Fifth Third Bancorp today announced a multi‑year partnership with Brex, a fintech platform that specializes in corporate cards and automated expense management. The deal will allow Fifth Third to issue AI‑powered commercial cards and embed Brex’s payment platform into its own banking services, unlocking an estimated $5.6 billion in annual commercial card payment volume for the bank’s commercial‑banking portfolio.
The partnership is part of Fifth Third’s broader strategy to modernize its commercial‑banking offering and compete with larger rivals in the embedded‑finance space. By integrating Brex’s AI‑driven workflows, the bank can provide real‑time visibility, automated expense reporting, and proactive controls that were previously only available to fintechs. The move also positions Fifth Third to capture a larger share of the growing market for integrated financial tools that businesses demand as part of their day‑to‑day operations.
From a business‑impact perspective, the $5.6 billion volume target represents a significant expansion of Fifth Third’s commercial‑card business, which has historically been a modest portion of its overall revenue. The partnership is expected to accelerate transaction volume, fee income, and client engagement, while also giving the bank a competitive edge against larger institutions that already offer embedded‑finance solutions. The AI capabilities will reduce manual processing, lower error rates, and improve compliance oversight, all of which can translate into cost savings and higher margin retention.
Management emphasized the strategic fit and the value of the partnership. Chairman, CEO and President Tim Spence said, “Our partnership with Brex is a commitment to redefine how companies leverage financial technology. By combining the strength of a leading bank with Brex’s AI‑driven innovation, we’re creating intelligent solutions that simplify complexity, drive efficiency and enable businesses to scale globally with confidence.” Brex CEO Pedro Franceschi added, “By gaining access to roughly 8 % of the U.S. commercial banking sector through a single partner, we’re delivering agentic finance solutions at an unprecedented scale.” Bridgit Chayt, Head of Commercial Payments, noted, “This partnership changes everything. It automates workflows, enhances visibility and eliminates manual processes, freeing teams to focus on strategy rather than spreadsheets.”
While no immediate market reaction data is available, the partnership signals a clear shift in Fifth Third’s competitive positioning and underscores its commitment to AI and embedded finance. The deal is expected to strengthen the bank’s commercial‑banking pipeline and provide a foundation for future growth in the high‑growth fintech‑enabled services sector.
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