Fifth Third’s Project Search Interns Graduate to New Positions

This spring, 10 interns with Fifth Third’s Project SEARCH program graduated, richer in knowledge, skills and work experience – and ready to take on gainful employment.

Project SEARCH, a one-year transition program for high school students with disabilities, aims to provide participants with marketable and transferable skills. Fifth Third’s program operates at the Bank’s Madisonville campus in Cincinnati.

Todd Reese, document custody administration manager, spoke at this year’s graduation about the positive impact Project SEARCH interns make on his team, the strides the interns made during their rotation in his department and the interns who have gone on to become full-time Bank employees.

“In the Document Management group, we’ve hired six Project SEARCH interns into full-time positions over the last 15 years,” Reese said. “This year, I was proud to point out that one of those graduates facilitates the rotation for the intern program in our group, bringing everything full circle. He is a shining example for the current students on what success looks like and what they can achieve.”

ABLE Account Panel

Recently, Mitch Morgan, director of inclusion, participated as an employer advocate in a panel discussion on the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, checking account. In certain state-sponsored ABLE programs, the Fifth Third ABLE checking account allows those with disabilities to save for their future and pay for qualified disability-related expenses.

The panel was held by Ascensus, the third-party with which the Bank partners on its ABLE checking account. Ascensus has established a relationship with Project SEARCH to help build awareness around the product for program interns as they work toward gaining competitive employment after graduation.

“The panel discussion allowed participants to gain insight from those who use the ABLE checking account, how they use the plan, choose the program and spread the word.” Morgan said. “We also talked about challenges and future enhancements to the program.”

Fifth Third’s ABLE checking program offers all the features of a traditional checking account, including a debit card, checks, access to more than 50,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide and more, making it easier for people with disabilities to manage their accounts and pay for their expenses.

The program also features a notched ABLE Debit Card, with a physical notch in the card, which assists visually impaired customers in easily identifying the card and helping ensure the card is inserted correctly into ATMs and PIN pads.

Fifth Third’s ABLE checking account aligns both with the Bank’s commitment to inclusion and as a leading supporter of the disability community. It was created, in part, with feedback from the Individuals with Disabilities Business Resource Group and Project SEARCH.

About Project SEARCH

Fifth Third’s Project SEARCH program is a collaborative effort with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and multiple high schools, community partners and state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Each organization is an active partner in providing vocational training and employment for people with disabilities. Fifth Third is among more than 700 sites worldwide to host a Project SEARCH program.

Through the program, created in Cincinnati in 1996, students with cognitive disabilities gain experience building transferable work skills. By providing training and education, the program teaches interns skills they can use for gainful employment upon graduating.

Since 2005, Fifth Third Bank’s Project SEARCH program has provided interactive learning opportunities to over 400 interns, preparing them for gainful employment. Of those, 36 are now Bank employees.