In Brief: Fifth Third Vows $9B for Low-Income Areas

Fifth Third Bancorp pledged $9 billion over three years in loans, investments, and computer technology for low- to moderate-income communities in its geographic market.

The $31.6 billion-asset banking company said it would earmark the funds for loans for community development, affordable mortgages, small businesses, and investments in venture capital projects.

Fifth Third also plans to provide the communities with 200 computers with free Internet access and send employees to teach people how to use them.

Fifth Third operates 494 branches in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Arizona, and Michigan. Many banking companies have made large pledges toward community development projects to meet Community Reinvestment Act requirements.

Earlier this year the Federal Reserve Board gave Fifth Third an "outstanding" CRA rating, the highest possible.

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