1
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 30, 2001
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-52188

===============================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                                                 
              OHIO                              6711                         31-0854434
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard Industrial         (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)      Classification Code Number)        Identification No.)

                                ---------------

                   FIFTH THIRD CENTER, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263
                                 (513) 579-5300
                   (Address, including zip code, and telephone
                         number, including area code, of
                        registrant's principal executive
                                    offices)
                                 ---------------
                             PAUL L. REYNOLDS, ESQ.
                               FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
                            38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA
                             CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263
                                  (513)579-5300
                               (513)744-6757 (FAX)
                (Name, address, including zip code and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                 ---------------
                          COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO:

                            Richard G. Schmalzl, Esq.
                              H. Samuel Lind, Esq.
                           Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP
                             1900 Fifth Third Center
                                511 Walnut Street
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                  (513)621-6464
                               (513)651-3836 (Fax)

         APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE OF THE SECURITIES TO
THE PUBLIC: The merger of Capital Holdings, Inc. with and into Fifth Third
Bancorp was consummated on March 9, 2001. Fifth Third is hereby amending this
Registration Statement to deregister 721,035 shares of common stock, no par
value, which were issuable to the shareholders of Capital Holdings in connection
with the merger of Capital Holdings with and into Fifth Third.

         If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. [ ]

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]

         This Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (Reg. No. 333-52188) shall hereafter become effective in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8(c) of the Securities Act of 1933.

===============================================================================



   2


                          DEREGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

         In accordance with the undertaking of Fifth Third Bancorp set forth in
the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-52188), declared effective
on January 17, 2001, Fifth Third is filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2
to deregister an aggregate of 721,035 shares of its common stock, no par value,
previously registered under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to the
registration statement, issuable to the shareholders of Capital Holdings, Inc.
in connection with the merger of Capital Holdings with and into Fifth Third.

         Pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-4, 5,800,000 shares of
common stock were registered. These shares were registered pursuant to the
registration statement in order to be issued: (i) to the shareholders of Capital
Holdings in connection with the merger, and (ii) upon the exercise of options
granted to certain directors, officers and employees of Capital Holdings under
its stock plans. Upon the consummation of the merger, Fifth Third issued a total
of 4,505,385 of these shares to the shareholders of Capital Holdings. Fifth
Third then amended the registration statement by filing Post-Effective Amendment
No.1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4 to register 573,580 of these shares to be issued
upon the exercise of the options. Therefore, in accordance with the undertaking
mentioned above, Fifth Third hereby deregisters the remaining 721,035 shares of
Fifth Third common stock previously registered pursuant to the registration
statement.

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration
Statement No. 333-52188 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on March 30, 2001.

                                       FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

                                       By: /s/ GEORGE A. SCHAEFER, JR.
                                           ---------------------------
                                           George A. Schaefer, Jr.
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-52188 has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Principal Executive Officer:


/s/ GEORGE A. SCHAEFER, JR.                          Date:    March 30, 2001
------------------------------------
George A. Schaefer, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer


Principal Financial Officer:
   3


/s/ NEAL E. ARNOLD                          Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Neal E. Arnold
Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President and Treasurer

Principal Accounting Officer:


/s/ ROGER W. DEAN                           Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Roger W. Dean
Controller

Directors of the Company:

/s/ DARRYL F. ALLEN*                        Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Darryl F. Allen

/s/ JOHN F. BARRETT *                       Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
John F. Barrett

/s/ GERALD V. DIRVIN *                      Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Gerald V. Dirvin

/s/ THOMAS B. DONNELL*                      Date:   March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Thomas B. Donnell

/s/ RICHARD T. FARMER*                      Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Richard T. Farmer

/s/ JOSEPH H. HEAD, JR. *                   Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Joseph H. Head, Jr.

                                            Date:
-----------------------------------
Joan R. Herschede

/s/ ALLEN M. HILL*                          Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Allen M. Hill

   4

/s/ WILLIAM G. KAGLER*                      Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
William G. Kagler

/s/ JAMES D. KIGGEN*                        Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
James D. Kiggen

/s/ ROBERT L. KOCH, II *                    Date:    March 30, 2001
------------------------------------
Robert L. Koch, II

/s/ MITCHEL D. LIVINGSTON*                  Date:   March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Mitchel D. Livingston, Ph.D.

/s/ ROBERT B. MORGAN*                       Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Robert B. Morgan

/s/ DAVID E. REESE*                         Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
David E. Reese

                                            Date:
-----------------------------------
James E. Rogers

/s/ BRIAN H. ROWE*                          Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Brian H. Rowe

/s/ GEORGE A. SCHAEFER, JR.                 Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
George A. Schaefer, Jr.

/s/ JOHN J. SCHIFF, JR.*                    Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
John J. Schiff, Jr.

   5
/s/ DONALD B. SCHACKELFORD *                Date:   March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Donald B. Schackelford

/s/ DENNIS J. SULLIVAN, JR. *               Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Dennis J. Sullivan, Jr.

/s/ DUDLEY S. TAFT *                        Date:    March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Dudley S. Taft

/s/ THOMAS W. TRAYLOR *                     Date:   March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
Thomas W. Traylor

*By: /s/ GEORGE A. SCHAEFER, JR.
     -----------------------------------
         George A. Schaefer, Jr.
         as attorney-in-fact pursuant to
         a power of attorney previously
         filed