The Bancorp maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce certain risks related to interest rate, prepayment and foreign currency volatility. Additionally, the Bancorp holds derivative instruments for the benefit of its commercial customers and for other business purposes. The Bancorp does not enter into unhedged speculative derivative positions.

The Bancorp's interest rate risk management strategy involves modifying the repricing characteristics of certain financial instruments so that changes in interest rates do not adversely affect the Bancorp's net interest margin and cash flows. Derivative instruments that the Bancorp may use as part of its interest rate risk management strategy include interest rate swaps, interest rate floors, interest rate caps, forward contracts, forward starting interest rate swaps, options and swaptions. Interest rate swap contracts are exchanges of interest payments, such as fixed-rate payments for floating-rate payments, based on a stated notional amount and maturity date. Interest rate floors protect against declining rates, while interest rate caps protect against rising interest rates. Forward contracts are contracts in which the buyer agrees to purchase, and the seller agrees to make delivery of, a specific financial instrument at a predetermined price or yield. Options provide the purchaser with the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a contracted item during a specified period at an agreed upon price. Swaptions are financial instruments granting the owner the right, but not the obligation, to enter into or cancel a swap.

Prepayment volatility arises mostly from changes in fair value of the largely fixed-rate MSR portfolio, mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities. The Bancorp may enter into various free-standing derivatives (principal-only swaps, interest rate swaptions, interest rate floors, mortgage options, TBAs and interest rate swaps) to economically hedge prepayment volatility. Principal-only swaps are total return swaps based on changes in the value of the underlying mortgage principal-only trust. TBAs are a forward purchase agreement for a mortgage-backed securities trade whereby the terms of the security are undefined at the time the trade is made.

Foreign currency volatility occurs as the Bancorp enters into certain loans denominated in foreign currencies. Derivative instruments that the Bancorp may use to economically hedge these foreign denominated loans include foreign exchange swaps and forward contracts.

The Bancorp also enters into derivative contracts (including foreign exchange contracts, commodity contracts and interest rate contracts) for the benefit of commercial customers and other business purposes. The Bancorp economically hedges significant exposures related to these free-standing derivatives by entering into offsetting third-party contracts with approved, reputable and independent counterparties with substantially matching terms and currencies. Credit risk arises from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. The Bancorp's exposure is limited to the replacement value of the contracts rather than the notional, principal or contract amounts. Credit risk is minimized through credit approvals, limits, counterparty collateral and monitoring procedures.

The Bancorp's derivative assets include certain contractual features in which the Bancorp requires the counterparties to provide collateral in the form of cash and securities to offset changes in the fair value of the derivatives, including changes in the fair value due to credit risk of the counterparty. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the balance of collateral held by the Bancorp for derivative assets was $821 million and $830 million, respectively. The credit component negatively impacting the fair value of derivative assets associated with customer accommodation contracts as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $9 million and $16 million, respectively.

In measuring the fair value of derivative liabilities, the Bancorp considers its own credit risk, taking into consideration collateral maintenance requirements of certain derivative counterparties and the duration of instruments with counterparties that do not require collateral maintenance. When necessary, the Bancorp posts collateral primarily in the form of cash and securities to offset changes in fair value of the derivatives, including changes in fair value due to the Bancorp's credit risk. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the balance of collateral posted by the Bancorp for derivative liabilities was $504 million and $574 million, respectively. Certain of the Bancorp's derivative liabilities contain credit-risk related contingent features that could result in the requirement to post additional collateral upon the occurrence of specified events. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the fair value of the additional collateral that could be required to be posted as a result of the credit-risk related contingent features being triggered was immaterial to the Bancorp's Consolidated Financial Statements. The posting of collateral has been determined to remove the need for further consideration of credit risk. As a result, the Bancorp determined that the impact of the Bancorp's credit risk to the valuation of its derivative liabilities was immaterial to the Bancorp's Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Bancorp holds certain derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting treatment and are designated as either fair value hedges or cash flow hedges. Derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, or for which hedge accounting is not established, are held as free-standing derivatives. All customer accommodation derivatives are held as free-standing derivatives.

The fair value of derivative instruments is presented on a gross basis, even when the derivative instruments are subject to master netting arrangements. Derivative instruments with a positive fair value are reported in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets while derivative instruments with a negative fair value are reported in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Cash collateral payables and receivables associated with the derivative instruments are not added to or netted against the fair value amounts.

