/o D.F. King & Co., Inc., 48 Wall Street—22^nd Floor, New York, NY 10005, or by email at FITB@dfking.com. Requests will be responded to promptly.

For those shareholders who have the same address and last name and who request to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials by mail, we will send only one copy of such materials to each address unless one or more of those shareholders notifies us, in the same manner described above, that the shareholder(s) wish to receive a printed copy for each shareholder at that address.

Beneficial shareholders can request information about householding from their banks, brokers, or other holders of record.

How do I request a paper or e-mail copy of the proxy materials?

Record Shareholders. Record holders may request a paper or e-mail copy of the proxy materials by following the instructions below. You will be asked to provide your 11-digit control number located on your proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability.

Please make your request for a copy on or before April 2, 2019 to facilitate timely delivery.

Street Name Shareholders. Beneficial holders, also known as street name shareholders, should request copies of the proxy materials by following the instructions provided by their bank, broker, or other nominee.

Can I attend the Annual Meeting?

You can attend the Annual Meeting if you are a:

In addition to a valid photo ID or other satisfactory proof of identification, you should bring the following items to be admitted to the Annual Meeting:

No recording devices, photographic equipment, or bullhorns will be permitted into the Annual Meeting. No written materials may be distributed by any person at or within physical proximity to the Annual Meeting. The Chair of the Annual Meeting shall have the power to silence or have removed any person in order to ensure the orderly conduct of the Annual Meeting. Fifth Third representatives will be at the entrance to the Annual Meeting and these representatives will have the authority, on the Company’s behalf, to determine whether the admission policy and procedures are being followed and whether you will be granted admission to the Annual Meeting.

How do I propose actions for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders?

Shareholder Proposals to be included in our 2020 Proxy Statement. In order for a shareholder proposal for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement, it must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and must be received by us on or before the date provided on page 102 at the address or facsimile number provided on page 102.

Shareholder Proposals not included in our 2020 Proxy Statement. Any shareholder who intends to propose any matter to be acted upon at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders without such proposal being included in the Company’s proxy statement as a shareholder proposal must send a notice to the Corporate Secretary during the period referenced on page 102 using the address and facsimile number listed on page 102.

Who can I call for help in voting my shares?

If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please call D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is assisting us, toll-free at 1-800-488-8035.

Who can I contact with questions about my investment in Fifth Third?

Shareholders who wish to speak to a Fifth Third representative regarding their investment in Fifth Third may communicate directly with our Investor Relations Department by calling 866-670-0468. In addition, shareholders may communicate in writing directly with the Investor Relations Department by sending a letter to 38 Fountain Square Plaza, MD 1090QC, Cincinnati, OH 45263 or by emailing ir@53.com. You can also view information and request documents from the Investor Relations page of our website at www.ir.53.com.

Our Board of Directors is soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 36 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. eastern daylight saving time. Each of the approximately [686,981,953] shares of common stock outstanding on February 22, 2019 is entitled to one vote on all matters acted upon at the Annual Meeting. Only shareholders of record on our books at the close of business on February 22, 2019 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy. The shares represented by all properly executed proxies that are sent to us will be voted as designated and each not designated will be voted and counted as described in this proxy statement. Each person giving a proxy may revoke it by giving notice to us in writing or in open meeting at any time before it is voted.

The laws of Ohio under which we are incorporated provide that if notice in writing is given by any shareholder to our President, a Vice President, or the Secretary not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time fixed for holding a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing directors that such shareholder desires that the voting at such election shall be cumulative, and if an announcement of the giving of such notice is made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chair or Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice, each shareholder shall have the right to cumulate such voting power as he or she possesses in voting for directors. This will not affect the voting procedures for the other proposals considered at the Annual Meeting.

We will bear the expense of soliciting proxies. Proxies will be solicited principally by mail, but may also be solicited by our directors, officers, and other regular employees, who will receive no compensation therefore in addition to their regular compensation. Brokers and others who hold stock on behalf of others will be asked to send proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the stock, and we will reimburse them for their expenses.

We have retained D.F. King & Co., Inc., a proxy solicitation firm, to assist us in soliciting proxies. We anticipate that the costs of D.F. King’s proxy solicitation services will be approximately $13,000, plus reasonable out of pocket expenses.

Our Annual Report for the year 2018, including financial statements, has been delivered or made available to all shareholders. Such report and financial statements are not a part of this proxy statement. This proxy statement, form of proxy, notice of Annual Meeting, Notice of Internet Availability, and the Annual Report are first being sent or made available to shareholders on or about March 6, 2019.

