Bank chooses fintech partnership over in-house build
Fifth Third announced Tuesday that it has selected Brex as the provider of its commercial cards and AI-powered expense management tools for business clients. The collaboration will operate through Brex’s embedded payments platform, enabling the bank to issue corporate cards and automate reporting with advanced machine learning systems.
The decision highlights a growing trend among regional and national banks that are opting to partner with fintech firms rather than build comparable technology internally. The shift reflects rising expectations from business customers, who increasingly demand modern, seamless financial workflows.
Move comes as Fifth Third accelerates expansion
Fifth Third is currently working to acquire Comerica, a transaction that would position the combined institution as the ninth-largest bank in the U.S. with roughly $288 billion in assets. Strengthening its commercial banking technology is seen as a key step in supporting that growth.
CEO Tim Spence said the partnership is designed to merge Brex’s innovation with the scale and stability of a major financial institution, delivering tools that help companies manage spending more efficiently and expand globally.
Brex provides AI-driven tools for business clients
Brex’s platform offers automated expense categorization, real-time controls, streamlined approvals and integrated reporting. Using AI, the system reduces manual work and gives finance teams better visibility across corporate spending. For Fifth Third, this means offering clients a more sophisticated card program without the long development cycle typically required to build one from scratch.
Terms remain undisclosed
Neither company released financial details of the agreement. The commercial card program is expected to roll out through Fifth Third’s business banking channels, giving clients access to Brex’s software suite under the bank’s brand.