The following tables reflect the notional amounts and fair values for all derivative instruments included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of:

				Fair Value
		Notional		Derivative	Derivative
December 31, 2015 ($ in millions)		Amount		Assets	Liabilities
Qualifying Hedging Instruments
Fair value hedges:
Interest rate swaps related to long-term debt	$	2,705		372	2
Total fair value hedges				372	2
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps related to C&I loans		5,475		39	-
Total cash flow hedges				39	-
Total derivatives designated as qualifying hedging instruments				411	2
Derivatives Not Designated as Qualifying Hedging Instruments
Free-standing derivatives - risk management and other business purposes:
Interest rate contracts related to MSRs		11,657		239	9
Forward contracts related to held for sale residential mortgage loans		1,330		3	1
Stock warrant associated with Vantiv Holding, LLC		369		262	-
Swap associated with the sale of Visa, Inc. Class B shares		1,292		-	61
Total free-standing derivatives - risk management and other business purposes				504	71
Free-standing derivatives - customer accommodation:
Interest rate contracts for customers		29,889		242	249
Interest rate lock commitments		721		15	-
Commodity contracts		2,464		294	276
Foreign exchange contracts		16,243		386	340
Total free-standing derivatives - customer accommodation				937	865
Total derivatives not designated as qualifying hedging instruments				1,441	936
Total			$	1,852	938


				Fair Value
		Notional		Derivative	Derivative
December 31, 2014 ($ in millions)		Amount		Assets	Liabilities
Qualifying Hedging Instruments
Fair value hedges:
Interest rate swaps related to long-term debt	$	2,205		399	-
Total fair value hedges				399	-
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps related to C&I loans		3,150		36	-
Total cash flow hedges				36	-
Total derivatives designated as qualifying hedging instruments				435	-
Derivatives Not Designated as Qualifying Hedging Instruments
Free-standing derivatives - risk management and other business purposes:
Interest rate contracts related to MSRs		4,487		181	-
Forward contracts related to held for sale residential mortgage loans		999		-	6
Stock warrant associated with Vantiv Holding, LLC		691		415	-
Swap associated with the sale of Visa, Inc. Class B shares		1,092		-	49
Total free-standing derivatives - risk management and other business purposes				596	55
Free-standing derivatives - customer accommodation:
Interest rate contracts for customers		29,558		272	278
Interest rate lock commitments		613		12	-
Commodity contracts		3,558		348	338
Foreign exchange contracts		16,475		417	372
Total free-standing derivatives - customer accommodation				1,049	988
Total derivatives not designated as qualifying hedging instruments				1,645	1,043
Total			$	2,080	1,043

The Bancorp may enter into interest rate swaps to convert its fixed-rate funding to floating-rate. Decisions to convert fixed-rate funding to floating are made primarily through consideration of the asset/liability mix of the Bancorp, the desired asset/liability sensitivity and interest rate levels. For all interest rate swaps as of December 31, 2015, an assessment of hedge effectiveness using regression analysis was performed and such swaps were accounted for using the “long-haul” method. The long-haul method requires a quarterly assessment of hedge effectiveness and measurement of ineffectiveness. For interest rate swaps accounted for as a fair value hedge using the long-haul method, ineffectiveness is the difference between the changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap and changes in fair value of the related hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. The ineffectiveness on interest rate swaps hedging fixed-rate funding is reported within interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income


The following table reflects the change in fair value of interest rate contracts, designated as fair value hedges, as well as the change in fair value of the related hedged items attributable to the risk being hedged, included in the Consolidated Statements of Income:

	Consolidated Statements of Income Caption
For the years ended December 31 ($ in millions)	Consolidated Statements of Income Caption				2015		2014		2013
Interest rate contracts:
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps hedging long-term debt		Interest on long-term debt	$	(29)		120		(279)
Change in fair value of hedged long-term debt attributable to the risk being hedged		Interest on long-term debt		25		(126)		276

The Bancorp may enter into interest rate swaps to convert floating-rate assets and liabilities to fixed rates or to hedge certain forecasted transactions. The assets or liabilities may be grouped in circumstances where they share the same risk exposure that the Bancorp desires to hedge. The Bancorp may also enter into interest rate caps and floors to limit cash flow variability of floating-rate assets and liabilities. As of December 31, 2015, all hedges designated as cash flow hedges were assessed for effectiveness using regression analysis. Ineffectiveness is generally measured as the amount by which the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedging instrument exceeds the present value of the cumulative change in the hedged item's expected cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged. Ineffectiveness is reported within other noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The effective portion of the cumulative gains or losses on cash flow hedges are reported within AOCI and are reclassified from AOCI to current period earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. As of December 31, 2015, the maximum length of time over which the Bancorp is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows is 48 months.