Under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, a beneficial owner of a security is any person who directly or indirectly has or shares voting power or investment power over such security. Such beneficial owner under this definition need not enjoy the economic benefit of such security as of December 31, 2018. The following table contains information regarding the only persons who, to our knowledge, beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock as of February 15, 2019:

(1)        T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. owns the above holdings in its capacity as an investment advisor in accordance with SEC Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). According to the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2019, in aggregate, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the affiliated entities included in Schedule 13G have sole voting power over 28,418,610 shares of common stock and have sole dispositive power over 68,900,891 shares of common stock.

(2)        The Vanguard Group owns the above holdings in its capacity as an investment advisor in accordance with SEC Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). According to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2019, in aggregate, the Vanguard Group and the affiliated entities included in the Schedule 13G have sole voting power over 759,175 shares of common stock, have shared voting power over 173,855 shares of common stock, have sole dispositive power over 55,316,665 shares of common stock, and have shared dispositive power over 918,755 shares of common stock.

(3)        BlackRock, Inc. owns the above holdings in its capacity as a parent company or control person in accordance with SEC Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). According to the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2019, in aggregate, BlackRock, Inc. and the affiliated entities included in Schedule 13G have sole voting power over 37,991,679 shares of common stock and have sole dispositive power over 43,586,938 shares of common stock.

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Executive officers and directors, and persons who own greater than ten percent of a registered class of our stock, are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Annual Statement of Changes In Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 5 were required for those persons, the Company believes that, for the period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, its executive officers and directors complied with all filing requirements applicable to them, except for one Form 4 reported a day late with respect to a sale of common stock by Emerson L. Brumback.

(Item 1 on Proxy Card)

On May 20, 2018, Fifth Third and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fifth Third Financial Corporation, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with MB Financial, Inc. (“MB Financial”). The Merger Agreement provides that upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, including all necessary regulatory approvals, MB Financial will merge (the “Merger”) with and into a newly-formed subsidiary of Fifth Third, with MB Financial as the surviving corporation. At the effective time of this Merger (the “Effective Time”), each outstanding share of MB Financial common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“MB Financial Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to receive (i) 1.450 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of Fifth Third common stock, no par value (“Fifth Third Common Stock”), and (ii) $5.54 in cash (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”).

In connection with the proposed Merger, Fifth Third has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes the Proxy Statement of MB Financial and a Prospectus of Fifth Third, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval related to the Merger. Investors and stockholders are urged to read the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.

A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Fifth Third and MB Financial, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from Fifth Third at ir.53.com or from MB Financial by accessing MB Financial’s website at investor.mbfinancial.com.

Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to Fifth Third Investor Relations at Fifth Third Investor Relations, MD 1090QC, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45263, by calling 866-670-0468, or by sending an e-mail to ir@53.com or to MB Financial, Attention: Corporate Secretary, at 6111 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018, by calling 847-653-1992 or by sending an e-mail to dkoros@mbfinancial.com.

As of the date of this proxy, Fifth Third’s Board of Directors consists of 12 directors. The Merger Agreement includes a provision which requires two members of the MB Financial Board of Directors be appointed to the Fifth Third Board of Directors upon closing of the Merger. C. Bryan Daniels and Thomas H. Harvey have been designated to become members of the Fifth Third Board of Directors upon closing of the Merger. Therefore, if the Merger is completed prior to the Annual Meeting, Fifth Third will increase the size of the Board of Directors to 14 and a total of 14 nominees will be voted upon at the Annual Meeting for election to the Board of Directors: 12 of the nominees who will have served as directors since the last annual meeting and the remaining two who will have been appointed to the Fifth Third Board of Directors upon closing of the Merger. If the Merger is not completed prior to the Annual Meeting, the size of the Board of Directors will remain at 12 and votes cast for Mr. Daniels and Mr. Harvey will not be counted.

