Loan growth and higher fees from ATM and credit card processing fueled a 18 percent increase in first quarter earnings at Fifth Third Bancorp.

        For the three months ended March 31, the parent of Fifth Third Bank said net income increased to $244.3 million, or 51 cents a share, from $206.4 million, or 44 cents a share, a year ago.

        “This has been a pretty good quarter for us,” George A. Schaefer Jr., president and CEO, told investors in a telephone conference call.

        Per share earnings matched the expectations of analysts surveyed by First Call/Thomson Financial.

        Fifth Third reported a 20 percent increase in non-interest income, which includes securities gains and ATM fees. It also had growth in deposits and an 18 percent increase in commercial loans over first quarter 2000.

        The regional bank completed its acquisition of Old Kent Financial Corp., of Grand Rapids, Mich., on April 2. The acquisition puts Fifth Third into the Fort Wayne, Ind., and Chicago markets.

        Mr. Schaefer said Fifth Third will begin converting Old Kent offices in Fort Wayne in a couple weeks and complete conversion of all the branches to the Fifth Third name in three or four months.

        “This is our biggest acquisition and we want to do it right,” he said.
        Winton Financial Corp.

        The parent of Winton Savings and Loan Co., reported a 10 percent gain in net income in the second quarter thanks to increased mortgage loan activity and continued cost controls.

        For the three months ended March 31, the company reported net earnings of $912,000, or 20 cents a share, an increase from $827,000, or 18 cents a share, in the same period last year.

        Total other income increased 80 percent to $556,000 because of gains on mortgage banking activities of $164,000 and $70,000 in gains from sale of securities. General and administrative expenses declined 6 percent.

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