Two years ago, Fifth Third Bank asked the question: Could a bank help fight cancer?

Today, Fifth Third Bank hits the milestone of raising $5 million to date for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). Since beginning the collaboration in 2013, Fifth Third has launched several campaigns that provide opportunities for customers and community members to help in the fight against this disease by donating to SU2C’s innovative research programs.

There’s still one more week left in this year’s campaign to help raise more money.

Through October 17, Fifth Third Bank is continuing to support SU2C as part of its Essential Checking Account program. During this campaign, when customers open new Essential Checking Accounts with direct deposit, and make three online bill payments, the Bank gives customers $150, and gives $150 to SU2C. * More details can be found at 53.com/howifight.

The campaign launched in July, coinciding with more than a dozen “SU2C nights” that Fifth Third Bank held at Minor League Ballparks, raising additional money for SU2C.

The Bank is also encouraging people to share stories on social media about how they fight cancer. Fifth Third will donate $1 to SU2C for each eligible post using the #howifight hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Vine, up to $100,000 during the campaign.**

So far, more than 30,000 stories have been shared, many of which were illustrated and highlighted on Fifth Third Bank’s website.

“We are thrilled to reach this donation milestone. We know with Stand Up To Cancer’s collaborative research approach, these dollars work hard to find better treatment options,” Maria Veltre, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Fifth Third Bank, said. “I am especially proud to have our current campaign, #howifight, engage so many people to share how they help fight this disease.”

One in two men and one in three women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, according to statistics collected by the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results program at the National Cancer Institute.

Stand Up To Cancer, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is a breakthrough initiative that raises funds to accelerate innovative cancer research, enabling scientific collaboration in order to get new therapies to patients quickly. To date, Stand Up To Cancer has funded 162 clinical trials, enrolling more than 6,000 patients.

Fifth Third supports this collaborative approach and is committed to finding different ways to improve people’s lives and better our communities. As such, Fifth Third began working with SU2C in 2013 when the Bank introduced its Fifth Third SU2C debit and credit cards, which raise funds to support SU2C research through every qualifying purchase made using those cards. Fifth Third Bank is the only card issuer to offer the SU2C payment cards.

“We are so grateful to Fifth Third Bank for their continued support and are thrilled to reach this fundraising milestone through its campaign,” said Rusty Robertson, SU2C co-founder. “The generosity of Fifth Third and its customers will help SU2C continue supporting innovative research and save more lives now.”

Tweet this news: Can a bank help fight cancer? @FifthThird answers with a new #howifight campaign at 53.com/howifight

*Qualifying activity includes three online bill payments, using Fifth Third Bank's online bill payment service, and direct deposit. Offer not available to existing checking customers or to those with a Fifth Third checking account that has been closed within the last 12 months. Bonus offer available to new consumer checking customers, excluding basic checking. Bank reserves the right to limit each customer to one new account-related gift incentive per calendar year. Checking account must be opened between 7/27 and 10/17/15. $50 minimum deposit required to open all accounts and obtain bonus. All requirements must be met and qualifying activity must be initiated and post to the account within 90 days of account opening to obtain $150 bonus. Bonus will be deposited into your new account within 6 weeks of completing requirements. Bonus may be taxable as interest income and reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Consult your tax adviser. Checking accounts may have monthly fees. See your banker for details. One bonus offer per account per household. Not valid with any other offer. Fifth Third Bank, Member FDIC. Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Stand Up To Cancer and the Stand Up To Cancer Brand Marks are registered trademarks of EIF

**$1 donation to SU2C for every eligible use of the hashtag #howifight on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vine, up to a maximum donation of $100,000. Only one use of the Eligible Hashtag per username, per Monitored Social Media Site, per day during the Promotion Period will be considered an eligible use.

About Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company has $142 billion in assets and operated 15 affiliates with 1,299 full-service Banking Centers, including 101 Bank Mart® locations, most open seven days a week, inside select grocery stores and 2,630 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 22.8% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2015, had $304 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $27 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858.

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