Director candidates are nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter directs it to investigate and assess the background and skills of potential candidates and to maintain an active file of suitable director candidates.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilizes its pool of existing subsidiary and regional directors as well as the significant network of business contacts of its existing directors and executive management and also retains third party consultants to aid it in identifying potential director candidates. Upon identifying a candidate for serious consideration, our Chief Executive Officer and one or more members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee initially interview such candidate. If the candidate merits further consideration, the candidate subsequently interviews with other Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee members (individually or as a group), and ultimately meets the remaining directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee elicits feedback from persons who meet the candidate and then determines whether or not to nominate the candidate.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the following criteria for directors: independence (in order to compose a Board of Directors that has a majority of its members who are independent); highest personal and professional ethics and integrity; willingness to devote sufficient time to fulfilling duties as a director; impact on the diversity of the Board’s overall experience in business, government, education, technology, and other areas relevant to our business; impact on the diversity of the Board’s composition in terms of age, skills, ethnicity, and other factors relevant to our business; and number of other public company boards on which the candidate may serve. Generally, a director should not serve on more than three public company boards in addition to Fifth Third. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that shareholders may propose nominees to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee by submitting the names and qualifications of such persons to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee no later than December 31 of each year. Submissions are to be addressed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at our executive offices, which submissions will then be forwarded to the Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will then evaluate the possible nominee using the criteria outlined above and will consider such person in comparison to all other candidates, but is not obligated to nominate any such individual for election. No such shareholder nominations have been received by Fifth Third for this Annual Meeting. Accordingly, no rejections or refusals of such candidates have been made by Fifth Third. Shareholders may also nominate candidates directly for election by following the procedures in our Code of Regulations. These are summarized in the “2020 Shareholder Proposals” section of this proxy statement.

In accordance with our Code of Regulations, directors are elected annually to a one (1) year term expiring at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Any vacancies that occur after the directors are elected may be filled by the Board of Directors in accordance with law and our Code of Regulations for the remainder of the full term of the vacant directorship. If the Merger is completed prior to the Annual Meeting, shareholders will vote on the 14 persons listed below. If the Merger is not completed prior to the Annual Meeting, Mr. Daniels and Mr. Harvey will not stand for election to the Board of Directors and any votes cast for either Mr. Daniels or Mr. Harvey will not be counted.

The following tables set forth information with respect to each director nominee for election at the Annual Meeting including their business experience, shareholdings, and qualifications as our directors. The Board of Directors has determined that all director nominees have met the independence standards of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the National Association of Securities Dealers listing standards with the exception of Mr. Carmichael.

Nominees for Election as Directors

*        As previously discussed, Mr. Daniel’s and Mr. Harvey’s nomination for election to the Board of Directors is contingent upon the completion of the Merger prior to the Annual Meeting.

(1)        As reported to Fifth Third Bancorp by the Directors as of the date stated. Includes shares held in the name of spouses, minor children, certain relatives, trusts, estates, and certain affiliated companies as to which beneficial ownership may be disclaimed. As of January 31, 2019, none of the Company’s current executive officers or directors owned any Series H Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock, Series J Preferred Stock, or any Depositary Shares representing interests in Series H Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock, or Series J Preferred Stock.

(2)        The amounts shown represent the total shares owned outright by such individuals together with stock appreciation rights exercisable (or exercisable within 60 days) of January 31, 2019 but unexercised and shares of common stock underlying outstanding restricted stock units. Specifically, the following individuals have the number of stock appreciation rights exercisable as of (or exercisable within 60 days) of January 31, 2019 indicated after their names: Ms. Hoover, 500; Mr. Carmichael, 901,164. The amounts listed for stock appreciation rights represent the number of rights that may be exercised; the actual number of shares delivered will vary based on the stock’s appreciation over the grant price at the time of exercise. The aggregate number of stock appreciation rights exercisable as of (or exercisable within 60 days) of January 31, 2019 but unexercised held by the executive officers who are not also directors or nominees is 458,175. Directors owned the following number of restricted stock units as of January 31, 2019: Nicholas K. Akins, 25,970; B. Evan Bayh III, 24,651; Jorge L. Benitez, 14,768; Katherine B. Blackburn, 20,993; Emerson L. Brumback, 24,651; Jerry W. Burris, 11,264; Greg D. Carmichael, 137,973; Gary R. Heminger, 24,651; Jewell D. Hoover, 24,651; Eileen A. Mallesch, 11,264; Michael B. McCallister, 25,970; and Marsha C. Williams, 30,792. Some directors have deferred receipt of the common stock underlying certain of their restricted stock units: B. Evan Bayh III, 15,988; Jerry W. Burris, 5,384, Gary R. Heminger, 15,988; Jewell D. Hoover, 5,522; and Marsha C. Williams, 4,910. All directors and executive officers as a group own 633,493 restricted stock units. 363,060 of these restricted stock units are subject to vesting within 60 days of January 31, 2019.

(3)        Assuming the closing of the Merger prior to the Annual Meeting.

