Fifth Third personal loans: 2024 review

Where Fifth Third personal loans fall short

• Fifth Third account required to apply online: If you want the convenience of an online application, you will need a Fifth Third account. Otherwise, you will be stuck visiting a branch. 
• Only available in 34 states: Fifth Third loans are not nationally available. Only residents of the states where it offers loans are eligible to apply.
• In-person application required for loans over $25,000: While most online lenders — and quite a few banks — have their applications entirely online, Fifth Third requires an in-person visit for larger loans.

Fifth Third customer resources

Borrowing from a brick-and-mortar institution comes with the benefit of in-person and online support. Even so, compare other personal loan rates before making your final decision. 

Customer support 

You can contact Fifth Third by visiting a branch or messaging them through your Fifth Third account. You can also call its customer service line at 1-800-972-3030. Its call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Branch hours vary by location.

Digital experience 

The personal loan application and management are part of the same ecosystem as Fifth Third’s banking products. Non-members must register in the online banking system to apply. 

How to apply for a personal loan with Fifth Third

Fifth Third allows you to apply online if you have an open account and need a loan of $25,000 or less. To complete the application, you will need to submit information about your finances as well as your identity. While Fifth Third does not specify what documents you will need to provide, most require proof of income and a few basic details.

You must visit a branch to apply if you want to borrow more than $25,000. You will also need to visit a branch if you do not have an account — although you can open one when you apply online.

Methodology

Bankrate considers 20 factors when reviewing lenders. Credit requirements, APR ranges, fees, loan amounts and flexibility are all taken into account so that ratings are representative of how competitive lenders are for a wide range of credit profiles and budgets. The Bankrate Score for personal loans consists of four categories:

• Availability: What the minimum loan amounts are, its eligibility requirements and loan turnaround are considered in this category.
• Affordability: The interest rates, penalties and fees are measured in this section of the score. Lower rates and fees and fewer potential penalties result in a higher score.
• Customer experience: This category covers customer service hours, if online applications are available, online account access and mobile apps.
• Transparency: This category is measured by how accessible credit requirements, rates and fees are on the lender's page. We also considered whether prequalification was available, as all these factors are key for consumers to make an informed decision.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.

What customers think

What people are saying across the web about Fifth Third

Fifth Third has under 200 reviews on Trustpilot, averaging 1.3 stars. The bank has not claimed its Trustpilot page and reviews commonly skew especially negative on unclaimed profiles. Most reviews are about its banking services or auto loans, rather than personal loans. The majority of complaints reference poor customer service and a frustrating online experience.  Here’s one what unhappy borrower had to say:

“Long-time 5/3 customer both business and personal; branch people are friendly, but poorly trained. The call center and online banking are perpetual nightmares, and it never gets better. I would strongly avoid this bank. Once my time frees up, I am going to close all my accounts with them.”

— Trustpilot User

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