Fifth Third Bancorp 10-K 2025-12-31

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025

Commission File Number 001-33653

Fifth Third Bancorp

(Exact name of Registrant specified in its charter)

38 Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, Ohio 45263

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (800) 972-3030

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes: ☒ No: ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes: ☐ No: ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes: ☒ No: ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes: ☒ No: ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes: ☐ No: ☒

There were 901,819,022 shares of the Bancorp’s Common Stock, without par value, outstanding as of February 1, 2026. The Aggregate Market Value of the Voting Stock held by non-affiliates of the Bancorp was $23.9 billion as of June 30, 2025.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This report incorporates into a single document the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to annual reports on Form 10-K and annual reports to shareholders. Sections of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

Only those sections of this 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders that are specified in this Cross Reference Index constitute part of the registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. No other information contained in this 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders shall be deemed to constitute any part of this Form 10-K nor shall any such information be incorporated into the Form 10-K and shall not be deemed “filed” as part of the registrant’s Form 10-K.

10-K CROSS REFERENCE INDEX

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report 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 the Risk Factors section in Item 1A in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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. 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) deteriorating credit quality; (2) loan concentration by location or industry of borrowers or collateral; (3) any instability or disruption in the financial system, including those caused by actual or perceived issues affecting the soundness of other financial institutions or market participants; (4) inadequate sources of funding or liquidity; (5) unfavorable actions of rating agencies; (6) inability to maintain or grow deposits; (7) limitations on the ability to receive dividends from subsidiaries; (8) cyber-security risks; (9) Fifth Third’s ability to secure confidential information and deliver products and services through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks; (10) failures by third-party service providers; (11) inability to manage strategic initiatives and/or organizational changes; (12) inability to implement technology system enhancements, including the use of artificial intelligence; (13) failure of internal controls and other risk management programs; (14) losses related to fraud, theft, misappropriation or violence; (15) inability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (16) adverse impacts of government regulation; (17) governmental or regulatory changes or other actions; (18) failures to meet applicable capital requirements; (19) regulatory objections to Fifth Third’s capital plan; (20) regulation of Fifth Third’s derivatives activities; (21) deposit insurance premiums; (22) assessments for the orderly liquidation fund; (23) weakness in the national or local economies; (24) global political and economic uncertainty or negative actions; (25) changes in interest rates and the effects of inflation; (26) changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs; (27) changes and trends in capital markets; (28) fluctuation of Fifth Third’s stock price; (29) volatility in mortgage banking revenue; (30) litigation, investigations, and enforcement proceedings; (31) breaches of contractual covenants, representations and warranties; (32) competition and changes in the financial services industry; (33) potential impacts of the adoption of real-time payment networks; (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; (45) Fifth Third’s ability to meet its environmental and/or social targets, goals and commitments; and (46) risks relating to the merger with Comerica Incorporated, including Fifth Third’s inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger and potential disruption to Fifth Third’s business resulting from post-merger integration. 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 report should be read as applying mutatis mutandis to every other instance of such information appearing herein.

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PART I

General Information

Fifth Third Bancorp (the “Bancorp” or “Fifth Third”), an Ohio corporation organized in 1975, is a bank holding company (“BHC”) as defined by the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), and has elected to be treated as a financial holding company (“FHC”) under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLBA”) and regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”).

The Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the indirect holding company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association (the “Bank”). As of December 31, 2025, Fifth Third had $214 billion in assets and operates 1,130 full-service Banking Centers and 2,199 Fifth Third branded ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. The Bancorp operates three main businesses: Commercial Banking, Consumer and Small Business Banking and Wealth and Asset Management. The Bancorp’s trust and registered investment advisory businesses had approximately $690 billion in total assets under care and managed $80 billion in assets for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations as of December 31, 2025. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol FITB.

The Bancorp’s subsidiaries provide a wide range of financial products and services to the commercial, financial, retail, governmental, educational, energy and healthcare sectors. This includes a variety of checking, savings and money market accounts, wealth management solutions, payments and commerce solutions, securities products and services, insurance services and credit products such as commercial loans and leases, mortgage loans, credit cards, installment loans and other lending products. These products and services are delivered through a variety of channels including the Bancorp’s banking centers, other offices, telephone sales, the internet and mobile applications. The Bank has deposit insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) through the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”). Refer to Exhibit 21 filed as an attachment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a list of subsidiaries of the Bancorp as of February 15, 2026.

Additional information regarding the Bancorp’s businesses is included in Item 7 of this Annual Report.

Competition

The Bancorp, primarily through the Bank, competes for deposits, loans and other banking services in its principal geographic markets as well as in selected national markets as opportunities arise. In addition to banking institutions, the Bancorp competes with securities dealers, brokers, mortgage bankers, investment advisors, specialty finance, private credit, financial technology and insurance companies. These companies compete across geographic boundaries and provide customers with meaningful alternatives to traditional banking services in nearly all significant products. The increasingly competitive environment is primarily a result of changes in regulation, changes in technology, product delivery systems and the accelerating pace of consolidation among financial service providers. These competitive trends are likely to continue.

Human Capital Resources

The Bancorp’s human capital strategy is designed to attract, develop and retain talent. This strategy ensures that Fifth Third has the talent, capabilities and organizational structure to support business needs now and in the future. As of December 31, 2025, the Bancorp had 18,676 full-time equivalent employees, compared to 18,616 as of December 31, 2024. These employees support the organization’s ambition and purpose by upholding its values by committing to excellence, being connected and acting with creativity and courage. Fifth Third is committed to living its values, serving its customers, delivering financial performance and being recognized as a leader in building an engaging workplace.

Engagement and Development

Fifth Third believes that an engaged workforce is one of its most valuable assets in sustaining its success. The Bancorp’s continuous listening strategy is an important component of its inclusive culture and offers a holistic approach to collecting, measuring and responding to employee feedback through a variety of methods in order to enhance the employee experience at critical points along the employee lifecycle. At the foundation of the Bancorp’s listening strategy is the Employee Viewpoints Survey, which includes questions related to engagement, inclusion, well-being, employee expectations and their intent to stay.

The Bancorp’s learning, development and career mobility strategy delivers personalized and accessible experiences that fuel career growth and help retain talent. In response to employee feedback, Fifth Third continued its focus on career mobility with enhanced tools to support internal career pathing. This includes a robust suite of learning resources covering several areas, including leadership and professional development to foster learning and career advancement across the employee population. In 2025, employees engaged in over 550,000 hours of discretionary learning.

In 2025, Fifth Third launched a comprehensive platform designed to deliver leadership development content and experiences for leaders at all levels. Several new development offerings were launched, including generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) training, coaching skills for managers and targeted programs to strengthen professional and leadership capabilities across the organization. Fifth Third leaders participated

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in more than 3,200 distinct development experiences. The Bancorp’s commitment to compliance and risk management remains strong, with employees and contingent workers completing over 450,000 course hours on these critical topics during 2025.

Total Rewards – Compensation and Benefits

The Bancorp understands the importance of rewarding employees for their talents and commitment to excellence. To reflect that, employees’ Total Rewards package includes both competitive compensation as well as a complete benefits offering that supports employees through the stages of their careers and lives.

The Bancorp is committed to providing competitive compensation programs that attract and retain top talent, while driving the business strategy and effectively managing risk. Fifth Third’s compensation programs are designed to reward performance and align with regulatory expectations while reflecting the Bancorp’s values and behavioral standards. The Bancorp’s compensation philosophy is centered on creating long-term shareholder value.

Fifth Third is committed to the holistic well-being of its employees. The benefits program is designed to address the personal and professional needs of employees and their families. In addition to traditional benefits offerings, the Bancorp provides comprehensive support with unique programs focused on the financial, physical, emotional and social well-being of employees.

