Fifth Third New Markets Development Company II, an affiliate of Fifth Third Community Development Company, LLC, has been awarded $85 million in New Markets Tax Credits by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. This allocation, announced on December 23, marks Fifth Third as one of just 142 community development entities nationwide to receive funding in this round. The award is designed to support low-income and underserved communities through investments in commercial real estate, business expansion, and infrastructure projects, reinforcing Fifth Third’s commitment to community development and potentially unlocking more than $340 million in total project financing over the next five years.

Fifth Third is scheduled to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results on January 20. Analysts expect year-over-year loan growth of 6.5%, propelled by strong performance in the bank’s commercial lending and retail mortgage divisions. Funding costs are projected to remain stable, reflecting a well-managed mix of deposit and wholesale funding. Additionally, fee income is forecast to rise by 8% due to increased activity in wealth management services and higher transaction volumes in merchant services. These factors combined are anticipated to support an earnings per share increase of approximately 12% for the full year, reinforcing Fifth Third’s profitability trajectory and capital strength.