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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 BWBfPU9JCzOEXTf5cESGWw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000035527-03-000035.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0000035527-03-000035.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723150705
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000035527-03-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GAUNT JAMES R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200529

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08076
		FILM NUMBER:		03798183

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
		STREET 2:		38 FOUNTIAIN SQUARE PLAZA
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45263
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135347432
</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>2003-07-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000035527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIFTH THIRD BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FITB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200529</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAUNT JAMES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>13145</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.5679</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>96716</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership
></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12168</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.5679</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>108884</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option to Purchase</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExer
cisePrice><value>10.5679</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>13145</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1993-08-17</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>13145</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>818611</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><direc
tOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option to Purchase</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.5679</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12168</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1993-08-18</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShar
es><value>12168</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>806443</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person also indirectly owns 50,000 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock through his Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs); 50,000 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock through GRATs of which the reporting person's spouse is beneficiary and 82,489 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock through his spouse</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes total number of unexercised option grants previously reported.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Indicates grant date.  Options are exercisable as follows:  25% six months from grant date; 50% one year from grant date; 75% t
wo years from grant date and 100% three years from grant date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul L. Reynolds, Attorney-in-Fact for James R. Gaunt</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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