General Information  AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION Fifth Third Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) files reports with the SEC.  Those reports include the annual report on Form 10-K,  quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current event reports on Form  8-K and proxy statements, as well as any amendments to those  reports. The public may read and copy any materials the  Bancorp files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference  Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. The  public may obtain information on the operation of the Public  Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The  SEC maintains an internet site 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, proxy statements, 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 web site at www.53.com on a same day  basis after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the  SEC.  Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation organized in 1975, is  a bank holding company as defined by the Bank Holding  Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), and is  registered as such with the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve System (the “FRB”). The Bancorp’s principal office is  located in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Bancorp’s subsidiaries provide a wide range of  financial products and services to the retail, commercial,  financial, governmental, educational and medical sectors,  including a wide variety of checking, savings and money  market accounts, and credit products such as credit cards,  installment loans, mortgage loans and leases. Fifth Third Bank  has deposit insurance provided by the Federal Deposit  Insurance Corporation (FDIC) through the Deposit Insurance  Fund. 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 December 31, 2010.  The Bancorp derives the majority of its revenues from the  U.S. Revenue from foreign countries and external customers  domiciled in foreign countries is immaterial to the Bancorp’s  Consolidated Financial Statements.   Additional information regarding the Bancorp’s businesses is included in Management’s Discussion and  Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations . The Bancorp 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  the challenge of attracting and retaining customers for  traditional banking services, the Bancorp’s competitors include  securities dealers, brokers, mortgage bankers, investment  advisors and insurance companies. These competitors, with  focused products targeted at highly profitable customer segments, compete across geographic boundaries and provide  customers increasing access to meaningful alternatives to  banking services in nearly all significant products. The  increasingly competitive environment is a result primarily 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.  The Bancorp’s strategy for growth includes strengthening its  presence in core markets, expanding into contiguous markets  and broadening its product offerings while taking into account  the integration and other risks of growth. The Bancorp  evaluates strategic acquisition opportunities and conducts due  diligence activities in connection with possible transactions. As  a result, discussions, and in some cases, negotiations may take  place and future acquisitions involving cash, debt or equity  securities may occur. These typically involve the payment of a  premium over book value and current market price, and  therefore, some dilution of book value and net income per share  may occur with any future transactions. Additional information regarding acquisitions is included  in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  In addition to the generally applicable state and federal laws  governing businesses and employers, the Bancorp and its  subsidiary bank are subject to extensive regulation by federal  and state laws and regulations applicable to financial Regulation and Supervision  Acquisitions Competition  130 Fifth Third Bancorp PART I  ITEM 1. BUSINESS