Fifth Third Completes Acquisition of Comerica; Rebranding Set for September
By JC Reindl, Detroit Free Press — Updated February 2, 2026
Fifth Third Bancorp has officially finalized its purchase of Comerica Bank, marking a significant shake-up in the Michigan banking landscape. The $12.3 billion all-stock deal, initially announced in October 2025 and approved last month by both banks’ shareholders and the Federal Reserve, closed on Monday, February 2, 2026. With this acquisition, Fifth Third has become one of the largest financial institutions in Michigan and ranks as the ninth-largest bank in the United States, boasting approximately $294 billion in assets.
Rebranding to Roll Out in September
Fifth Third CEO Tim Spence revealed plans to begin converting Comerica’s customer systems to Fifth Third’s platform on September 8, 2026 — the day after Labor Day. This date marks the start of a comprehensive rebranding process, which will see Comerica branches and services formally transition under the Fifth Third name.
Addressing customer concerns about account continuity, Spence stated that the majority of Comerica customers’ account numbers will remain unchanged following the conversion. “In the vast majority of cases, your account number will stay the same,” he clarified, noting the bank’s track record for successful integrations.
Comerica Park Name Change Planned After 2026 Season
One of the most visible changes will be the renaming of Comerica Park, the iconic stadium and home to the Detroit Tigers. Spence confirmed that the stadium’s name will be updated after the conclusion of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. While the new name has not yet been announced, the decision to wait until the offseason aims to avoid disruption during the baseball calendar.
Branch Network and Closures
The merger will also lead to some consolidation of physical branches in Michigan. Fifth Third plans to close a total of 76 branches in the state — comprising 55 combined locations from both banks. However, Spence stressed that the overall branch network will expand significantly for customers. Post-merger, Fifth Third will operate approximately 230 branches in Michigan, up from 163 Fifth Third and 143 Comerica branches prior to the acquisition.
“This is a net, very material increase in the branch access for customers of both banks,” Spence said. He added that many branches slated for closure are located very close to other bank locations, sometimes sharing the same parking lots, minimizing inconvenience for customers.
Employment and Office Locations
The CEO confirmed some job reductions will occur where employee concentration overlaps, though exact figures were not disclosed. Despite layoffs, Fifth Third has no current plans to consolidate the downtown Detroit offices or to close Comerica’s recently opened 340,000-square-foot Great Lakes Campus in Farmington Hills.
Spence expressed optimism about future employment growth in the region, stating, “As we get through the conversion and get the number of employees across the company sort of right-sized to fit operational capacity, I actually expect that we’ll see employment levels in southeast Michigan grow from there.”
Details on the Acquisition Deal
While the deal was initially valued at $10.9 billion in October 2025, appreciation in both banks’ stock prices brought the final valuation to $12.3 billion. Comerica shareholders received 1.8663 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp for every Comerica share held.
Spence noted the favorable market reaction, saying, “Normally, they (bank stock prices) go down. In this particular case, because of the market’s view that this is a very positive merger…stocks reacted very favorably.”
Historical Background
Fifth Third Bancorp is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Comerica, originally founded in 1849 as the Detroit Savings Fund Institute, was once based in Detroit before relocating its headquarters to Dallas in 2007. Over the years, Comerica grew through mergers, most notably absorbing the Manufacturers National Bank in 1992. —
As the merger progresses, customers can expect a transitional period with changes rolling out gradually over the coming year, ultimately reshaping banking services across Michigan.
For inquiries, contact JC Reindl at 313-378-5460 or [email protected]. Follow him on X (@jcreindl).