Reclassified gains and losses on interest rate contracts related to commercial and industrial loans are recorded within interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, $22 million and $23 million, respectively, of net deferred gains, net of tax, on cash flow hedges were recorded in AOCI in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2015, $25 million in net deferred gains, net of tax, recorded in AOCI are expected to be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months. This amount could differ from amounts actually recognized due to changes in interest rates, hedge de-designations, and the addition of other hedges subsequent to December 31, 2015.

During the years ended 2015 and 2014, there were no gains or losses reclassified from AOCI into earnings associated with the discontinuance of cash flow hedges because it was probable that the original forecasted transaction would no longer occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within the additional period of time as defined by U.S. GAAP.


The following table presents the pretax net gains (losses) recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income relating to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:

For the years ended December 31 ($ in millions)		2015	2014	2013
Amount of pretax net gains (losses) recognized in OCI	$	74	60	(13)
Amount of pretax net gains reclassified from OCI into net income		75	44	44

Free-Standing Derivative Instruments – Risk Management and Other Business Purposes

As part of its overall risk management strategy relative to its mortgage banking activity, the Bancorp may enter into various free-standing derivatives (principal-only swaps, interest rate swaptions, interest rate floors, mortgage options, TBAs and interest rate swaps) to economically hedge changes in fair value of its largely fixed-rate MSR portfolio. Principal-only swaps hedge the mortgage-LIBOR spread because these swaps appreciate in value as a result of tightening spreads. Principal-only swaps also provide prepayment protection by increasing in value when prepayment speeds increase, as opposed to MSRs that lose value in a faster prepayment environment. Receive fixed/pay floating interest rate swaps and swaptions increase in value when interest rates do not increase as quickly as expected.

The Bancorp enters into forward contracts and mortgage options to economically hedge the change in fair value of certain residential mortgage loans held for sale due to changes in interest rates. IRLCs issued on residential mortgage loan commitments that will be held for sale are also considered free-standing derivative instruments and the interest rate exposure on these commitments is economically hedged primarily with forward contracts. Revaluation gains and losses from free-standing derivatives related to mortgage banking activity are recorded as a component of mortgage banking net revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

In conjunction with the initial sale of the Bancorp's 51% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC, the Bancorp received a warrant which is accounted for as a free-standing derivative. Refer to Note 27 for further discussion of significant inputs and assumptions used in the valuation of the warrant. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Bancorp both sold and exercised part of the warrant. For more information, refer to Note 19.

In conjunction with the sale of Visa, Inc. Class B shares in 2009, the Bancorp entered into a total return swap in which the Bancorp will make or receive payments based on subsequent changes in the conversion rate of the Class B shares into Class A shares. This total return swap is accounted for as a free-standing derivative. Refer to Note 27 for further discussion of significant inputs and assumptions used in the valuation of this instrument.

The net gains (losses) recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income relating to free-standing derivative instruments used for risk management and other business purposes are summarized in the following table:

	Consolidated Statements of Income Caption
For the years ended December 31 ($ in millions)	Consolidated Statements of Income Caption				2015		2014		2013
Interest rate contracts:
Forward contracts related to residential mortgage loans held for sale		Mortgage banking net revenue	$	8		(18)		24
Interest rate contracts related to MSR portfolio		Mortgage banking net revenue		90		95		(30)
Foreign exchange contracts:
Foreign exchange contracts for risk management purposes		Other noninterest income		23		14		5
Equity contracts:
Stock warrant associated with Vantiv Holding, LLC		Other noninterest income		325	^(a)	31		206
Swap associated with sale of Visa, Inc. Class B shares		Other noninterest income		(37)		(38)		(31)

