Bank of America Boosts Stake in Fifth Third Bancorp

Institutional investor adds over 2.2 million shares to its Fifth Third holdings

Mar. 17, 2026 at 7:35am

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Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) by 16.7% during the third quarter, according to a recent SEC filing. The institutional investor now owns 16,037,185 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $714 million.

Why it matters

This move by Bank of America, one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., signals its confidence in Fifth Third Bancorp's growth potential. As a major shareholder, Bank of America's increased investment could influence the bank's strategic direction and performance.

The details

According to the filing, Bank of America acquired an additional 2,293,939 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp during the third quarter. This brings the institution's total stake in the regional bank to approximately 2.43% of outstanding shares. The purchase was part of Bank of America's broader investment strategy, as it continues to build positions in select financial services companies.

  • Bank of America acquired the additional shares during the third quarter of the year.

The players

Bank of America Corp DE

One of the largest financial services companies in the United States, offering a wide range of banking, investing, asset management, and other financial and risk management products and services.

Fifth Third Bancorp

A regional bank holding company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a broad range of financial services to individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market companies, and large corporations.

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The takeaway

Bank of America's increased stake in Fifth Third Bancorp suggests the larger institution sees strong growth potential in the regional bank. This move could signal broader confidence in the financial services sector and the regional banking model, which has faced challenges in recent years.