|
14
©
Fifth Third Bank | All Rights Reserved
Cautionary statement
This report contains statements that we believe are “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 175 promulgated
thereunder, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule
3b-6 promulgated thereunder. These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future
performance or business. They usually can be identified by the use of forward-looking language
such as “will likely result,” “may,” “are expected to,” “is
anticipated,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “projected,” “intends to,” or may include other similar words or phrases such as
“believes,” “plans,” “trend,” “objective,”
“continue,” “remain,” or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,”
“should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” or similar verbs. You
should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. When considering
these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well
as any cautionary statements we may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as
speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to
us.
There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from
historical performance and these forward- looking statements. Factors that might cause such
a difference include, but are not limited to: (1) general economic conditions and weakening in
the economy, specifically the real estate market, either nationally or in the states in which Fifth Third, one or more acquired
entities and/or the combined company do business, are less favorable than expected; (2) deteriorating
credit quality; (3) political developments, wars or other hostilities may disrupt or increase
volatility in securities markets or other economic conditions; (4) changes in the interest rate
environment reduce interest margins; (5) prepayment speeds, loan origination and sale volumes, charge-offs and loan
loss provisions; (6) Fifth Third’s ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate
sources of funding and liquidity; (7) maintaining capital requirements may limit Fifth
Third’s operations and potential growth; (8) changes and trends in capital markets; (9) problems
encountered by larger or similar financial institutions may adversely affect the banking industry
and/or Fifth Third; (10) competitive pressures among depository institutions increase
significantly; (11) effects of critical accounting policies and judgments; (12) changes in
accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) or other regulatory agencies; (13) legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or
significant litigation, adversely affect Fifth Third, one or more acquired entities and/or the
combined company or the businesses in which Fifth Third, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company are engaged,
including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (14) ability to maintain
favorable ratings from rating agencies; (15) fluctuation of Fifth Third’s stock price;
(16) ability to attract and retain key personnel; (17) ability to receive dividends from its
subsidiaries; (18) potentially dilutive effect of future acquisitions on current shareholders’
ownership of Fifth Third; (19) effects of accounting or financial results of one or more
acquired entities; (20) difficulties in separating Vantiv, LLC, formerly Fifth Third Processing
Solutions from Fifth Third; (21) loss of income from any sale or potential sale of businesses that
could have an adverse effect on Fifth Third’s earnings and future growth; (22) ability to
secure confidential information through the use of computer systems and telecommunications
networks; and (23) the impact of reputational risk created by these developments on such matters as business
generation and retention, funding and liquidity.
You should refer to our periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or “SEC,” for further information on other factors, which could cause
actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. | 