Recruitment and Retention

The Bancorp continues to navigate the evolving talent landscape by monitoring the external environment and adapting talent strategies to align with business goals. The Bancorp’s focus on delivering its employee value proposition demonstrates a continued commitment to employees which includes developing great leaders and elevating the employee experience. Full year turnover was 16.4% in 2025 compared to 16.2% in 2024.

The Bancorp’s recruitment strategies enhance the organization by enabling business success. To attract the most talented employees, the Bancorp continues to deepen relationships with universities and partner organizations to ensure a strong pipeline for talent. Creating and developing a strong workforce is important for the Bancorp’s business growth, leading to enhanced innovation while focusing on the needs of its customers.

Regulation and Supervision

The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to extensive regulation and supervision by bank regulatory agencies under federal and state law, the principal objectives of which are the safety and soundness of financial institutions, the maintenance of the DIF and the protection of consumers and the U.S. banking and financial system, rather than the protection of holders of the Bancorp’s securities. To the extent the following material describes statutory or regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statute or regulation.

Regulators

The Bancorp and/or the Bank are subject to regulation and supervision primarily by the FRB, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), the FDIC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) and additionally by certain federal, state and international regulators and self-regulatory organizations. The Bancorp is also subject to regulation by the SEC by virtue of its status as a public company and due to the nature of some of its businesses. The Bancorp and the Bank are required to file various reports with and are subject to examination by various regulators, including the FRB, the OCC, the CFPB and the FDIC.

Federal and state laws and regulations define the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s permissible activities and requirements governing risk management practices, among other matters.

Violations of laws and regulations, or other unsafe and unsound practices, may result in regulatory agencies imposing fines or penalties, cease and desist orders, or taking other enforcement actions. Under certain circumstances, these agencies may enforce these remedies directly against officers, directors, employees and other parties participating in the affairs of the Bancorp or the Bank. Applicable state and federal laws also grant regulators the authority to impose additional requirements and restrictions on the activities of the Bancorp and the Bank and, in some situations, the imposition of such additional requirements and restrictions will not be publicly available information.

The following discussion describes certain elements of the comprehensive regulatory framework applicable to the Bancorp, the Bank and its other subsidiaries and is not intended to describe all applicable laws and regulations.

Acquisitions

The BHCA requires prior approval of the FRB for a BHC to acquire substantially all the assets of a bank or to acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of any class of the voting shares of any bank, BHC or savings association, or to merge or consolidate with any BHC.

The BHCA generally prohibits a BHC from engaging in, or acquiring a direct or indirect interest in or control of more than 5% of any class of the voting shares of a company that is not a bank or a BHC that engages directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to its banking subsidiaries, except that it may engage in and may own shares of

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companies engaged in certain activities the FRB has determined to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be proper incident thereto.

Financial Holding Companies

The Bancorp is registered as a BHC with the FRB under the BHCA and qualifies for and has elected to become an FHC. As an FHC, the Bancorp is permitted to engage directly or indirectly in a broader range of activities than those permitted for a BHC under the BHCA. Permitted activities for an FHC include activities that are determined to be financial in nature, as well as those incidental or, if determined by the FRB, complementary to financial activities. A BHC may elect to become an FHC if the BHC is well-capitalized and is well managed and each of its banking subsidiaries is well-capitalized, is well managed and has at least a Satisfactory rating under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). Failure to meet such requirements could result in material restrictions on the activities of the FHC and may also adversely affect the FHC’s ability to engage in mergers and acquisitions, as well as loss of FHC status.

Enhanced Prudential Standards, Tailored Capital and Liquidity Requirements

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) and legislation modifying Dodd-Frank, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, the regulators adopted rules that apply certain enhanced prudential standards (“EPS”) and enhanced capital and liquidity requirements to BHCs and banks, such as the Bancorp and the Bank, with $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets (the “Tailoring Rules”). The Tailoring Rules establish four risk-based categories of institutions, and the extent to which EPS and certain other capital and liquidity requirements apply depends on the banking organization’s category. Under the Tailoring Rules, the Bancorp and the Bank each qualify as a Category IV banking organization subject to the least restrictive of the requirements applicable to firms with $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets. Requirements for a Category IV institution include: risk management and risk committee requirements; specified liquidity risk management, stress testing, buffer and reporting requirements; a biennial supervisory stress test in even years with public disclosures; eligibility for standardized approach capital requirements; application of a stress capital buffer updated biennially; non-application of the countercyclical capital buffer or supplementary leverage ratio applicable to larger institutions; and calibrated liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio requirements. For institutions with $250 billion or more in total consolidated assets, known as Category III institutions, more stringent additional requirements apply, including: prescribed liquidity risk limits, enhanced collateral monitoring frequency and intraday liquidity risk monitoring; more frequent liquidity stress tests and reporting; annual supervisory stress tests with public disclosure; biennial company-run stress tests with public disclosure plus annual internal stress tests; application of single counterparty credit limits; potential application of a countercyclical capital buffer; a supplementary leverage ratio; and enhanced liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio requirements. After the acquisition of Comerica Incorporated, the Bancorp and the Bank expect to become Category III institutions by the end of 2026 and do not expect any material financial impacts associated with this transition. Additionally, after the acquisition, the Bancorp and the Bank expect to meet or exceed all risk-based capital and leverage ratio requirements under the capital adequacy rules (see Regulatory Capital Requirements below).

Dividends

The Bancorp is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries and depends primarily upon dividends received from its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including the Bank, to fund its activities, including debt service and capital distributions, such as dividends or share repurchases. Federal law limits the extent to which the Bank can declare and pay dividends to the Bancorp, including pursuant to regulatory capital requirements, general regulatory oversight to prevent unsafe or unsound practices, and requirements concerning the payment of dividends out of net profits, surplus and available earnings. Certain contractual restrictions also may limit the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Bancorp. No assurances can be given that the Bank will pay dividends to the Bancorp.

The Bancorp’s ability to declare and pay dividends is similarly limited by federal banking law and FRB regulations and policy. The FRB has authority to prohibit BHCs from making capital distributions if they would be deemed to be an unsafe or unsound practice. The FRB has indicated generally that it may be an unsafe or unsound practice for BHCs to pay dividends unless a BHC’s net income is sufficient to fund the dividends and the expected rate of earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. In addition, the Bancorp’s ability to make capital distributions, including paying dividends and repurchasing shares, is subject to the Bancorp complying with the automatic restrictions on capital distributions under the FRB’s capital adequacy rules (see Regulatory Capital Requirements below).

Source of Strength

A BHC, including the Bancorp, is expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to each of its banking subsidiaries and to commit resources to their support. This support may be required at times when the BHC may not have the resources to provide it or when doing so is not otherwise in the interests of the Bancorp or its shareholders or creditors. Regulators may require a BHC to make capital injections into a troubled subsidiary bank and may charge the BHC with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices if the BHC fails to commit resources to such a subsidiary bank or if it undertakes actions that the FRB believes might jeopardize the BHC’s ability to commit resources to such subsidiary bank.

Loans by the Bancorp to the Bank would be subordinate in right of payment to deposits and certain other debts of the Bank. In the event of the Bancorp’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the Bancorp to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of the Bank would be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

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FDIC Assessments

The DIF provides insurance coverage for certain deposits, up to a standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor per account ownership category per bank and is funded through assessments on insured depository institutions, based on the risk each institution poses to the DIF. The Bank accepts customer deposits that are insured by the DIF and, therefore, must pay insurance premiums.

In response to the bank failures that occurred in the first half of 2023, the FDIC issued a final rule for a special deposit insurance assessment on banking organizations with greater than $5 billion in assets to recover the losses to the DIF associated with protecting uninsured depositors. The estimate of the cost associated with protecting the uninsured depositors will continue to be subject to periodic adjustment until the final loss amount is determined by the FDIC. The Bancorp expects to remit the final quarterly payment of the special assessment at the end of the first quarter of 2026 and believes the related expense has been fully recognized as of December 31, 2025.

