As a Fifth Third Bancorp Director, there are several ways to defer receipt of compensation for services as a Director. These are outlined below.
Director Cash Retainer Deferral
Fifth Third has made available to its Directors the option to defer 50 percent or more of the cash compensation payable for services as a Director and/or as a member of a Committee of the Board of Directors. Percentage elections are made on an annual basis during open enrollment, which typically occurs during November or December. The percentage elected will be credited to a Deferred Compensation account, which will be paid in cash on a future date as specified on the election form. For more information, please see the Summary of the Unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
Director LTI Deferral
The vesting on any LTI award will be deferred until service as a Board of Director ends. This means that upon leave from the Board any accumulated LTI awards will be distributed in one lump sum. An election to change the timing of this distribution can be made by deferring receipt until a later date.
The deferral election period typically occurs during November or December for the following years RSU grant. During the deferral election period one or a combination of the following schedules can be chosen for any grants that might be given in the future:
•Lump Sum Distribution: The choice can be made to defer receipt of grants from one to 10 years after the date Board service ends. Units will be distributed in one lump sum on August 1 of the year chosen following service end date. Example: Board leave date is February 1, 2025, and five years after term date is elected as the deferral. Units will distribute in one lump sum on August 1, 2030.
•Installment Distribution: Receipt of accumulated units can be spread over one to up to 10 years. Distributions from each outstanding grant will occur in equal annual installments starting on August 1 following the service end date. All distributions are to be completed by the 10th anniversary of the leave date. Example: Service end date is February 1, 2025, and an annual installment over five years is elected; The distribution will be made in substantially equal, annual installments to last five years. The first distribution would be made August 1, 2025.
The initial election to instruct Fifth Third on how distributions are to be received is made once.
The installment schedule chosen will apply to any grants received in the future. However, elections to defer individual grants must be made each year. Directors can expect an election form in the mail each Fall, asking that an election be made to defer or not defer the upcoming year’s RSU grant.
Dividend Equivalents
As described above, dividend equivalents will be reinvested for all new Directors. Legacy Directors previously have two choices for how dividend equivalents will be paid; in cash or reinvested. If the cash election is made, dividend equivalents will be received by direct deposit or a check mailed to the address of record. If the reinvestment election is made or is required in the case of a new director, dividend equivalent amounts will be converted to additional Restricted Stock Units. These additional units will be attached to outstanding awards and will be distributed at the same time the shares from the Restricted Stock Units are distributed.
The Director LTI deferral election materials will include election information for dividend equivalents.
Designation of a Beneficiary
To designate a beneficiary, log onto the Fidelity brokerage account, go to “update account/ features” and click on profile. Follow the steps provided online to designate beneficiaries for the account. If a decision is made not to designate a beneficiary, the estate shall be deemed to be the beneficiary.