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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B3D7W2ieERlsUEaxOmj1R+KMc9LNpGoZlvJB0XvGxf3xxydGPEdxWF3yPj/333D1
 NMoPl14n5JfEDTWkNaIKqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000035527-03-000056.txt : 20030815
<SEC-HEADER>0000035527-03-000056.hdr.sgml : 20030815
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030815161734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000035527-03-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030815

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIEHAUS ROBERT P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195808

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08076
		FILM NUMBER:		03850966

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
		STREET 2:		38 FOUNTAIN SQ.
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45263

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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000035527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIFTH THIRD BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FITB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195808</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIEHAUS ROBERT P</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>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3017</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>55.94</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>124611</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOf
Ownership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3017</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.5679</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>127628</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock<
/value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12948</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.5679</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>140576</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>75000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTran
saction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Trusts</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50897</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by FLP, LP</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>73427</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Spouse</value>
</natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option to Purchase</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.5679</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15965</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionPricePerShare><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>15
965</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>828738</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Option Gain Deferral Plan, Mr. Niehaus elected to defer receipt of 12,948 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of his option.  As a result, 12,948 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. Niehaus is currently deemed to be the direct beneficial owner of these shares which are included in his aggregate beneficial ownership on Table I
.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Various Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) of which the reporting person is a beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Niehaus Investors Limited Partnership (a family limited partnership) of which the reporting person, his spouse and their three children are the only partners.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Issued pursuant to Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Option Plan.  No consideration paid.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Includes total number of unexercised option grants previously reported.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul L. Reynolds, Attorney-in-Fact for Robert P. Niehaus</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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