Transactions with Affiliates

Federal banking laws restrict transactions between the Bank and its affiliates, including the Bancorp. Restrictions include limits on extensions of credit to affiliates, investments in the securities of affiliates, purchases of assets from affiliates and certain other transactions with affiliates. Credit transactions with affiliates must be collateralized and transactions with affiliates must be on market terms or better for the Bank. Generally, covered transactions with any affiliate are limited to 10% of the Bank’s capital stock and surplus and covered transactions with all affiliates are limited to 20% of the Bank’s capital stock and surplus. These laws also apply to the credit exposure arising under derivative transactions, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions. Federal banking laws also place restrictions on extensions of credit by the Bank to its directors, executive officers and principal shareholders.

Community Reinvestment Act

The CRA generally requires insured depository institutions, including the Bank, to make loans and investments and provide services that meet the credit needs of communities they serve. The Bank is evaluated periodically by the OCC with respect to CRA obligations and must maintain comprehensive records of its CRA activities for purposes of these examinations to permit the OCC to evaluate its record of performance in meeting the credit needs of the entire community served, including low-and moderate-income neighborhoods. The OCC rates each institution’s compliance with the CRA as Outstanding, Satisfactory, Needs to Improve or Substantial Noncompliance. The Bank’s most recent CRA performance rating was Outstanding.

The CRA requires the relevant federal bank regulatory agency to consider a bank’s CRA assessment when considering an application to conduct certain transactions or to open or relocate a branch office. An unsatisfactory CRA record could substantially delay or result in the denial of an approval or application by the Bancorp or the Bank.

Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to risk-based capital and leverage ratio requirements under the capital adequacy rules (the “Capital Rules”) adopted by the FRB for the Bancorp and by the OCC for the Bank. These requirements are minimums, and the FRB and OCC may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity, or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital to operate in a safe and sound manner. Failure to be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on the Bancorp’s operations or financial condition. Such failure could also result in restrictions on the Bancorp’s or the Bank’s ability to pay dividends or otherwise distribute capital or to receive regulatory approval of applications. Under the Capital Rules, certain on- and off-balance sheet exposures of the Bancorp and the Bank are subject to risk weights used to determine risk-weighted assets. These risk-weighted assets are used to calculate the following minimum capital ratios for the Bancorp and the Bank:

• Common Equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) risk-based capital ratio, equal to the ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets. CET1 capital primarily includes common shareholders’ equity subject to certain regulatory adjustments and deductions, including with respect to goodwill, intangible assets, certain deferred tax assets and accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The Bancorp has elected to exclude certain AOCI components, with the result that those components are not recognized in the Bancorp’s CET1 capital.

• Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, equal to the ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 capital is primarily comprised of CET1 capital, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and certain other qualifying capital instruments.

• Total risk-based capital ratio, equal to the ratio of total capital, including CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital, to risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 capital primarily includes qualifying subordinated debt and qualifying allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) up to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets.

• Leverage ratio, equal to the ratio of Tier 1 capital to quarterly average assets (net of goodwill or any other assets that the U.S. banking agencies determine should be deducted from Tier 1 capital.

Under the Capital Rules, an institution’s eligible retained income, when considered in conjunction with capital ratios and the stress capital buffer, provides limitations on capital distributions (including dividends and share repurchases) and certain executive compensation arrangements for the quarter following the calculation. As of December 31, 2025, these limitations did not have an impact on the Bancorp’s executive compensation arrangements or ability to make capital distributions.

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Additionally, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (the “FDICIA”), among other things, requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to take prompt corrective action regarding depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. The FDICIA establishes five regulatory capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. A depository institution’s capital tier depends upon how its capital levels compare to various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. The FDICIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be undercapitalized. The FDICIA imposes progressively more restrictive restraints on operations, management and capital distributions depending on the category in which an institution is classified. Undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to various restrictions on borrowing from the Federal Reserve System, among other limitations.

For purposes of the FRB’s Regulation Y, including determining whether a BHC meets the requirements to be an FHC, BHCs, such as the Bancorp, must maintain a Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 6.0% or greater and a Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 10.0% or greater. If the FRB were to apply the same or a very similar well-capitalized standard to BHCs as that applicable to the Bank, the Bancorp’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2025 would exceed such revised well-capitalized standard. The FRB may require BHCs, including the Bancorp, to maintain capital ratios substantially in excess of mandated minimum levels, depending upon general economic conditions and a BHC’s particular condition, risk profile and growth plans. For more information related to regulatory capital requirements and the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s capital ratios, refer to Note 29 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Capital Planning and Stress Testing

The FRB’s capital plan rule requires BHCs with $100 billion or more in consolidated assets, including the Bancorp, to develop and maintain a capital plan approved by the Board of Directors on an annual basis. The mandatory elements of the capital plan are an assessment of the expected uses and sources of capital over a nine-quarter planning horizon, a description of all planned capital actions over the planning horizon, a discussion of any expected changes to the BHC’s business plan that are likely to have a material impact on its capital adequacy or liquidity, a detailed description of the BHC’s process for assessing capital adequacy and the BHC’s capital policy.

The FRB annually evaluates capital adequacy, internal capital adequacy assessment processes and capital distribution plans of BHCs with $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets. The evaluation process is intended to help ensure that those BHCs have robust, forward-looking capital planning processes that account for each company’s unique risks and that permit continued operations during times of economic and financial stress.

Category IV BHCs, including the Bancorp, are subject to the FRB supervisory stress test process every two years, with the next required assessment in 2026. The Bancorp’s most recent required assessment was completed in 2024. These supervisory stress tests are forward-looking quantitative evaluations of the impact of stressful economic and financial market conditions on capital and are used to calibrate the Bancorp’s stress capital buffer requirement.

Stress Buffer Requirements

The Bancorp is subject to the stress capital buffer requirement and must maintain capital ratios above the sum of its minimum risk-based capital ratios and the stress capital buffer to avoid certain limitations on capital distributions and discretionary bonuses to executive officers. The FRB uses the supervisory stress test to determine the Bancorp’s stress capital buffer, subject to a floor of 2.5%. The Bancorp’s stress capital buffer under the FRB severely adverse scenario was 3.2% as of both December 31, 2025 and 2024. The Bancorp’s capital ratios have exceeded the stress capital buffer requirement for all periods presented. For more information related to the stress capital buffer, refer to Note 29 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Heightened Governance and Risk Management Standards

The OCC has published guidelines documenting expectations for the governance and risk management practices of certain large financial institutions, including the Bank. The guidelines require covered institutions to establish and adhere to a written governance framework to manage and control their risk-taking activities. In addition, the guidelines provide standards for the institutions’ boards of directors to oversee the risk governance framework. The Bank currently has a written governance framework and associated controls. On December 23, 2025, the OCC proposed to increase the threshold for application of these guidelines to apply only to national banks with average total consolidated assets of $700 billion.

Privacy and Data Security

Regulators have adopted guidelines for safeguarding confidential personal customer information. The guidelines require financial institutions to create, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information. In addition, various regulators have increased their focus on cybersecurity through guidance, examinations and regulations. The Bancorp has adopted an information security program that has been approved by the Bancorp’s Board of Directors. For more information related to cybersecurity, refer to Item 1C of this Annual Report.

The GLBA requires financial institutions to implement policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of nonpublic personal information about consumers. In general, the statute requires explanations to consumers on policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of such

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nonpublic personal information and, except as otherwise required by law, prohibits disclosing such information except as provided in the banking subsidiary’s policies and procedures. The Bank has implemented a privacy policy.