Summary of Skills and Attributes

We believe each director on our Board makes unique, valuable, and substantial contributions to the Board. The following matrix provides information regarding the members of the Board, including certain types of knowledge, skills, and experience which the Board believes are relevant to our business. The type and degree of knowledge, skill, or experience below may vary among our directors. The matrix does not include all knowledge, skills, experience, or other attributes of our directors which may be relevant and valuable to their service on our board and a director may possess other knowledge, skills, and experience not indicated in the matrix. The diversity of knowledge, skill, experience, and attributes of our directors, collectively, lends itself to a highly collaborative and effective Board.

Key to Director Skills Matrix

		Accounting/Financial Reporting		Experience as an accountant or auditor at large accounting firm, Chief Financial Officer, or other relevant experience in accounting and financial reporting.
		Compensation and Benefits		Experience or expertise in management and development of human capital, compensation, or benefits programs.
		Corporate Governance		Experience or expertise in governance matters, principles, and administration.
		Cybersecurity		Experience or expertise in information security, data privacy, and cybersecurity.
		Digital Innovation and FinTech		Experience in use of technology to facilitate business operations and customer service.
		ESG		Experience in ESG and community affairs matters, including as part of a business and managing corporate social responsibility issues as business imperatives.
		Executive Management		Business and strategic management experience from service in a significant leadership position, such as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or other senior leadership role.
		Financial Services Industry		Experience in one or more of the Company’s specific financial services areas, including retail banking, wholesale banking, wealth and investment management, or global payments.
		Legal and Regulatory		Experience acquired through a law degree and as a practicing attorney in understanding legal risks and obligations; experience in governmental and regulatory affairs, including as part of a business and/or through positions with government organizations and regulatory bodies.
		Risk Management		Experience with reviewing or managing risk in a large organization, including specific types of risk (e.g., physical security, financial risk, or risks facing large financial institutions).
		Strategic Planning		Experience defining and driving strategic direction and growth and managing the operations of a business or large organization.

Directors:

Nicholas K. Akins

B. Evan Bayh, III

Jorge L. Benitez

Katherine B. Blackburn

Emerson L. Brumback

Jerry W. Burris

Greg D. Carmichael

C. Bryan Daniels*

Thomas H. Harvey*

Gary R. Heminger

Jewell D. Hoover

Eileen A. Mallesch

Michael B. McCallister

Marsha C. Williams

= experience

*        As previously discussed, Mr. Daniel’s and Mr. Harvey’s nomination for election to the Board of Directors is contingent upon the closing of their Merger prior to the Annual Meeting.

Gender, Diversity, Tenure, and Independence

Vote Required

Under Ohio law, our Articles of Incorporation, and our Code of Regulations, as long as cumulative voting is not in effect, in an uncontested election of directors (i.e., an election where the number of candidates nominated for election to the Board of Directors equals the number of directors to be elected), each person receiving a greater number of votes “for” his or her election than votes “against” his or her election will be elected as a director. If the Merger is completed prior to the Annual Meeting, in the event of a contested election or if cumulative voting is in effect, the fourteen nominees receiving the greatest number of votes “for” their election shall be elected. If the Merger is not completed prior to the Annual Meeting, in the event of a contested election or if cumulative voting is in effect, votes cast in favor of Mr. Daniels and Mr. Harvey will not be counted and the twelve nominees receiving the greatest number of votes “for” their election shall be elected.

We have also adopted provisions of our Corporate Governance Guidelines stating that, as long as cumulative voting is not in effect, in an uncontested election of directors, any nominee for director who receives a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” his or her election will promptly tender his or her resignation to the Chair of the Board following certification of the shareholder vote. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will promptly consider the tendered resignation and will recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation no later

than 60 days following the date of the shareholders’ meeting at which the election occurred. In considering whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider factors deemed relevant by the Committee members including, without limitation, the director’s length of service, the director’s particular qualifications and contributions to Fifth Third, the reasons underlying the majority “against” vote (if known) and whether these reasons can be cured, and compliance with stock exchange listing standards and the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation no later than 90 days following the date of the shareholders’ meeting at which the election occurred. In considering the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation, the Board will consider the factors considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and such additional information and factors the Board believes to be relevant.

If any nominee(s) shall be unable to serve, which is not now contemplated, the proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors recommends. If the Merger closes prior to the Annual Meeting, proxies in the form solicited hereby which are returned to us and not revoked will be voted in favor of the fourteen (14) nominees specified above unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. If the Merger does not close prior to the Annual Meeting, votes cast in favor of Mr. Daniels and Mr. Harvey will not be counted and proxies in the form solicited hereby which are returned to us and not revoked will be voted in favor of the twelve (12) nominees specified above unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Abstentions and shares not voted by brokers or other entities holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners will not be counted and will have no effect on the outcome of the election in accordance with Ohio law and our Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH

OF THE CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE.