The majority of the free-standing derivative instruments the Bancorp enters into are for the benefit of its commercial customers. These derivative contracts are not designated against specific assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets or to forecasted transactions and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting. These instruments include foreign exchange derivative contracts entered into for the benefit of commercial customers involved in international trade to hedge their exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and commodity contracts to hedge such items as natural gas and various other derivative contracts. The Bancorp may economically hedge significant exposures related to these derivative contracts entered into for the benefit of customers by entering into offsetting contracts with approved, reputable, independent counterparties with substantially matching terms. The Bancorp hedges its interest rate exposure on commercial customer transactions by executing offsetting swap agreements with primary dealers. Revaluation gains and losses on interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity and other commercial customer derivative contracts are recorded as a component of corporate banking revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Bancorp enters into risk participation agreements, under which the Bancorp assumes credit exposure relating to certain underlying interest rate derivative contracts. The Bancorp only enters into these risk participation agreements in instances in which the Bancorp has participated in the loan that the underlying interest rate derivative contract was designed to hedge. The Bancorp will make payments under these agreements if a customer defaults on its obligation to perform under the terms of the underlying interest rate derivative contract. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total notional amount of the risk participation agreements was $1.7 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, and the fair value was a liability of $3 million at December 31, 2015 and $2 million at December 31, 2014, which is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2015, the risk participation agreements had a weighted-average remaining life of 3.2 years.

The Bancorp's maximum exposure in the risk participation agreements is contingent on the fair value of the underlying interest rate derivative contracts in an asset position at the time of default. The Bancorp monitors the credit risk associated with the underlying customers in the risk participation agreements through the same risk grading system currently utilized for establishing loss reserves in its loan and lease portfolio.

The net gains (losses) recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income relating to free-standing derivative instruments used for customer accommodation are summarized in the following table:

	Consolidated Statements of Income Caption
For the years ended December 31 ($ in millions)	Consolidated Statements of Income Caption		2015	2014	2013
Interest rate contracts:
Interest rate contracts for customers (contract revenue)	Corporate banking revenue	$	23	19	29
Interest rate contracts for customers (credit losses)	Other noninterest expense		(1)	(3)	(3)
Interest rate contracts for customers (credit portion of fair value adjustment)	Other noninterest expense		1	3	7
Interest rate lock commitments	Mortgage banking net revenue		111	124	58
Commodity contracts:
Commodity contracts for customers (contract revenue)	Corporate banking revenue		5	6	7
Commodity contracts for customers (credit losses)	Other noninterest expense		(2)	-	-
Commodity contracts for customers (credit portion of fair value adjustment)	Other noninterest expense		6	(7)	-
Foreign exchange contracts:
Foreign exchange contracts for customers (contract revenue)	Corporate banking revenue		70	72	69
Foreign exchange contracts for customers (credit portion of fair value adjustment)	Other noninterest expense		-	-	(2)

The Bancorp's derivative transactions are generally governed by ISDA Master Agreements and similar arrangements, which include provisions governing the setoff of assets and liabilities between the parties. When the Bancorp has more than one outstanding derivative transaction with a single counterparty, the setoff provisions contained within these agreements generally allow the non-defaulting party the right to reduce its liability to the defaulting party by amounts eligible for setoff, including the collateral received as well as eligible offsetting transactions with that counterparty, irrespective of the currency, place of payment or booking office. The Bancorp's policy is to present its derivative assets and derivative liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets on a gross basis, even when provisions allowing for setoff are in place.

Collateral amounts included in the tables below consist primarily of cash and highly-rated government-backed securities.


	Gross Amount		Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
	Recognized in the		Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2015 ($ in millions)	Consolidated Balance Sheets^(a)		Derivatives	Collateral^(b)	Net Amount

Assets
Derivatives	$	1,575	(512)	(627)		436
Total assets		1,575	(512)	(627)		436

Liabilities
Derivatives		938	(512)	(173)		253
Total liabilities	$	938	(512)	(173)		253


	Gross Amount		Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
	Recognized in the		Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2014 ($ in millions)	Consolidated Balance Sheets^(a)		Derivatives	Collateral^(b)	Net Amount

Assets
Derivatives	$	1,653	(440)	(684)		529
Total assets		1,653	(440)	(684)		529

Liabilities
Derivatives		1,043	(440)	(293)		310
Total liabilities	$	1,043	(440)	(293)		310