Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ:FITB) today announced that its Newline™ platform has been named an Innovation of the Year 2026 honoree by American Banker, recognizing its role in powering large-scale payments and embedded finance capabilities for fintechs and enterprise clients.

As part of its Innovation of the Year program, American Banker recognizes teams and individuals whose groundbreaking, innovative projects, initiatives and developments solve key challenges, capitalize on new opportunities and drive measurable results while redefining the future of digital finance.

Newline reflects a growing shift in the payments landscape, where fintechs and platforms require bank partners that can operate as scalable, technology-driven infrastructure providers. By combining the reach and regulatory strength of a top U.S. bank with modern, API-driven architecture, Fifth Third is enabling clients to embed payments, cards and financial services directly into their own ecosystems. American Banker noted "Newline's key product launch in 2025 was agentic commerce infrastructure – the plumbing for a future in which AI agents, not humans, initiate and approve payments."

"Newline represents a different model for how banks support innovation in payments," said Bridgit Chayt, head of Commercial Payments at Fifth Third. "By pairing the creativity and agility of our people with the strength, scale and trust of a leading bank, we're delivering solutions that help our clients move faster, serve their customers better and stay ahead."

American Banker further commented "(Newline) is now the fastest growing segment in Fifth Third's commercial payments business, which generated more than $1 billion in fee revenue in 2025. The division expects to process more than $25 trillion in payment volume in 2026, compared with the $9 trillion it processed in 2016."

All honorees will be recognized at American Banker's Digital Banking Conference and the Most Innovative People in Finance and Innovation of the Year awards dinner on June 16.

About Newline

Newline by Fifth Third provides BIN sponsorship and a modern API‑driven platform that enables enterprise clients to launch payment, card, and deposit products directly with the Bank. Its technology helps clients embed financial capabilities seamlessly into their products, backed by Fifth Third's standards for performance, scalability, and risk management. Newline powers offerings for leaders including Trustly and Stripe.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation's highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com.

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Adrienne Gutbier (Media Relations)

adrienne.gutbier@53.com | 513-534-8038

Matt Curoe (Investor Relations)

matt.curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345

Fifth Third's Newline Recognized by American Banker for Powering Next-Generation Payments Infrastructure