Our Board of Directors met seventeen (17) times during 2018, including six (6) special meetings. Our Board of Directors also regularly holds executive sessions of those members of the Board of Directors who meet the then current standards of independence. In 2018, these sessions were led by the Lead Independent Director.

No current member of our Board of Directors attended less than 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board of Directors and all committees on which such director served during 2018.

Neither the Board nor the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has implemented a formal policy regarding director attendance at the Annual Meeting; however, the Board typically holds a Board meeting directly following the Annual Meeting. In 2018, all directors attended the Annual Meeting.

During 2018, there were five (5) committees of the Board of Directors: Audit, Human Capital and Compensation, Finance, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Risk and Compliance.

Our Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and serves in a dual capacity as the Audit Committee of Fifth Third Bancorp and Fifth Third Bank. Twelve (12) meetings of the Audit Committee were held during 2018. The Audit Committee’s functions include the engagement of the independent external audit firm, reviewing with that firm the plans and results of the audit engagement of the Company, approving the annual audit plan and reviewing the results of the procedures for internal auditing, reviewing the independence of the independent external audit firm, reviewing our financial results and periodic SEC filings, reviewing the design and effectiveness of our internal controls and similar functions, and approving all auditing and non-auditing services performed by our independent external audit firm. Another function of the Audit Committee is to carry out the statutory requirements of a bank audit committee as prescribed under applicable law. The Audit Committee also oversees the administration of Fifth Third’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and considers any material waivers thereto. The Audit Committee members for 2018 were Emerson L. Brumback (Chair), Jerry W. Burris, and Jewell D. Hoover. Jorge L. Benitez and Eileen A. Mallesch joined the Audit Committee as members in September 2018. Katherine B. Blackburn was a member of the Audit Committee from January through September 2018. As Lead Independent Director, Ms. Williams serves as an ex-officio member of the Audit Committee. All members of the Audit Committee met the independence standards of Rule 5605(a)(2) and the audit committee qualifications of Rule 4350(d)(2) of the National Association of Securities Dealers listing standards. The Board of Directors determined that Emerson L. Brumback is an audit committee financial expert for Fifth Third Bancorp and is independent as described in the preceding sentence. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which may be found in the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.53.com. The formal report of the Audit Committee with respect to the year 2018 is on page 74-75 herein.

Our Finance Committee serves in a dual capacity as the Finance Committee of Fifth Third Bancorp and Fifth Third Bank. The Finance Committee met four (4) times in 2018, including two (2) special meetings. The Finance Committee exercises, during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers of the Board of Directors of Fifth Third Bancorp and Fifth Third Bank in the management of the business, properties, and affairs of both entities that may be permissibly exercised by a committee thereof. The Finance Committee consisted of Gary R. Heminger (Chair), Nicholas K. Akins, Emerson L. Brumback,

Jewell D. Hoover, Michael B. McCallister, and Marsha C. Williams. The Board of Directors has adopted a Finance Committee charter which may be found in the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.53.com.

Our Human Capital and Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. The Human Capital and Compensation Committee met nine (9) times during 2018, including four (4) special meetings. Executive compensation and equity plan allocations are determined by this Committee of the Board of Directors. In 2018, the Human Capital and Compensation Committee consisted of Michael B. McCallister (Chair), Nicholas K. Akins, Gary R. Heminger, and Eileen A. Mallesch. As Lead Independent Director, Ms. Williams serves as an ex-officio member of the Human Capital and Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has adopted a Human Capital and Compensation Committee charter which may be found in the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.53.com. The formal report of the Human Capital and Compensation Committee with respect to 2018 compensation is on page 58 herein.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met five (5) times during 2018, including two (2) special meetings. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee develops and recommends to the Board corporate governance policies and guidelines, identifies director and committee member candidates, and nominates directors for election to the Board and appointment to committee membership. In 2018, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consisted of Nicholas K. Akins (Chair), B. Evan Bayh, III, Jorge L. Benitez, Katherine B. Blackburn, Gary R. Heminger, and Marsha C. Williams. The Board of Directors has adopted a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter which may be found in the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.53.com.

