NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Jan. 21, 2011--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings on Fifth Third Bancorp (BBB/Stable/A-2) remain unchanged, following the company's announcement of fourth-quarter earnings and a common equity issuance. The company reported sequential net profitability improvement as net income rose to $333 million from $238 million in the fourth quarter, partially as a result of a $190 million reserve release. Credit trends are further stabilizing in line with our expectations but well below the improvements shown by many other regional banks. Nonperforming assets increased 1.0% sequentially but remained at a fair 5.5% of loans (3.2% excluding $1.8 billion of performing restructured loans). Net charge-offs continued their sequential decline to $356 million, a much-improved
