Proven access to capital and wholesale funding in difficult markets Earnings platform shows fundamental strength Solid deposit funding due to its strong market position as major Midwest bank Exposure to troubled Midwestern and Florida markets Excess reserve build required to support very high current and potential credit costs Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' ratings on Fifth Third Bancorp reflect its proven access to capital and wholesale funding in difficult markets; an earnings platform that shows fundamental strength; and a solid deposit funding base due to its strong market position as a major Midwest U.S. bank. Recent asset quality deterioration, partly reflecting Fifth Third's exposure to troubled Midwestern and Florida markets, offset these strengths. Because of its substantial credit costs, the