States are also increasingly proposing or enacting legislation that relates to data privacy and data protection such as the California Consumer Privacy Act. The Bancorp continues to assess the requirements of such laws and proposed legislation and their applicability. The Fair Credit Reporting Act also regulates reporting information to credit bureaus, prescreening individuals for credit offers, sharing of information between affiliates and using affiliate data for marketing purposes. Similar state laws may impose additional requirements on the Bancorp and its subsidiaries.

Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Sanctions

The Bancorp is subject to federal laws that are designed to counter money laundering and terrorist financing and transactions with certain persons, companies or foreign governments sanctioned by the U.S. These laws obligate depository institutions and broker-dealers to verify their customers’ identity, conduct customer due diligence, report on suspicious activity, file reports of transactions in currency and conduct enhanced due diligence on certain accounts. They also prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with certain designated restricted countries and persons. Depository institutions and broker-dealers are required by their regulators to maintain robust policies and procedures to ensure compliance with these obligations.

Failure to comply with these laws or maintain an adequate compliance program can lead to significant monetary penalties and reputational damage and regulators evaluate the effectiveness of an applicant in combating money laundering when determining whether to approve a proposed bank merger, acquisition, restructuring or other expansionary activity. Further, enforcement actions with respect to these laws can result in substantial penalties, including criminal pleas. The Bancorp’s Board of Directors has approved policies and procedures that the Bancorp believes comply with these laws.

Debit Card Interchange Fees

Pursuant to rules implemented by the FRB, interchange transaction fees for electronic debit transactions are limited to 21 cents plus 0.05% of the transaction, plus an additional qualifying one cent per transaction fraud-prevention adjustment. These rules impose requirements regarding routing and network transaction processing. On October 25, 2023, the FRB proposed to lower the maximum interchange fee that a large debit card issuer can receive for a debit card transaction. The proposal would also establish a regular process for updating the maximum amount every other year going forward. The FRB’s final decision on whether to enact its proposal has since been placed on hold pending the conclusion of current litigation disputing the FRB’s authority to enact key provisions of the regulation that governs debit card interchange fees. Fifth Third continues to monitor the development of these proposed rule revisions and the corresponding litigation.

Resolution Planning

The Bank is subject to resolution planning requirements enacted by the FDIC. In June 2024, the FDIC Board of Directors approved a final rule to amend its resolution plan requirements that largely apply to insured depository institutions with more than $100 billion in assets, including the Bank. This rule requires submission of comprehensive resolution plans that meet enhanced standards every three years and interim submissions in intervening years. The final rule took effect on October 1, 2024, and the Bank submitted its resolution plan as required prior to the July 1, 2025 deadline.

Recovery Planning

On October 21, 2024, the OCC amended its enforceable Recovery Planning Guidelines to apply to banks with at least $100 billion in assets, such as the Bank, effective January 1, 2025, subject to a twelve-month compliance period. On October 27, 2025, the OCC requested comment on a proposal to rescind its recovery planning guidelines for certain large insured national banks, federal savings associations and federal branches. If adopted as proposed, the recovery planning guidelines that went into effect January 1, 2025 and applied to banks with at least $100 billion in assets, including the Bank, would be rescinded. Broadly, the Recovery Planning Guidelines, as amended in 2024, require a recovery plan that includes indicators of the risk or existence of severe stress that reflect the Bank’s particular vulnerabilities, credible options the Bank could undertake in response to restore its financial strength and viability and an assessment and description of how these options would affect the Bank. Recovery plans must also address overall organizational and legal entity structure and related interconnections and interdependencies, procedures for escalating decision-making, management reports, communication procedures and any other information the OCC requires.

Regulatory Regime for Derivatives

Title VII of Dodd-Frank imposes a registration regime and regulatory structure on the over-the-counter derivatives market, including requirements for clearing, exchange trading, capital margin, segregation trade reporting, position limits, business conduct standards and recordkeeping. Title VII also requires certain persons to register as a swap dealer or a security-based swap dealer. The Bank is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) as a swap dealer. The CFTC, SEC and regulators have finalized the rules implementing Title VII applicable to the over-the-counter derivatives markets and swap dealers. As a CFTC registered swap dealer, the Bank is subject to the requirements of Title VII, including rules related to internal and external business conduct standards, reporting, recordkeeping, mandatory clearing for certain swaps and trade documentation and confirmation requirements. In addition, regulators require

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the Bank to comply with rules regarding mandatory posting, collection and segregation of margin by certain swap counterparties and capital requirements. The Bank is not registered as a security-based swap dealer.

Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Regulation

Fifth Third’s broker-dealer and investment adviser subsidiaries are subject to regulation by the SEC. Financial Industry Regulation Authority (“FINRA”) is the primary self-regulatory organization for Fifth Third’s registered broker-dealer subsidiary. Fifth Third’s broker-dealer and investment adviser subsidiaries are also subject to additional regulation by states or local jurisdictions. The SEC and FINRA have active enforcement functions that oversee broker-dealers and investment advisers and can bring actions that result in fines, restitution, limitation on permitted activities, disqualification to continue to conduct certain activities and an inability to rely on certain favorable exemptions. In addition, certain changes in the activities of a broker-dealer require approval from FINRA, and FINRA considers a variety of factors in acting upon applications for such approval, including internal controls, capital levels, management experience and quality, prior enforcement and disciplinary history and supervisory concerns.

Consumer Protection Regulation and Supervision

The Bancorp is subject to supervision and regulation by the CFPB with respect to federal consumer protection laws. The Bancorp is also subject to certain state consumer protection laws, and under Dodd-Frank, state attorneys general and other state officials are empowered to enforce certain federal consumer protection laws and regulations. These federal and state consumer protection laws apply to a broad range of Fifth Third’s activities and to various aspects of its business and include laws relating to interest rates, fair lending, disclosures of credit terms and estimated transaction costs to consumer borrowers, debt collection practices, the use of and the provision of information to consumer reporting agencies, and the prohibition of unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices in connection with the offer, sale or provision of consumer financial products and services.

The CFPB has promulgated many mortgage-related final rules, including rules related to the ability to repay and qualified mortgage standards, mortgage servicing standards, loan originator compensation standards, high-cost mortgage requirements, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act requirements and appraisal and escrow standards for higher priced mortgages. The mortgage-related final rules issued by the CFPB materially restructured the origination, servicing and securitization of residential mortgages in the U.S. These rules impact the business practices of mortgage lenders, including the Bank.

Future Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives

Federal and state legislators as well as regulatory agencies may introduce or enact new laws and rules, or amend existing laws and rules, which may affect the regulation of financial institutions and their holding companies. The regulatory agencies may seek to apply higher standards to the Bancorp and the Bank than as required by law, through supervision. The impact of any future legislative or regulatory changes, or supervisory direction, cannot be predicted. However, such changes could affect the Bancorp’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Available Information

The Bancorp files reports with the SEC. Those reports include the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and an annual proxy statement, as well as any amendments to those reports. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. The Bancorp’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, annual proxy statement and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are accessible at no cost on the Bancorp’s Investor Relations website at ir.53.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investor information and press releases can also be viewed at ir.53.com. Website references in this Annual Report are merely textual references. Information on or accessible through Fifth Third’s website is not deemed to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Information about the Bancorp’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (as amended from time to time), is available on Fifth Third’s corporate website at www.53.com. In addition, any future waivers from a provision of the Fifth Third Code of Business Conduct and Ethics covering any of Fifth Third’s directors or executive officers (including Fifth Third’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller) will be posted at this website.

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The risks and uncertainties listed below present risks that could have a material impact on the Bancorp’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Some of these risks and uncertainties are interrelated and the occurrence of one or more of them may exacerbate the effect of others. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones Fifth Third faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Fifth Third or that Fifth Third currently believes to be immaterial may also adversely affect its business. Refer to page 19 for cautionary information regarding forward-looking statements.

