Fifth Third Bank has announced a five-year, $3.1 billion commitment to community investment and economic mobility across Texas following its merger with Comerica, with Houston among the key markets targeted for expanded banking services, small business support and neighborhood development.

The commitment, part of the bank’s Building Stronger Communities initiative, will run from 2027 through 2031 and prioritize low- and moderate-income communities across Texas, Michigan and California. The initiative includes lending, philanthropic investments and community development programs intended to expand economic opportunity and support long-term neighborhood growth.

In Texas, Fifth Third plans to open 150 new full-service branches by 2029, including 60 in the Houston area and 60 in the Dallas area. The expansion will increase the bank’s physical presence in two of the state’s largest metropolitan markets while extending access to financial services and lending opportunities.

Small Business and Homeownership Support

Small businesses are a central focus of the initiative. Fifth Third will provide 53 grants of $5,300 each to small businesses across Texas through its Small Business Catalyst Fund. The bank also plans to expand its existing Small Business Community Credit Program and hire sales staff dedicated to supporting small business growth.

Homeownership initiatives will include an expansion of the Fifth Third Community Mortgage Program, which offers enhanced down payment and closing cost assistance, reduced or waived fees, flexible underwriting and targeted outreach to prospective homebuyers.

The bank also plans to provide $750 million in sustainable lending and investment across Texas. The funding will support energy affordability, access to sustainable utilities and the resilience of public and private infrastructure.

Affordable housing, community development finance, financial access and inclusion are among the other priorities outlined in the five-year commitment.

Neighborhood-Level Investment in Houston and Dallas

The initiative will extend Fifth Third’s Neighborhood Program to Houston and Dallas, bringing place-based community and economic development investments to underserved communities.

Rather than applying a uniform strategy across all markets, the bank plans to work with local communities and partners to identify needs and develop neighborhood-specific initiatives. The approach is intended to direct financial, social and institutional resources toward projects that produce measurable local outcomes.

The priorities emerged from community listening sessions held last winter across the bank’s new and expanded markets, including Houston and Dallas. Facilitated by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the sessions brought together Fifth Third and Comerica leaders with community stakeholders to identify local needs and investment opportunities. Input from Fifth Third’s National Community Advisory Forum also helped shape the commitment.

The initiative builds on the bank’s existing Neighborhood Program, which has invested more than $409 million in participating communities since 2021 and helped attract an additional $200.9 million in outside capital. Combined, those investments have generated more than $610 million in community investment.

Expanding Fifth Third’s Texas Presence

Following the merger with Comerica, Fifth Third operates 107 financial centers in Texas. The planned branch expansion and community investment commitment represent a significant effort to grow its presence in a state with major metropolitan economies and expanding business and residential markets.

The bank’s six investment priorities are affordable housing and community development finance; small business lending, grants and economic opportunity; mortgage and home equity lending and homeownership access; sustainable communities; place-based community and economic development; and financial access and inclusion.

As the commitment moves forward, Fifth Third plans to announce specific initiatives as they develop in partnership with local communities. The strategy places particular emphasis on connecting capital and financial services with neighborhood needs, small business growth and broader economic mobility across Texas.