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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.6

                            CONSENT OF MERRILL LYNCH

     We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter to the Board of
Directors of Old Kent Financial Corporation ("Old Kent"), dated November 19,
2000, as Annex C to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that forms a part of the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 relating to the proposed merger of Old Kent
with Fifth Third Bancorp, and to the references to such opinion in such Proxy
Statement/Prospectus under the captions "SUMMARY -- Opinion of Old Kent's
Financial Advisor," and "THE MERGER -- Background of the Merger," and
"-- Recommendation of the Old Kent Board of Directors and Reasons for the
Merger," and "-- Opinion of Old Kent's Financial Advisor." In giving such
consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part
of such Registration Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used
in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                          /s/
                                           MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                                                    INCORPORATED

December 18, 2000