Fifth Third, Eldridge launch private credit partnership

Eldridge and Fifth Third Bancorp have formed a partnership to provide private credit solutions to the latter’s commercial bank clients.

The partnership aims to meet evolving financing needs with flexible and forward-looking offerings, according to a Fifth-Third release today. Leaders from both firms emphasized the complementary strengths and shared vision behind the initiative.

The partnership builds on an existing relationship that began through Eldridge affiliate Stonebriar Commercial Finance, in which Fifth Third supported growth in asset-based lending and equipment finance.

Stonebriar Commercial Finance represented the 20th largest equipment finance company in 2024 with $7.7 billion in total assets, while Fifth Third Bank’s equipment finance operation was the 21st largest equipment finance company in 2024 with $7.1 billion in total assets, according to the 2025 Monitor 100.

Fifth Third, a federally chartered bank with a history dating back to 1858, is known for its innovation and community-focused financial services, according to the release. Eldridge, an asset management and insurance holding company with over $70 billion in assets under management, operates across diversified credit, real estate and insurance through its divisions Eldridge Capital Management and Eldridge Wealth Solutions.

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