Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	22. Income Taxes The applicable income tax expense was $140 million and $114 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $483 million and $442 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were 20.2% and 20.7%, respectively, and 21.4% and 20.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily related to an increase in state income tax expense, a decrease in excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation and a decrease in expected low-income housing tax credits and other tax benefits, partially offset by a decrease in proportional amortization of qualifying LIHTC investments as well as an increase in non-taxable income. 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, 2019

22. Income Taxes

The applicable income tax expense was $140 million and $114 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $483 million and $442 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were 20.2% and 20.7%, respectively, and 21.4% and 20.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily related to an increase in state income tax expense, a decrease in excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation and a decrease in expected low-income housing tax credits and other tax benefits, partially offset by a decrease in proportional amortization of qualifying LIHTC investments as well as an increase in non-taxable income.

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.