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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WNCcubXh9UnZClmthRhAn5mMR8Ne/X/q8yQ1vJCtY9A+GvCqS82GUzD8fWbtjU9e
 C2MHrKQzIvqGr2etgqVVwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000035527-03-000040.txt : 20030728
<SEC-HEADER>0000035527-03-000040.hdr.sgml : 20030728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030728164743
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000035527-03-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030725
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030728

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:			POSTON DANIEL T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195809

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08076
		FILM NUMBER:		03806439

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
		STREET 2:		38 FOUNTAIN SQ.
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45263
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000035527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIFTH THIRD BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FITB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195809</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POSTON DANIEL T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45263</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP &amp; Auditor</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8.9473</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>55.70</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id=
"F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8.9473</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>494.5121</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquired pursuant to The Fifth Third Bancorp Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The units are to be settled in Fifth Third Bancorp Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The units are to be settled in Fifth Third Bancorp Common Stock after termination of employment.  Pursuant to guidance given by the SEC in using the new Section 16 reporting system the date of
 08/08/1988 is used as a place filler and bears no relation to the units or the exercise or the expiration date.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Includes shares purchased by dividend reinvestment.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul L. Reynolds, Attorney-in-Fact for Daniel T. Poston</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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