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Fifth Third Bank is rolling out some new branch locations in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. It’s doing so with the help of a NASCAR-racing Ford Mustang.

A life-size replica of the No. 17 race car rolled in Thursday to two new branches, one in Fort Myers and the other in Cape Coral. Four more branches are in the works to open by the end of the year in the area, including one off College Parkway at what used to be a Burger King restaurant that was razed earlier this year. 

“Florida is a focal point for us,” said Jim Weiss, regional president of the Cincinnati, Ohio-based bank with 34 branches open in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties and 77 in all of South Florida. The next new Fifth Third Bank will open on Sept. 28 at 9041 College Parkway in Fort Myers. For the full story, click here.

During a time in which many banks are scaling back on branches as online banking continues to rise, Fifth Third Bank is doing the opposite. 

“Florida is a focal point for us,” said Jim Weiss, regional president of the Cincinnati, Ohio-based bank that has 34 branches open in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties and 77 in all of South Florida. 

“Our goal is to get to an 8% building share in South Florida,” said John Slavik, South Florida retail executive for Fifth Third Bank. “Our business has gone from transactional to consulting.” 

A look inside the 3,500-square-foot branch at 1522 Cape Coral Parkway revealed the atmosphere of a coffee shop as much as a bank, with a “transactional bar” used for deposits and offices for more in-depth services such as financial consulting. 
“Seventy-five percent of transactions occur online,” Weiss said. “But we also know customers choose to bank with us based on who they can trust. We strongly feel we need to be accessible for the complex needs that our customers have.” 
The next new Fifth Third Bank will open Sept. 28 at 9041 College Parkway in Fort Myers.