Fifth Third sheds more branches in St. Louis market

Fifth Third Bank has entered an agreement to sell retail operations in the St. Louis metropolitan area to Great Southern Bank, which was announced Wednesday.

The transaction is in line with Fifth Third’s broader branch consolidation plans announced in June. The deal with Great Southern is expected to close in early 2016, subject to regulatory review and approval, according to the Cincinnati-based banking company.

Fifth Third remains committed to its commercial coverage and institutional services in St. Louis after the completion of the sale. Fifth Third operates commercial banking activities in a number of markets where it does not have a retail branch network, according to the company.

Plans announced by Fifth Third earlier this summer would see the closure of 100 branches or so by the end of June 2016, due largely to the growth of mobile banking. Closures were being evaluated across the company's 12-state footprint.

Two Butler County branches in Oxford on North Poplar Street and West Chester Twp. on Tylersville Square Drive will close in November, according to Fifth Third.

Also, the bank previously announced plans in September to sell 17 branch banking locations, the retail accounts, certain private banking deposits and related loan relationships in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area to First National Bank of Pennsylvania. Fifth Third will keep a presence in Pittsburgh, as well, following the closure of that sale including commercial, wealth management, institutional services and mortgage origination activities.

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