A solid earnings platform, demonstrating financial strength Solid deposit funding from its strong market position as a major Midwest bank Proven access to capital and wholesale funding in difficult markets Weak but stabilizing loan portfolio quality Exposure to troubled Southeast and slow-growing Midwest markets Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' ratings on Fifth Third Bancorp reflect an earnings platform that continues to demonstrate fundamental strength, solid deposit funding based on a strong market position as a major Midwest bank, and proven access to capital and wholesale funding in difficult markets. Somewhat offsetting these strengths in our view are the bank's weakened, though stabilizing, loan portfolio quality and its exposure to the troubled Southeast and slow-growing Midwest markets. Fifth Third's pretax, preprovision
