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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OOjwNsU6zm7Yhdu6786jq5SO8hxOlvnlRUIIBrCiHx9fgql6TSemYlKZiCH05igP
 2i2Ttsg5C4fBwV4xVzK2sw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000035527-03-000031.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0000035527-03-000031.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722161729
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000035527-03-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030718
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195811

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08076
		FILM NUMBER:		03796635

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANTHEM INC.
		STREET 2:		120 MONUMENT CIRCLE
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000035527
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				310854434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 FOUNTAIN SQ PLZ
		STREET 2:		FIFTH THIRD CENTER
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45263
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135795300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000035527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIFTH THIRD BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FITB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195811</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>39460</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>55.88</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>515253</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></own
ershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>36508</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.5679</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>551761</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>20
03-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>156533</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.5679</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>708294</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option to Purchase</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.5679</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transacti
onFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>193041</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1993-08-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>193041</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2699696</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><foot
note id="F1">Pursuant to the Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Option Gain Deferral Plan, Mr. Schaefer elected to defer receipt of 153,581 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of his option after withholding shares for payment of any applicable taxes.  As a result, 153,581 shares of phantom stock have accrued to his Deferred Stock Unit Account under the Plan.  Because these phantom stock units may only be settled by a one-for-one delivery of shares of common stock upon expiration of the deferral period, Mr. Schaefer is currently deemed to be the direct beneficial owner of these shares which are included in his aggegate beneficial ownership on Table I.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The reporting person also indirectly owns 125,000 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock through his Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs); 125,000 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock through GRATs of which the reporting person's spouse is beneficiary; and 47,458 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock indirectly own
ed by reporting person's spouse.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul L. Reynolds, Attorney-in-Fact for George A. Schaefer, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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