CREDIT RISKS

Deteriorating credit quality has adversely impacted Fifth Third in the past and may adversely impact Fifth Third in the future.

When Fifth Third lends money or commits to lend money, the Bancorp incurs credit risk, or the risk of loss if borrowers do not repay their loans, leases, credit cards, derivative obligations or other credit obligations. The performance of these credit portfolios significantly affects the Bancorp’s financial results and condition, including the level of credit losses and reserves for credit losses. Fifth Third’s credit risk and credit losses can increase if its loans are concentrated among individual borrowers, borrowers engaged in the same or similar activities, industries or geographies, or to borrowers who as a group may be uniquely or disproportionately affected by economic or market conditions. Refer to the Credit Risk Management subsection of the Risk Management section in Item 7 of this Annual Report for more information on specific concentrations.

Fifth Third reserves for expected credit losses by establishing an allowance for credit losses through a charge to earnings. The amount of this allowance is based on Fifth Third’s assessment of credit losses expected to be incurred in the credit portfolios, including unfunded commitments, and requires difficult, subjective and complex judgments about the environment, including analysis of economic or market conditions that may impair the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Fifth Third may underestimate the credit losses expected to be incurred in its portfolios and have credit losses in excess of the amount reserved. Alternatively, Fifth Third may increase the reserve because of changing economic or market conditions, including inflation, interest rate fluctuations, higher unemployment, or other factors such as changing protections in credit agreements or changes in borrowers’ behavior. Fifth Third believes that both the ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments are adequate to cover expected losses at December 31, 2025. However there is no assurance that they will be sufficient to cover all potential future credit losses associated with exposures existing at December 31, 2025, especially if economic conditions decline.

Problems encountered by other financial institutions could adversely affect financial markets generally and have direct and indirect adverse effects on Fifth Third.

Fifth Third has exposure to counterparties in the financial services industry and other industries and routinely executes transactions with such counterparties, which may expose Fifth Third to credit risk in the event of default of a counterparty or client. In addition, Fifth Third’s credit risk may be affected when the collateral it holds cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the loan or derivative exposure. The commercial soundness of many financial institutions may be closely interrelated as a result of credit, trading, clearing or other relationships between the institutions. As a result, concerns about, or a default or threatened default by, one institution could lead to significant market-wide liquidity and credit problems, losses or defaults by other institutions. This is sometimes referred to as systemic risk and may adversely affect financial intermediaries, such as clearing agencies, clearing houses, banks, securities firms and exchanges, with which the Bancorp interacts on a daily basis, and therefore could adversely affect Fifth Third.

Inability to refinance in public or private capital markets could cause a default that impacts Fifth Third borrowers.

Some Fifth Third customers rely on additional sources of capital from outside the Bancorp. If public or private capital markets are disrupted or unavailable to these borrowers such that they cannot obtain funds for refinancing, those borrowers may experience a shortfall that would leave them unable to honor short-term and/or long-term obligations to the Bancorp.

LIQUIDITY RISKS

Fifth Third must maintain adequate sources of funding and liquidity.

Fifth Third must maintain adequate funding sources in the normal course of business to support its operations and fund outstanding liabilities, as well as meet regulatory expectations. Fifth Third primarily relies on bank deposits to be a low cost and stable source of funding for the loans it makes and the operation of its business. Core deposits, which include transaction deposits and certificates of deposit $250,000 or less, have historically provided Fifth Third with a sizeable source of relatively stable and low-cost funds (average core deposits funded 77% of average total assets for the year ended December 31, 2025). In addition to customer deposits, sources of liquidity include investments in the securities portfolio, Fifth Third’s sale or securitization of loans in secondary markets, the pledging of loans and investment securities to access secured borrowing facilities through the FHLB and the FRB and Fifth Third’s ability to raise funds in money markets and capital markets.

Fifth Third’s liquidity and ability to fund and operate its business could be materially adversely affected by a variety of conditions and factors, including financial and credit market disruptions and volatility or a lack of market or customer confidence in financial markets in general, which may result in a loss of customer deposits or outflows of cash or collateral and/or the ability to access capital markets on favorable terms.

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Other conditions and factors that could materially adversely affect Fifth Third’s liquidity and funding include:

• a lack of market or customer confidence in Fifth Third or negative news about Fifth Third, regional banks or the financial services industry generally, which also may result in a loss of customer deposits and/or negatively affect Fifth Third’s ability to access the capital markets;

• the loss of customer deposits due to competition from other banks or due to alternative investments;

• inability to sell or securitize loans or other assets;

• increased collateral requirements including those driven by a decline in the market value of the financial instruments;

• increased regulatory requirements;

• reductions in one or more of Fifth Third’s agency ratings;

• increased utilization of revolving lines of credit by customers; and

• systematic failure of financial market utilities relied upon by Fifth Third to settle intrabank payment activity.

Many of the above conditions and factors may be caused by events over which Fifth Third has little or no control. There can be no assurance that significant disruption and volatility in the financial markets will not occur again in the future. Fifth Third may also need to raise additional capital and liquidity through the issuance of stock, which could dilute the ownership of existing stockholders, or reduce or even eliminate common stock dividends or share repurchases to preserve capital and liquidity.

Fifth Third and/or the holders of its securities could be adversely affected by unfavorable ratings from rating agencies.

Fifth Third’s access to capital markets is a key compo

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There are no SEC staff comments regarding the Bancorp’s periodic or current reports under the Exchange Act that are pending resolution.

The Bancorp recognizes the importance of maintaining a cybersecurity risk management system designed to reduce the risks that cybersecurity threats pose to financial institutions. As such, the Bancorp has adopted proactive and defensive safeguards intended to better protect the Bancorp’s information assets and supporting infrastructures from technology-related attacks. The Bancorp’s Board of Directors and management oversee its information security and cybersecurity risk management programs. As further discussed below, the Bancorp has established various programs, policies and procedures which are designed to proactively protect information assets. However, not all incidents can be prevented. As a result, the Bancorp has also established various policies and procedures governing how to respond to security incidents, with the objective of minimizing any potential impacts. As of December 31, 2025, the Bancorp is not aware of any cybersecurity incidents that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect Fifth Third, including its business strategies, financial condition or results of operations. Despite the comprehensive approach to cybersecurity risk management described below, the Bancorp may not be successful in preventing or mitigating the impact of a cybersecurity incident that could have a material impact on its business, financial condition or results of operations. See Item 1A. (Risk Factors) of this Annual Report for a discussion of cybersecurity risks.

Risk Assessment and Management

The Bancorp maintains a variety of programs and policies to support the management of cybersecurity risk within the organization with a focus on prevention, detection and response processes. These programs and policies leverage frameworks and controls from the National Institute of Standards and Technology as well as various other regulatory requirements and industry-specific standards. The Bancorp also participates in the federally recognized Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center and requires its employees and contractors to complete various education and training programs related to information security.

The Bancorp’s Information Technology (“IT”) and Information Security (“IS”) teams have the primary responsibility for establishing appropriate policies and procedures that are responsive to cybersecurity threats and other information security risks. The Bancorp’s Information Technology and Cybersecurity Risk Management (“IT CSRM”) team, as part of the Bancorp’s Risk Management division, provides independent risk management oversight to those IT and IS teams. In addition to the Board of Directors oversight discussed below, the Bancorp’s Internal Audit function independently oversees, reviews and validates these activities and reports to the Board of Directors on the effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal controls.

The Bancorp has established an Enterprise Risk Management Framework which informs the Bancorp’s risk management programs. As part of this framework, the IT CSRM team maintains the Bancorp’s IT CSRM Program, which is designed to identify, assess, manage, monitor and report cybersecurity risks as part of the Bancorp’s independent risk management function. The IT CSRM team is responsible for defining the risk management practices set forth in the IT CSRM Program. Refer to the Risk Management – Overview section of Item 7 of this Annual Report for additional information on the Bancorp’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework and related risk management processes.

