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CINCINNATI--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Fifth Third Bancorp today announced its premium membership in the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). Founded in 1979, the USHCC was created to foster Hispanic economic development and to build sustainable prosperity for the benefit of American society.

Additionally, two of the Companyas senior managers will serve on the USHCC advisory boards. Jos Pea, senior vice president and head of Retail Banking, Fifth Third Bank (Tampa Bay) will serve on the Senior Executive Council Advisory Board (SECAB), which serves as an important link between the USHCC and Fortune 500 corporations with buying power. SECAB advises the USHCC on business issues affecting Hispanic business; on the USHCCas major conferences; and on purchasing, recruitment, trade, public policy and other issues affecting business interests.

Louise Gissendaner, Fifth Third Bancorpas vice president and community outreach manager, will serve on the Procurement Council Advisory Board (PCAB). The board works with USHCC leadership to educate, provide guidance and develop strategy that advances and expands the level of procurement opportunities for Hispanic businesses. The Board is responsible for ensuring that the best practices, policies and programs created and advanced by the Board are reflected in the communityas overall procurement practices.

Gregory Imm, senior vice president & director of Community Affairs, said, aThe Hispanic community is the fastest-growing emerging market. Our membership and active engagement with the USHCC will enable us to reach out to the Hispanic community on a national level. It also will enable us to expand our relationships with Hispanic-owned businesses and provide a means for us to better understand the needs, concerns and challenges that Hispanic businesses face.a

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company has $118 billion in assets and operates 15 affiliates with 1,321 full-service Banking Centers, including 105 Bank Mart locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores and 2,405 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 39% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC, formerly Fifth Third Processing Solutions, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of March 31, 2012, had $296 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $26 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. [ Investor information ] and [ press releases ] can be viewed at [ www.53.com ]. Fifth Third's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC.