Inclusion

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Delivering an inclusive experience for employees, suppliers, communities and customers is essential to creating a future with equal access and opportunity for all to thrive. We strive to uphold the highest principles of inclusion in our relationships with others and create experiences that reflect the communities we serve​​​. 

Leadership Message

Our culture brings our core values to life every day. It exemplifies who we want to be and how we get things done, whether it's to our employees, our customers or our communities. Inclusion is integral to that culture. They're not a guideline or a goal; they're how we behave with every transaction and interaction. It's how we earn a reputation for being trustworthy and for conducting ourselves ethically and professionally.

We are keenly aware that in order to have a dynamic and inclusive environment it takes leadership and we are holding our leaders at Fifth Third accountable for behaviors that will further build upon and sustain an inclusive environment. These behaviors include a set of capabilities that outline the expectations we have of our leaders. They include being actively inclusive by creating connections that prioritize diversity of thought, background and experiences when working with others. Our leaders are expected to be self-aware by taking the viewpoints of others into consideration and acknowledging them, while recognizing their own biases. And, they must leverage internal and external networks by gathering perspectives from inside as well as outside of their own team, looking for opportunities to inform decisions and strategies. At Fifth Third, we strive to be an inclusive and thriving organization, one in which each person feels valued, respected and understood.

Stephanie Smith.

Stephanie A. Smith,
Senior Vice President, Chief Inclusion Officer

Inclusion in the Workplace

Project SEARCH

Fifth Third's commitment to inclusion is evidenced by our decades-long leadership with Project SEARCH, a school-to-work transition program for young adults with disabilities. At the end of the one-year internship program, the goal of Project SEARCH is competitive employment, either at Fifth Third or in the community. It is a public-private collaboration operated out of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. We welcome visitors from around the world to learn about Project SEARCH and the success we have had at Fifth Third.

For over 19 years, Fifth Third has operated Project SEARCH programs in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over that time, Fifth Third has trained more than 410 individuals, and is proud to have dozens of those individuals as employees of the Company. The placement rate for all Project SEARCH interns since 2005 is over 75%. Project SEARCH is a success at Fifth Third because of our executive leadership and employee support of the program.

Business Resource Groups

One way we ensure each one of our 20,000+ employees feels valued is through our Business Resource Groups. We have an extensive array of Business Resource Groups (BRGs) made up of constituencies of employees and allies who are focused on employee engagement, community involvement and business innovation. Membership in Business Resource Groups is open to all employees. These include African American, Asian & Pacific Islander, Individuals with Disabilities, Latino, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender (LGBTQ+), Military, Sustainability, Women's and Young Professionals Business Resource Groups. All employees are encouraged to share their experiences, talents, perspectives and creative thinking through BRGs.

The structure and focuses of the groups accomplish several important objectives, including:

  • Driving accountability for both engagement and inclusion.
  • Aiding in retention and recruitment; supporting career development.
  • Creating a consistent way to share best practices and foster collaboration.
  • Leveraging employee strengths and expertise to drive business results for the Bank.

BRGs also participate in social networking events with other professional groups and organizations. The Councils and BRGs are thriving and welcoming, so everyone can contribute successfully. Working together leads to winning together.

Supplier Diversity

Our suppliers are vital partners in providing high-quality products and services to our customers. To increase spend with a diverse supply chain and encourage diverse businesses to compete for contracting opportunities, we developed a supplier diversity program.

Through its Supplier Diversity strategic initiatives, Fifth Third works to advance economic inclusion and reduce barriers to compete for all vendors. Supplier Diversity promotes innovation through the introduction of new and innovative products, services and solutions, and it drives competition between existing and prospective suppliers. Our supplier diversity program allows the Bank to take advantage of new opportunities for business expansion with the emergence of new consumer needs and showcases the Bank's commitment to the economic growth of all communities.