The merger that created the name

Fifth Third Bank got its name from a 1969 merger between two Ohio banks: the Fifth National Bank and the Third National Bank, both based in Cincinnati. When the two banks combined, they kept parts of both names instead of choosing one or the other. The result — Fifth Third — sounds odd to modern ears, but it made sense at the time as a way to honor both institutions that came together.

The Fifth National Bank was the older of the two, founded in 1863. The Third National Bank came later, in 1908. By the late 1960s, both were well-established in Cincinnati's banking community, and merging made financial sense. Rather than erase either bank's identity completely, the new company used both names in the combined form.

This kind of naming — taking pieces from both companies — was more common in mid-20th-century mergers than it is today. Modern bank mergers usually result in one name surviving or an entirely new name being chosen. But Fifth Third kept the hyphenated approach, and the name stuck.

Key Takeaways

  • Fifth Third Bank was created in 1969 when the Fifth National Bank and Third National Bank merged in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • The name combines parts of both original banks' names rather than choosing one or dropping both entirely.
  • The Fifth National Bank was founded in 1863, making it the older of the two institutions that merged.
  • This naming approach was more typical of bank mergers in the 1960s than it is in modern banking consolidations.

How the name spread beyond Cincinnati

After the 1969 merger, Fifth Third remained a regional bank centered in Ohio for several decades. Over time, it expanded into neighboring states and eventually across much of the Midwest and Southeast. As the bank grew, the name went with it, even though most customers in newer markets had no connection to either of the original Cincinnati banks.

By the 1990s and 2000s, Fifth Third had become large enough that the name's origin mattered less than its recognition. The bank had built its own identity separate from the two institutions that created it. Today, Fifth Third operates hundreds of branches across multiple states, and most customers know it straightforward as Fifth Third — without thinking about where the name came from.

Why the name was never changed

Once a bank establishes a name and builds brand recognition around it, changing that name becomes expensive and risky. Fifth Third would have had to update signage on every branch, reprint all marketing materials, change legal documents, and rebuild customer awareness. The cost and disruption would be enormous.

More importantly, by the time Fifth Third was large enough to consider a rebrand, the name had already become familiar to millions of customers. Changing it would have meant losing that recognition and starting over. Banks rarely make that trade-off unless they are trying to escape a damaged reputation, which Fifth Third was not.

The unusual name also became a kind of advantage. It is memorable and distinctive — people remember "Fifth Third" more easily than they might remember a generic name like "Midwest Bank" or "Central Financial." In a crowded market, standing out matters.

The hyphen question

You may have noticed that Fifth Third is sometimes written as "Fifth Third" (two words) and sometimes as "Fifth-Third" (with a hyphen). The official company name is Fifth Third Bancorp, and the bank itself operates under Fifth Third Bank — both without a hyphen in modern usage.

Older documents and historical references sometimes include the hyphen, which made the merger origin clearer. Over time, the hyphen was dropped, making the name read more smoothly. This shift happened gradually as the bank's identity moved away from being "the merger of Fifth and Third" and toward being straightforward "Fifth Third."

What this tells you about bank names

Bank names often reflect their history more than their current business. A name that made perfect sense in 1969 might seem strange today, but changing it is rarely worth the cost. Fifth Third's name is a window into how banking consolidation worked in the late 20th century — a time when regional banks merged frequently and sometimes kept both names as a compromise.

If you see other banks with unusual or compound names, there is usually a merger story behind it. Names like KeyBank (originally Key Corporation), Huntington Bancshares, and others all carry the marks of past combinations. Understanding the name's origin does not change how the bank works, but it does explain why banking institutions sometimes have names that sound like they were created by committee — because they often were.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fifth Third the same as Fifth Third Bank?

Fifth Third Bank is the retail banking division. Fifth Third Bancorp is the parent company that owns the bank and other financial services. When you open a checking account or visit a branch, you are dealing with Fifth Third Bank specifically.

Did Fifth National Bank and Third National Bank still exist after 1969?

No. The 1969 merger combined them into one institution. Both names disappeared, and only the new combined name — Fifth Third — continued. The original banks ceased to exist as separate entities.

Could Fifth Third have chosen a different name for the merger?

Yes. The bank could have picked an entirely new name, kept only one of the original names, or used a different combination. The decision to use both names was a choice made by the leadership at the time, likely to honor both institutions and their customers.

Is Fifth Third still based in Cincinnati?

Yes. Fifth Third Bancorp is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, where both of the original banks were located. The company has grown far beyond Ohio, but Cincinnati remains its home base.