Fifth Third Bank planst to hire 1,000 customer service employees in its retail branches, mortgage and operations, including its Cincinnati headquarters, as the COVID-19 pandemic places additional pressure on banks that are limiting in-person branch access and customers seek hardship aid from financial institutions. 

"Our Fifth Third customers and communities need us more than ever during these uncertain times and we will continue to be here for them," Greg Carmichael, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank, said in a press release. "I'm proud of the extraordinary service our employees are providing each day."

The bank is hiring for 500 positions in retail banking, 350 in mortgage sales and support and 100 in operations. The bank has a starting wage of $18 an hour, with comprehensive benefits and is paying a $1,000 in special payments for certain on-site hires before May 10. The bank, which has about 20,000 employees, has experienced an increase in customer service calls since the pandemic forced many companies to begin social distancing policies, according to a spokesman. 

The bank has closed retail bank lobbies for general access and has moved most of its bank operations to mobile, telephone, drive-thru or its network of 53,000 no-fee ATMs. The bank is offering appointments for customers with more complex transactions that can’t be handled remotely. 

Fifth Third Bank has $169 billion in assets and 1,149 full service banking branches, as well as 2,481 Fifth Third Bank branded ATMs across several states in the Midwest and Southeast.

Cover image: Fifth Third Bank