Our Risk and Compliance Committee serves in a dual capacity as the Risk and Compliance Committee of the Bancorp and the Bank. The Risk and Compliance Committee met ten (10) times in 2018, including two (2) special meetings. The Risk and Compliance Committee is responsible for the risk management policies of Fifth Third’s global operation and oversight of its global risk management framework, including processes for identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types, including the categories of credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk (including cybersecurity risk), regulatory compliance risk, legal risk, reputation risk, and strategic risk. The Risk and Compliance Committee consisted of five independent directors: Jewell D. Hoover (Chair), B. Evan Bayh, III, Jorge L. Benitez, and Jerry W. Burris. Katherine B. Blackburn became a member of the Risk and Compliance Committee in September 2018. Eileen A. Mallesch served on the Risk and Compliance Committee from January through September 2018. As Lead Independent Director, Ms. Williams serves as an ex-officio member of the Risk and Compliance Committee. The Board of Directors has adopted a Risk and Compliance Committee charter which may be found in the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.53.com.

Board Independence, Board Accountability, and Board Effectiveness

Fifth Third’s Board of Directors is committed to strong and effective governance and oversight. Annually, the Board reviews and, as necessary, enhances, its practices in relation to Board Independence, Board Accountability, and Board Effectiveness. Below are some highlights of our Board governance program.

Board Independence

Board Accountability

Board Effectiveness

Board Governance. The Board of Directors has adopted the Fifth Third Bancorp Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Fifth Third Bancorp Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to our directors; Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Controller; and our other employees. The Corporate Governance Guidelines delineate the responsibilities of our directors, Board, and Board Committees as well as standards for Board composition, service, and meetings and are reviewed annually to ensure standards remain consistent with evolving business needs and best practice. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be found in the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.53.com.

Board Performance Evaluations. The Board of Directors and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee annually review directors’ skills and expertise to ensure the Board represents a diverse skill set oriented to the historical and emerging needs of the business. Each director annually completes an anonymous evaluation of the Board and its committees, and, beginning in 2019, is interviewed by the Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair review the results of these reviews with each Committee Chair and the full Board, after which the Chairs suggest action items to management.

Board Leadership. The Board believes that our shareholders are best served by a Board that has the flexibility to establish a leadership structure that fits our needs at any particular point in time. Accordingly, under our Code of Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board of Directors has the authority to combine or separate the positions of Chair and Chief Executive Officer as well as determine whether, if the positions are separated, the Chair is an affiliated director or an independent director.

The Board’s Chair is currently Fifth Third’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Carmichael, and Ms. Williams is the Lead Independent Director. The Board believes that this leadership structure is appropriate at this time given the contributions Mr. Carmichael has given to date in his role as CEO and his ability to provide strategic and operational leadership. The Board determined that leadership by our CEO coupled with our strong Lead Independent Director, experienced Committee Chairs, and our other well-qualified directors, all of whom are independent, will allow Fifth Third to grow and meet the challenges facing it and the industry.

Under our Code of Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Lead Independent Director will:

Risk Management Oversight. The role of the Board of Directors is to provide oversight to ensure an effective enterprise risk management program is in place, including an appropriate enterprise risk management framework and related governance structure. The Board sets our overall risk appetite, including the establishment and monitoring of risk tolerances. The formulation of risk appetite considers our operating capacity, which is represented by its available financial resources, defined as Tier 1 Capital less our largest capital buffer (Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Policy Target less the Basel III Buffered Common Equity Tier 1 Minimum), that sets an absolute limit on risk assumption in our annual financial and strategic plans. Our risk appetite is limited by policy to a maximum of 95 percent of operating capacity. Tolerances are the maximum amount of risk applicable to each of the eight specific risk categories included in the enterprise risk management framework. Through their oversight role, directors ensure that the risk management processes designed and implemented under this framework and governance structure are aligned to the Board’s corporate strategy and are functioning as directed. The Board also considers the optimal organizational structure at both the Board and management levels. This may include delegating responsibility through Board committees, management committees, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief Risk Officer.

Risk management oversight and governance is provided primarily by the Risk and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors and through the Enterprise Risk Management Committee.

The Risk and Compliance Committee currently consists of five outside directors and has responsibility for the oversight of our risk management, as well as ensuring that risks are properly controlled, quantified, and within our risk appetite. The Chief Risk Officer has a direct reporting relationship to the Chief Executive Officer and the Risk and Compliance Committee and has regular executive sessions with the Risk and Compliance Committee without other members of management present. In addition, the Director of Credit Risk Review reports directly to the Risk and Compliance Committee.

The Risk and Compliance Committee is primarily responsible for the risk management policies of our global operation and oversight of its global risk management framework. This includes oversight of:

The Enterprise Risk Management Committee is the executive-level committee, chaired by the Chief Risk Officer. Membership includes the Chief Executive Officer and senior level management, including risk experts and management from each line of business. The Enterprise Risk Management Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the risk Management Framework and policies, overseeing the management of all risk types to ensure that risks remain within our risk appetite, and fostering a culture that supports risk management objectives. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the Enterprise Risk Management Committee reviews information on risk levels and trends, capital adequacy, top and emerging risks during each regularly scheduled meeting.

