Navigating Through Rapid Changes

Over the past year, the Fifth Third team has navigated one of the most transformative periods in the Bank’s history. From major acquisitions to economic uncertainty and the accelerating rise of artificial intelligence, Newline^TM by Fifth Third has continued to grow by powering the largest players in fintech and payments. The following highlights how the Newline team has embraced this evolving landscape.

Integrating Strategic Acquisitions

We were incredibly fortunate to announce the addition of two great companies to the Fifth Third family. In August 2025, Fifth Third completed its acquisition of DTS Connex, a leading cash‑management software provider that expanded our capabilities in cash logistics, automation and risk management. In fewer than two months, the Comerica acquisition was announced, making Fifth Third the 9th largest U.S. bank when the merger was completed in February 2026.

Typically, two mergers of this size and significance would create an overwhelming level of change, but the collective teams are stepping forward—absorbing new demands, adapting quickly and ensuring our company scales seamlessly.

Navigating Shifting Economic & Political Environments

Over the past 12 months, fluctuating interest rates, regulatory uncertainty and shifting political priorities have placed significant pressure on financial institutions. While these macroeconomic forces were not tied to a single event, their impact has been substantial, requiring careful planning, scenario modeling and strategic flexibility across every business line.

The Newline team has responded by listening to the evolving needs of our clients. When interest rates are high, deposits are very important to financial institutions and the businesses they support. As faster payments options ramp up, having a scalable partner is critical. With 127% quarterly growth, Newline is raising the bar for Instant Payments—handling high-transaction volumes for massive events like football’s biggest game with the ease, stability, and reliability B2B instant payments demand.

Embracing the Surge of Artificial Intelligence

As AI rapidly reshapes our daily lives, Newline has clearly positioned itself as an active leader. With a fintech mentality, Newline has been leading the charge on how agentic capabilities and automation will transform the payments experience and fast-track innovations.

In the past six months, the Newline team has:

• Fully integrated AI capabilities into our developer documentation
• Released our Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI tools to connect to Newline documentation and APIs
• Introduced a GitHub repository to make it all available

Rather than viewing AI as a disruptor, Newline has leaned into its potential—driving efficiency, strengthening scalability and enabling more intelligent, automated payment experiences for enterprise clients.

A Team Built for Constant Evolution

From major organizational shifts to a rapidly changing global landscape, Newline has shown what it means to embrace change with purpose. The past 12 months highlight a consistent theme: Newline doesn’t just adapt to change, it leverages change to drive progress.

Whether integrating new acquisitions, navigating economic turbulence, or adopting next‑generation AI capabilities, Newline continues to stand as one of the most adaptive and forward‑looking teams in fintech—well‑positioned for the opportunities ahead.