Fifth Third Spreads Out

Fifth Third Bank of Chicago announced an eight-fold increase of its occupancy in the Continental Towers, 1701 Golf Road in Rolling Meadows, IL. Tower One of the complex will become Fifth Third Center and serve as the bank's headquarters, as the bank has signed a 10-year lease for 94,432 square feet. According to Bradlee Stamper, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank, this move will consolidate several departments from other sites, enabling the bank to grow and better serve its customers. Fifth Third Bank's Chicago subsidiary headquarters as well as Chicago operations of its Midwest Payment Systems subsidiary will occupy the building's 6th through 9th floors; moves are scheduled to begin Spring 2002. Fifth Third Bank acquired Old Kent Bank earlier this year, and consequently, the combined entity's retail, commercial, investment, and lending busineses have all grown significantly over the past six months. As a result, more than 300 employees will relocate and be added to Fifth Third Center, which will have building-top signage at Interstate 90 and Golf Road. Fifth Third Bank is the first tenant to have exterior building signage at Continental Towers. Fifth Third also leased 10,000 square feet at 1699 Woodfield Road in Schaumburg, which will be used as a branch office. Greg Gerber and Cameron Benninghoven of The John Buck Co. represented Fifth Third Bank. Faye Oomen, executive vice president at Prime Group Realty Services Inc., represented the owner of Continental Towers, Prime Group Realty Trust.