Fifth Third Is Keeping Unit Investment Trust Open

Investors' hunger for technology stocks is prompting an unusual move by Fifth Third Bancorp.

The Cincinnati banking company said it would keep its Strategic Communication and Technology Trust-a unit investment trust invested in 44 telecommunications, Internet, and software stocks-open indefinitely to meet demand.

Unit investment trusts are usually open only for up to 90 days. Unlike mutual funds, these trusts invest in a limited number of securities and have a fixed maturity date.

Since its launch in October, the Fifth Third trust has seen its shares soar "a touch over 90%," to $19, said G. Douglas Voelz, a vice president and national syndicate manager at Fifth Third/Ohio Co. "We've continued to have good interest in it every day," he said. The trust has a five-year maturity.

Banks have not been big participants in the unit investment trust market, and Fifth Third got its know-how from Ohio Co., the brokerage it bought in June. The trust is sold through Fifth Third/Ohio Co. and Fifth Third Securities.

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