The Risk and Compliance Committee charter outlines more specific responsibilities under all categories of risk.

Communication with the Board. Shareholders may communicate directly to the Board of Directors in writing by sending a letter to the Board at: Fifth Third Bancorp Board of Directors, c/o Fifth Third Legal Department, Office of the Corporate Secretary, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, MD 10909F, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263. All communications directed to the Board of Directors will be received and processed by the Fifth Third Legal Department and will be transmitted to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Audit Committee has also established Fifth Third’s Ethics Line, a toll-free hotline and web portal through which confidential complaints may be made regarding: illegal or fraudulent activity; questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters; conflicts of interest, dishonest or unethical conduct, including incentive gaming; disclosures in the Company’s SEC reports, bank regulatory filings, and other public disclosures that are not full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable; violations of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; and/or any other violations of laws, rules, or regulations. The contact information for the Ethics Line is available in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is available at our website. Complaints submitted through this process are presented to the Audit Committee on a regular, periodic basis.

Shareholder Communication with Investor Relations Department. Shareholders who wish to speak to a Fifth Third representative regarding their investment in Fifth Third may communicate directly with our Investor Relations Department by calling 866-670-0468. In addition, shareholders may communicate in writing directly with the Investor Relations Department by sending a letter to 38 Fountain Square Plaza, MD 1090QC, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263 or by emailing ir@53.com. Shareholders can also view information and request documents from the Investor Relations page of Fifth Third’s website at www.ir.53.com.

Each non-employee director is awarded an annual cash retainer and an award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for their service on the Board. The following table illustrates the compensation structure for non-employee directors in 2018. Employee directors receive no additional compensation for their Board service. In addition to the compensation described below, non-employee directors are reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred for travel and attendance related to meetings of the Board of Directors or its committees.

(1) Payments are made in arrears on a quarterly basis each January, April, July, and October, with the exception of RSUs which are granted on the date of the annual shareholders meeting.

(2) All RSUs granted to members of the Board of Directors vest on the date the director’s service on the Board ends unless deferral instructions are received prior to the beginning of the year of grant.

The Company’s 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan provides that the Human Capital and Compensation Committee has full authority to provide equity-based or other incentive awards to non-employee directors, and the equity-based awards shown in the table below were granted under that plan. In 2018, the Company had a stock ownership guideline for its directors of stock having a value equal to at least $300,000. Directors have five years from their election date to meet this requirement. To further align the Company with its peers, stock ownership guidelines were revised to require each director to own Fifth Third Stock equal in value to six times their Board Member annual cash retainer, not including fees paid for committee service. As of December 2018, all directors had sufficient holdings to meet or exceed the stock ownership requirement or had not yet served on our Board for five years.

Directors are prohibited from engaging in speculative trading and hedging shares of Company securities. This includes prohibitions against day trading and short-selling of Company securities and transactions in any derivative of Company securities, including buying and writing options. Directors are restricted from buying Company securities on margin or using Company securities as collateral for a loan. Additionally, the Company’s Insider Trading Policy prohibits trading during designated blackout periods and required approval by the Legal Department prior to any trade.

Pursuant to the Fifth Third Bancorp Unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, such directors may annually elect to defer from one-half to all of their cash compensation. The deferred funds receive earnings based on the mutual fund(s) elected by each director. The directors do not receive any above-market or preferential earnings. Under the plan, directors may not defer their future cash compensation into Company stock.

The Human Capital and Compensation Committee reviewed director compensation for 2019 in consultation with its independent compensation consultant in light of best practices, peer institution benchmarking, and other relevant factors. Based upon this review, the Committee determined that director pay is well-aligned with the market and their peers.

The following table summarizes the compensation earned by or awarded to each non-employee director who served on the Board of Directors during 2018. The amounts listed in the “Stock Awards” column represent RSU awards that vest at the completion of a director’s service on the Board. The award relates to the fiscal year in which it was granted. Directors did not receive any option awards, non-equity incentive compensation or earnings from nonqualified deferred compensation in 2018. The 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan establishes an annual limitation of $500,000 on the amount of the value of shares paid to directors in a calendar year.

