Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	19. Income Taxes The applicable income tax expense was $79 million and $475 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $321 million and $694 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were 15.6% and 31.9%, respectively, and 15.7% and 29.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in the prior year was primarily related to the reduction in the federal statutory corporate tax rate partially offset by changes to previously deductible items associated with the enactment of the TCJA. 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, 2018

19. Income Taxes

The applicable income tax expense was $79 million and $475 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $321 million and $694 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were 15.6% and 31.9%, respectively, and 15.7% and 29.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in the prior year was primarily related to the reduction in the federal statutory corporate tax rate partially offset by changes to previously deductible items associated with the enactment of the TCJA.

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.