In light of the complexity and evolving nature of the cybersecurity landscape, the Bancorp periodically re-assesses the maturity of its cybersecurity programs, policies and procedures, including in some instances by engaging the assistance of external experts. The Bancorp also conducts exercises to test its incident response plans and threat assessments, some of which also involve assistance from external consultants.

The Bancorp also maintains a Third Party Risk Management Program to perform similar functions related to risks associated with the Bancorp’s relationships with third parties, including the Bancorp’s third-party service providers. This assists the Bancorp in its management of its relationships with third parties, which includes considerations for identifying, analyzing and monitoring the cybersecurity risks that third parties may present to Fifth Third. The Bancorp also maintains a third-party incident response program to govern its response in the event of third-party cybersecurity events.

Board of Directors Oversight

The Technology Committee of the Bancorp’s Board of Directors takes primary responsibility for overseeing the Bancorp’s information security programs at the Board of Directors level. The Technology Committee’s primary purpose is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of plans and operations related to information technology, cybersecurity, data privacy and third-party technology strategy.

The Bancorp’s Risk and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors oversees the Bancorp’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework and policies, including oversight of risks related to information security. The Risk and Compliance Committee receives periodic reports from the Technology Committee and these committees meet jointly at least once per year to discuss the Company’s programs and risks.

The full Board of Directors receives reports from the Technology Committee and the Risk and Compliance Committee about the Bancorp’s cybersecurity programs as a result of the above-described oversight. In the event of a material cybersecurity incident, the Bancorp’s incident response procedures include notifications to the Technology Committee, Risk and Compliance Committee and full Board of Directors, when appropriate and necessary.

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Management Oversight

The Bancorp’s Technology and Information Security Governance Committee (“TISGC”) is a management committee that reviews and discusses critical information security risks that impact the Bancorp, identifies solutions to address these risks and has oversight of the Bancorp’s information technology and information security policies. The TISGC provides cybersecurity reports periodically to the Risk and Compliance Committee and is comprised of the Bancorp’s senior information security, information technology and enterprise risk management leaders, including the Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”), Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology & Information Security Officer, Chief Data Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operational Risk Officer. The TISGC’s membership enables the TISGC to be informed about and monitor the prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation of cybersecurity incidents, if any, in accordance with the Bancorp’s incident response plans.

The Bancorp’s CISO is responsible for information security policies and the coordination of information security efforts across the organization. The CISO has over 35 years of diverse experience in information technology management and cybersecurity leadership at Fifth Third and at other large, complex organizations. This prior experience includes leadership of functions for cybersecurity threat management, intelligence, risk mitigation and incident response. The CISO has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. The Bancorp’s CISO reports to the Chief Technology & Information Security Officer. The CISO also reports directly to the Technology Committee and participates in various management councils and committees. The Bancorp’s IT CSRM team monitors that the CISO has appropriate authority to carry out the duties and responsibilities necessary of that position.

The CISO remains informed about developments in cybersecurity by monitoring the prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation of cybersecurity threats and events on an ongoing basis, as well as emerging risk management techniques, and reports such information to the Chief Information Officer and Technology Committee periodically. The CISO implements and oversees processes for the regular monitoring of information systems. This includes the deployment of advanced security measures and system audits to identify potential vulnerabilities. In the event of a cybersecurity incident, the CISO is equipped with a well-defined incident response plan. This plan includes immediate actions designed to mitigate the impact of any incident, and long-term strategies for remediation and prevention of future incidents.

The Bancorp’s executive offices and the main office of the Bank are located on Fountain Square Plaza in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio in a 32-story office tower and a five-story office building with an attached parking garage known as the Fifth Third Center and the William S. Rowe Building, respectively. The Bancorp’s main operations campus is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is comprised of a three-story building with an attached parking garage known as the George A. Schaefer, Jr. Operations Center, and a two-story building with surface parking known as the Madisonville Office Building. The Bank owns 100% of these buildings.

At December 31, 2025, the Bancorp, through its banking subsidiary, operated 1,130 banking centers, of which 713 were owned, 185 were leased and 232 were in owned buildings but on leased land. The banking centers are located in the states of Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia and Alabama. The Bancorp’s significant owned properties are owned free from mortgages and major encumbrances.

Refer to Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report for information regarding legal proceedings, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Not applicable.

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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors at the meeting of Directors immediately following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The names, ages and positions of the Executive Officers of the Bancorp as of February 24, 2026 are listed below along with their business experience during the past five years:

Timothy N. Spence, 47. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Spence has been Chairman since January 2024, Chief Executive Officer since July 2022 and President since October 2020. Previously, Mr. Spence was Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer Bank, Payments, and Strategy of the Bancorp from August 2018 to October 2020, Head of Payments, Strategy and Digital Solutions from 2017 to 2020, and Chief Strategy Officer of the Bancorp from September 2015 to October 2020. He also previously served as a senior partner in the Financial Services practice at Oliver Wyman, a global strategy and risk management consulting firm, from 2006 to 2015.

Bridgit C. Chayt, 65. Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Payments. Ms. Chayt has been Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Payments since July 2025. Ms. Chayt has been an Executive Vice President of the Bancorp since 2022. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Payments and Treasury Management from 2017 to 2022. She was Director of Wholesale Payments from 2016 to 2017.

Kala J. Gibson, 53. Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer. Mr. Gibson has been Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer since February 2022. Mr. Gibson has been an Executive Vice President of the Bancorp since June 2019. Previously, Mr. Gibson served as Head of Business Banking and Chief Enterprise Corporate Responsibility Officer from December 2020 to February 2022, Head of Business Banking from September 2013 to December 2020, Senior Vice President from September 2011 to June 2019, and Business Banking Executive for Fifth Third’s East Michigan Region from July 2011 to September 2013.

Christian Gonzalez, 45. Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Gonzalez has been Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer since July 2025. Prior to Fifth Third, Mr. Gonzalez was a partner at the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP, where he served as an Executive Board Member and Corporate Department Chair.

Kevin J. Khanna, 51. Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Bank. Mr. Khanna has been Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Bank since July 2025. Mr. Khanna has been an Executive Vice President of the Bancorp since 2022. He served as Head of Corporate and Investment Banking from 2024 to 2025. Prior to that he served as Senior Vice President and Head of National Banking from 2020 to 2024, and led Fifth Third’s Technology, Media, and Telecom group from 2015 to 2020.

Darren J. King, 56. Executive Vice President and Head of Regional Banking. Mr. King has been Executive Vice President and Head of Regional Banking since April 2025. Prior to that, Mr. King served as Senior Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Business Banking at M&T Bancorp from 2023 to 2024. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of M&T Bancorp from 2016 to 2023.

Kevin P. Lavender, 64. Vice Chairman of Commercial Bank. Mr. Lavender has been Vice Chairman of Commercial Bank since July 2025. Mr. Lavender was Executive Vice President of the Bancorp from 2016 to 2025 and served as Head of Commercial Bank from January 2020 to July 2025. Previously, Mr. Lavender was the Head of Corporate Banking from 2016 to January 2020, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Large Corporate and Specialized Lending from January 2009 to 2016 and the Senior Vice President and Head of National Healthcare Lending from December 2005 to January 2009.

James C. Leonard, 56. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Leonard has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2024. Mr. Leonard has been an Executive Vice President of the Bancorp since September 2015. Previously, Mr. Leonard was Chief Financial Officer from November 2020 to December 2023, Chief Risk Officer from February 2020 to November 2020, Treasurer of the Bancorp from October 2013 to January 2020, Senior Vice President from October 2013 to September 2015, the Director of Business Planning and Analysis from 2006 to 2013 and the Chief Financial Officer of the Commercial Banking Division from 2001 to 2006.