(1) The values shown for stock awards in 2018 in both the Director Compensation Table and the Outstanding Equity Awards Table reflect the grant date fair value of $30.94, which was the closing price of Fifth Third stock on the grant date, April 17, 2018, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(2) The full fair value of stock awards granted in 2018 totaled $1,400,000. Outstanding stock appreciation awards and RSUs for current directors totaled 240,127 shares as of December 31, 2018, as shown below.

(3) Fees paid to Ms. Williams in 2018 were prorated for the time served as board chairman and the time served as lead director.

The Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides information concerning the compensation for its executive officers. This information is set forth in the following sections:

In the various sections of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis we will describe our compensation methodology and structure and how pay decisions were made in 2018. We will focus on the compensation of individuals who served in the following roles during fiscal year 2018, who are referred to as our “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”:

A one-time compensation event during 2018 increased Ms. Tanner’s compensation to a level that requires her inclusion in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the following tables for 2018 and would permit us to exclude Mr. Forrest from these disclosures. However, because we do not expect that we will be required to include Ms. Tanner in future years, and expect to include Mr. Forrest, we have elected to include Mr. Forrest for consistency in the five NEOs who are expected to be disclosed year-over-year.

Summary of Executive Compensation Programs

At Fifth Third, we endeavor to attract and retain the best people and motivate them to fulfill the Company’s vision of becoming the “One Bank that people most value and trust”. We intend to accomplish this by aligning ourselves with our shareholders’ long-term interests, by establishing compensation programs that reward our employees for delivering products and services our customers highly value and by avoiding excessive risk. Our compensation philosophy guides us in this endeavor.

Our compensation is delivered through three primary elements:

The Company typically pays base salary and annual incentive compensation awards, through our Variable Compensation Plan, in cash. All long-term, equity-based incentive compensation awards are paid in shares of the Company’s common stock. These three elements combined define our “Total Direct Compensation”, which is referred to in the discussion that follows.

When making pay decisions, the Human Capital and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) considers the aggregate and mix of an executive officer’s Total Direct Compensation and reviews Company performance results, individual performance, and risk assessment information to ensure that pay decisions align with performance and ultimately shareholders’ interests.

Our executive compensation program includes several features that help to address potential concerns about risk:

Highlights of 2018 Company Performance

Project NorthStar. In 2018, we completed the vast majority of the initiatives outlined under Project NorthStar. We benefited from improved balance sheet resiliency, as our criticized commercial loans and our overall nonperforming assets declined to the lowest levels in nearly 20 years. We also generated profitable relationship growth in our commercial and consumer businesses. We achieved record commercial loan production during the year, with strength in both corporate and middle market banking; a reflection on the impact of our investments in our sales force and the increased efficiency in our mid-office and back-office functions through the Commercial Credit Experience Initiative (“CCEI”). We generated peer-leading deposit growth in our consumer business and, by the end of 2018, our total loan-to-core deposit ratio declined to the lowest level in more than fifteen years. We ended 2018 with the best underlying return metrics in over a decade. Also, we returned substantially all of our earnings to shareholders through repurchases and dividends and we raised our common dividend nearly 40% throughout the year.

Following are highlights of 2018 Company performance results:

Compensation Methodology and Structure

Compensation Philosophy. Our compensation methodology and structure centers on our compensation philosophy, which comprises the following guiding principles:

In order to drive our business strategy and human capital plan, compensation must be competitive to attract and retain essential talent, reward high performance, and be internally equitable. The Company is committed to making compensation decisions that are fiscally responsible, such that we carefully consider the expected return on investment for those decisions. Our expected total compensation opportunities generally reflect the median pay levels of our compensation peer group, with variations based on specific talent needs, experience, and other internal factors. We believe that actual total compensation should vary with the performance of the organization so that outstanding performance results in above market compensation. Executive pay includes a heavy focus on long-term incentives. This facilitates collaboration among business units, ownership in the Company, and a focus on shareholder goals.

The Human Capital team also conducts an annual review of pay equity for both gender and race for similarly situated roles as part of its annual compensation planning and makes efforts to appropriately address any issues identified through that process. Please refer to our Corporate Social Responsibility Report for further information regarding diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Features of our Executive Compensation Program. Our executive compensation program incorporates features such as:

Compensation Risk Management. We believe it is critical to bring a multi-faceted strategy toward mitigating risk in our compensation programs and incentive plans. We incorporate formulaic and discretionary risk-balancing mechanisms, which include specific metrics for modifying payouts to discourage taking unnecessary or imprudent risks.

To execute the risk mitigation strategies, we conduct yearly review processes, which are documented and incorporate input from business segments including Finance, Legal, Human Capital, Risk Management, and the Company’s business leaders. These processes include: