CINCINNATI, March 18, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the seventh year, Fifth Third (Nasdaq: FITB) has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.
Fifth Third is one of only three banks to earn a spot on this year’s list. In 2026, 138 companies globally were honored for their commitment to business integrity through robust ethics, compliance and governance programs.
“Earning this recognition for the seventh time is an honor that speaks to our consistent pursuit of excellence and our dedication to doing what’s right,” said Tim Spence, chairman, CEO and president of Fifth Third. “It reflects the quality of service we provide and our deep commitment to the communities we serve both inside and outside of work.”
Fifth Third’s ambition to be the one bank people most value and trust is guided by a purpose of serving customers and communities across all their financial needs. The Bank remains committed to operating in a way that reflects our values and creates long‑term, sustainable value for all stakeholders.
“This recognition reflects our colleagues’ unwavering commitment to living our values every day,” said Bob Shaffer, chief risk officer at Fifth Third. “Their dedication to upholding our responsibility to serve customers with accountability and to consistently do what’s right, strengthens our risk culture and reinforces the trust placed in us.”
“Congratulations to Fifth Third for achieving recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®. As we mark the 20th class of honorees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. Companies with strong ethics, compliance, and governance programs are built for better long-term performance,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair.
Ethics & Performance: The Ethics Premium
The 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies® Honorees outperformed a comparable index of global companies by 8.2 percentage points from January 2021 to December 2025.
Methodology & Scoring
The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient®, which requires companies to provide 240+ documented proof points on practices that support robust ethics and compliance, including: corporate governance; program structure & resourcing; written standards; training, awareness, & communication; risk assessment & auditing; investigations, enforcement, discipline & incentives; measurement of ethical culture; third-party risk management, and environmental & social impact. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by their panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year’s group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.