Jeffrey A. Lopper, 52. Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Lopper has been Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since October 2024. Mr. Lopper has been a Senior Vice President since 2012. Previously, he was Assistant Bancorp Controller from 2010 to 2024. Prior to that, since 2000, he has held various positions within Fifth Third’s finance division.

Nancy C. Pinckney, 62. Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Pinckney has been Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since September 2021. Previously, Ms. Pinckney was Senior Vice President and Director of Human Capital Business Consulting from February 2012 through September 2021 and Director of Employee Relations from March 2010 to February 2012. Prior to that, she held various positions within Fifth Third’s human resources division.

Bryan D. Preston, 49. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Preston has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since January 2024. Mr. Preston has been an Executive Vice President of the Bancorp since October 2022. Previously, Mr. Preston served as the Treasurer of the Bancorp from February 2020 to January 2024, Consumer Line of Business Chief Financial Officer

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from September 2017 to February 2020, Assistant Treasurer from March 2014 to September 2017 and in various other roles in finance and accounting within Fifth Third from 2008 to 2014.

Jude A. Schramm, 53. Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Mr. Schramm has been Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since March 2018. Previously, Mr. Schramm served as Chief Information Officer for GE Aviation and held various positions at GE beginning in 2001.

Peter L. Sefzik, 50. Executive Vice President and Head of Wealth & Asset Management. Mr. Sefzik has been Executive Vice President and Head of Wealth & Asset Management since February 2026. Prior to that, Mr. Sefzik served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer at Comerica Bank from 2023 to 2026 and as head of Comerica’s Commercial Bank from 2018 through 2023.

Robert P. Shaffer, 56. Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Shaffer has been Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer since November 2020. Previously, Mr. Shaffer was Chief Human Resources Officer from February 2017 to November 2020 and Chief Auditor from August 2007 to February 2017. He was named Executive Vice President in 2010 and Senior Vice President in 2004. Prior to that, he held various positions within Fifth Third’s audit division.

Melissa S. Stevens, 51. Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Ms. Stevens has been Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer since February 2023. Ms. Stevens has been an Executive Vice President of the Bancorp since November 2020. Previously, Ms. Stevens was Chief Digital Officer and Head of Digital, Marketing, Design and Innovation from November 2020 to February 2023. She also served as Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer and Head of Omnichannel Banking Experiences, Design, and Innovation from May 2016 through November 2020. Prior to joining Fifth Third, she served in several senior management positions at Citigroup, including Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Citi FinTech from November 2015 through April 2016.

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PART II

The Bancorp’s common stock is traded in the over-the-counter market and is listed under the symbol FITB on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market System.

See a discussion of dividend limitations that the subsidiaries can pay to the Bancorp discussed in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, as of December 31, 2025, the Bancorp had 28,804 common shareholders of record.

*(a)*Shares repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2025 were in connection with various employee compensation plans. These purchases do not count against the maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the Board of Directors’ authorization.

*(b)*On June 13, 2025, the Bancorp’s Board of Directors authorized management to purchase 100 million shares of the Bancorp’s common stock through the open market or in any private party transactions. This authorization superseded the prior authorization from June 2019 and did not include specific targets or an expiration date.

See further discussion on share repurchase transactions and stock-based compensation in Note 24 and Note 25 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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The following performance graphs do not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Bancorp specifically incorporates the performance graphs by reference therein.

Total Return Analysis

The graphs below summarize the cumulative return experienced by the Bancorp’s shareholders over the five and ten year periods ended December 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the S&P 500 Stock, the S&P Banks and the KBW Banks indices.

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP VS. MARKET INDICES

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2025 ANNUAL REPORT

FINANCIAL CONTENTS

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GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

Fifth Third Bancorp provides the following list of abbreviations and acronyms as a tool for the reader that are used in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of certain significant factors that have affected Fifth Third Bancorp’s (the “Bancorp” or “Fifth Third”) financial condition and results of operations during the periods included in the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are a part of this filing. Reference to the Bancorp incorporates the parent holding company and all consolidated subsidiaries. The Bancorp’s banking subsidiary is referred to as the Bank.

OVERVIEW

This overview of MD&A highlights selected information in the financial results of the Bancorp and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding of trends, events, commitments, uncertainties, liquidity, capital resources and critical accounting policies and estimates, you should carefully read this entire document. Each of these items could have an impact on the Bancorp’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, refer to the Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms in this report for a list of terms included as a tool for the reader of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The abbreviations and acronyms identified therein are used throughout this MD&A, as well as the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Net interest income, net interest margin, net interest rate spread and the efficiency ratio are presented in MD&A on an FTE basis. The FTE basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of income from certain loans and leases and securities held by the Bancorp that are not taxable for federal income tax purposes. The Bancorp believes this presentation to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income as it provides a relevant comparison between taxable and non-taxable amounts. The FTE basis for presenting net interest income is a non-GAAP measure. For further information, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of MD&A.

The Bancorp’s revenues are dependent on both net interest income and noninterest income. For the year ended December 31, 2025, net interest income on an FTE basis and noninterest income provided 66% and 34% of total revenue, respectively. The Bancorp derives the majority of its revenues within the U.S. from customers domiciled in the U.S. Changes in interest rates, credit quality, economic trends and the capital markets are primary factors that drive the performance of the Bancorp. As discussed later in the Risk Management section of MD&A, risk identification, measurement, monitoring, control and reporting are important to the management of risk and to the financial performance and capital strength of the Bancorp.

Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on assets such as loans, leases and securities, and interest expense incurred on liabilities such as deposits, other short-term borrowings and long-term debt. Net interest income is affected by the general level of interest rates, the relative level of short-term and long-term interest rates, changes in interest rates and changes in the amount and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Generally, the rates of interest the Bancorp earns on its assets and pays on its liabilities are established for a period of time. The change in market interest rates over time exposes the Bancorp to interest rate risk through potential adverse changes to net interest income and financial position. The Bancorp manages this risk by continually analyzing and adjusting the composition of its assets and liabilities based on their payment streams and interest rates, the timing of their maturities and their sensitivity to changes in market interest rates. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Bancorp enters into certain derivative transactions as part of its overall strategy to manage its interest rate and prepayment risks. The Bancorp is also exposed to the risk of loss on its loan and lease portfolio as a result of changing expected cash flows caused by borrower credit events, such as loan defaults and inadequate collateral.

Noninterest income is derived from wealth and asset management revenue, commercial payments revenue, consumer banking revenue, capital markets fees, commercial banking revenue, mortgage banking net revenue, other noninterest income and net securities gains or losses. Noninterest expense includes compensation and benefits, technology and communications, net occupancy expense, equipment expense, loan and lease expense, marketing expense, card and processing expense and other noninterest expense.

Acquisition of Comerica Incorporated

On February 1, 2026, Fifth Third Bancorp closed the merger with Comerica Incorporated (“Comerica”) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $12.7 billion. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each outstanding share of Comerica’s common stock was converted into the right to receive 1.8663 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock and each outstanding share of Comerica’s preferred stock was converted into the right to receive one share of a newly created series of preferred stock with comparable terms issued by the Bancorp.

Refer to Note 32 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Redemption of Preferred Stock

On September 30, 2025, the Bancorp redeemed all 14,000 outstanding shares of its 4.500% fixed-rate reset non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, Series L, and the corresponding depositary shares, pursuant to its terms and conditions. Prior to the redemption, the dividend rate on the Series L preferred stock was set to reach its first dividend reset date at which time the dividend would have reset to the five-year U.S. Treasury rate plus 4.215%.

Refer to Note 24 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Share Repurchase Activity

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Bancorp repurchased $525 million of common stock in accelerated share repurchase transactions.

