Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	19. Income Taxes The applicable income tax expense was $178 million and $134 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and was $385 million and $367 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were 25.6% and 26.0%, respectively, and were 24.6% and 25.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily related to gains on sales of certain leveraged leases that are exempt from federal taxation partially offset by Vantiv, Inc. related gains. While it is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits with respect to certain of the Bancorp’s uncertain tax positions could increase or decrease during the next 12 months, the Bancorp believes it is unlikely that its unrecognized tax benefits will change by a material amount during the next 12 months.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

19. Income Taxes

The applicable income tax expense was $178 million and $134 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and was $385 million and $367 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were 25.6% and 26.0%, respectively, and were 24.6% and 25.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily related to gains on sales of certain leveraged leases that are exempt from federal taxation partially offset by Vantiv, Inc. related gains.

While it is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits with respect to certain of the Bancorp’s uncertain tax positions could increase or decrease during the next 12 months, the Bancorp believes it is unlikely that its unrecognized tax benefits will change by a material amount during the next 12 months.