On June 13, 2025, the Bancorp’s Board of Directors authorized management to purchase 100 million shares of the Bancorp’s common stock through the open market or in any private party transactions. This authorization superseded the prior authorization from June 2019 and did not include specific targets or an expiration date.

Refer to Note 24 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on share repurchase activity.

Senior Notes Offerings

On January 28, 2025, the Bank issued and sold, under its bank note program, $700 million of fixed-rate/floating-rate senior notes due on January 28, 2028. The senior notes will bear interest at a rate of 4.967% per annum to, but excluding, January 28, 2027. From, and including, January 28, 2027, to, but excluding, the maturity date, the senior notes will bear interest at a rate of compounded SOFR plus 0.81%.

On January 28, 2025, the Bank issued and sold, under its bank note program, $300 million of floating-rate senior notes due on January 28, 2028. The senior notes will bear interest at a rate of compounded SOFR plus 0.81%.

Refer to Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Key Performance Indicators

The Bancorp, as a banking institution, utilizes various key indicators of financial condition and operating results in managing and monitoring the performance of the business. In addition to traditional financial metrics, such as revenue and expense trends, the Bancorp monitors other financial measures that assist in evaluating growth trends, capital and liquidity strength and operational efficiencies. The Bancorp analyzes these key performance indicators against its pa

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This information is set forth in the Interest Rate and Price Risk Management section of Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference. This information contains certain statements that we believe are forward-looking statements. Refer to page 19 for cautionary information regarding forward-looking statements.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Fifth Third Bancorp:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fifth Third Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Bancorp”) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Bancorp as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Bancorp’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Bancorp’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Bancorp’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Bancorp’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Bancorp in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (“ALLL”) — Qualitative Factors — Commercial Loans—Refer to Note 1 and Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Bancorp maintains the ALLL to absorb the amount of credit losses that are expected to be incurred over the remaining contractual terms of the related loans and leases. The Bancorp’s methodology for determining the ALLL includes an estimate of expected credit losses on a collective basis for groups of loans and leases with similar risk characteristics and specific allowances for loans and leases which are individually evaluated.

For collectively evaluated loans and leases, the Bancorp uses models to forecast expected credit losses based on the probability of a loan or lease defaulting, the expected balance at the estimated date of default and the expected loss percentage given a default. The Bancorp also considers qualitative factors in determining the ALLL. These considerations inherently require significant management judgment to determine the appropriate factors to be considered and the extent of their impact on the ALLL estimate. Qualitative factors are used to capture characteristics in the portfolio that impact expected credit losses but that are not fully captured within the Bancorp’s expected credit loss models. When evaluating the adequacy of allowances, consideration is given to the effect that changing economic conditions may have on the Bancorp’s customers.

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Overall, the collective evaluation process requires significant management judgment when determining the estimation methodology and inputs into the models, as well as in evaluating the reasonableness of the modeled results and the appropriateness of qualitative adjustments.

At December 31, 2025, the key qualitative factors included adjustments to the expected credit losses on the commercial loan portfolio associated with the current economic environment.

The ALLL for the commercial portfolio segment was $1.2 billion at December 31, 2025, which includes adjustments for the qualitative factors noted above.

Considering the estimation and judgment in determining adjustments for such qualitative factors, our audit of the ALLL and the related disclosures involved subjective judgment about the qualitative adjustments to the commercial portfolio segment ALLL.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the qualitative adjustments for the commercial portfolio segment ALLL included the following, among others:

• We tested the effectiveness of the Bancorp’s controls over the qualitative adjustments to the ALLL.

• We assessed the reasonableness of, and evaluated support for, key qualitative adjustments based on market conditions, external market data and commercial portfolio performance metrics.

• We tested the completeness and accuracy and evaluated the relevance of the key data used as inputs to the qualitative adjustment estimation process, including:

◦Portfolio segment loan balances and other borrower-specific data

◦Relevant macroeconomic indicators and data

• We tested the mathematical accuracy of the underlying support used as a basis for the qualitative adjustments.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio

February 24, 2026

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1970.

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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None.

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Bancorp conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Bancorp’s management, including the Bancorp’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Bancorp’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on the foregoing, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Bancorp’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Bancorp’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in all material respects, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Bancorp files and submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required and information is accumulated and communicated to management including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

MANAGEMENT’S ASSESSMENT AS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The management of Fifth Third Bancorp is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Bancorp’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Bancorp’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. Management’s assessment is based on the criteria established in the Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and was designed to provide reasonable assurance that the Bancorp maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. Based on this assessment, management believes that the Bancorp maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. The Bancorp’s independent registered public accounting firm, that audited the Bancorp’s consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, has issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. This report appears on page 203 of the annual report.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS

The Bancorp’s management also conducted an evaluation of internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the year covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Bancorp’s internal control over financial reporting. Based on this evaluation, there has been no such change during the year covered by this report.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Fifth Third Bancorp:

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Fifth Third Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Bancorp”) as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Bancorp maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, of the Bancorp and our report dated February 24, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Bancorp’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Assessment as to the Effectiveness of Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Bancorp’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Bancorp in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio

February 24, 2026

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On February 18, 2026, the Bank amended the previously announced executive retention grant award effective February 27, 2024 under the Bancorp’s 2021 Incentive Compensation Plan to Kevin P. Lavender (the “Retention Award”) in recognition of Mr. Lavender’s leadership of the Commercial Bank strategy in connection with the merger of Comerica Incorporated as well as his 20 years of service to the organization.

The Retention Award was modified to remove the exclusion for continued vesting in the case of retirement or resignation or termination for good reason, as that term is defined in the Retention Award. On February 20, 2026, the Bank and Mr. Lavender agreed that his employment with the Bank will end on July 1, 2026.

Adoption or Termination of Insider Trading Arrangements

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

PART III

The Bancorp has adopted an Enterprise Insider Trading and Ethical Investing Policy that applies to all of its directors and employees.

The information required by this item relating to the Executive Officers of the Registrant is included in Part I under “Information about our Executive Officers.”

The information required by this item concerning Directors and the nomination process is incorporated herein by reference under the caption “Election of Directors” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The information required by this item concerning the Audit Committee and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is incorporated herein by reference under the captions “Corporate Governance” and “Board of Directors, Committees, Meetings, and Functions” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Fifth Third’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on Fifth Third’s corporate website at www.53.com. In addition, any future amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the Fifth Third Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to Fifth Third’s directors or executive officers (including Fifth Third’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer or controller) will be posted at this internet address.

The information required by this item concerning Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports is incorporated herein by reference under the caption “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference under the captions “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation of Named Executive Officers,” “Board of Directors Compensation,” “CEO Pay Ratio,” “Human Capital and Compensation Committee Report” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Security ownership information of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated herein by reference under the captions “Certain Beneficial Owners,” “Election of Directors,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Board of Directors Compensation,” and “Compensation of Named Executive Officers” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The information required by this item concerning Equity Compensation Plan information is included in Note 25 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference under the captions “Certain Transactions”, “Election of Directors”, “Corporate Governance” and “Board of Directors, Committees, Meetings, and Functions” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference under the caption “Principal Independent External Audit Firm Fees” of the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Bancorp’s principal independent external audit firm is Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose PCAOB Firm ID is 34.

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PART IV

The schedules for the Bancorp and its subsidiaries are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required, or because the information is set forth in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.

The following lists the Exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K:

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*(1)*Fifth Third Bancorp also entered into an identical security on March 4, 2008 representing an additional $500,000,000 of its 8.25% Subordinated Notes due 2038.

** Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.*

*** An application for confidential treatment for selected portions of this exhibit has been filed with the SEC.*

**** Selected portions of this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.*

None.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

Registrant

Pursuant to requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed on February 24, 2026 by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

OFFICERS:

DIRECTORS:

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CONSOLIDATED TEN YEAR COMPARISON

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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

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