1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) [ X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 or [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______ to ______ Commission File Number 333-856 THE FIFTH THIRD BANK AUTO TRUST 1996-B (Issuer with respect to the Certificates and Notes) THE FIFTH THIRD BANK (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) OHIO 31-0854434 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513) 579-5300 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes: /X/ No: / / The registrant has no officer, director or beneficial owner of more than 10% of equity securities to whom Section 16(a) of the Act applies and consequently Item 405 of Regulation S-K does not apply. The registrant does not have any voting stock, has not been involved in bankruptcy proceedings during the past five years and is not a corporate registrant. No documents are incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K. This report contains 7 pages and the exhibit index is on page 5 - --- 2 PART I ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - -------------------------- None ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS - ------------------------------------------------------------ None PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At December 31, 1996, there were two (2) registered holders of the Asset Backed Certificates ("Certificates"), one of which was CEDE & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). There are 34 parties registered on the books of DTC as record owner of Certificates. There is no established public market in which the Certificates are traded. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE - -------------------- None PART III ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At December 31, 1996, the Certificates were registered in the name of (i) The Fifth Third Bank and (ii) CEDE & Co., as nominee of DTC. The books of DTC indicate that the 8 DTC participant institutions listed below are record owner of in excess of five percent (5%) of the Certificates issued. Only such participants, however, know the identity of the beneficial owner of interests in such Certificates. TITLE OF NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF PERCENT CLASS BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF CLASS -------- ---------------- -------------------- -------- 6.45% Asset Chase Manhattan Bank $136,330,000 -Principal 35.5% Backed Certificates, 2 Chase Manhattan Plaza amount of Certificates Class A New York, New York 11081 6.45% Asset SSB Custodian Global Proxy Unit $115,499,000 -Principal 30.1% Backed Certificates, PO Box 1631 amount of Certificates Class A Boston, Massachusetts 02105-1631 6.45% Asset Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company $48,051,000 -Principal 12.5% Backed Certificates, c/o Mellon Bank, NA amount of Certificates Class A 3 Mellon Bank Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15259 6.45% Asset PNC Bank, NA $23,370,000 -Principal 6.1% Backed Certificates, 11 Penn Center amount of Certificates Class A 1836 Market Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 6.70% Asset Bank One Trust Company, NA-State $10,000,000 -Principal 34.6% Backed Certificates, 30 West Spring Street amount of Certificates Class B Columbus, Ohio 43266-0581 6.70% Asset Chase Manhattan Bank $10,000,000 -Principal 34.6% Backed Certificates, 2 Chase Manhattan Plaza amount of Certficates Class B New York, New York 10081 6.70% Asset Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company $6,802,000 -Principal 23.5% Backed Certificates, 1000 North Water Street amount of Certificates Class B PO Box 2977 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 6.70% Asset 1st Bank, NA $1,590,000 -Principal 5.5% Backed Certificates, c/o ICE Proxy Services amount of Certficates Class B 71 Executive Blvd Farmington, New York 11375 ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------- None 3 PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Exhibits. The following exhibits are submitted herewith: 99.1 Annual Accountant's Report relative to the Servicer's compliance with minimum servicing standards set forth in the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage Bankers and Annual Officer's Certificate of Servicer relative to the Servicer's performance of its servicing obligations (b) Reports on Form 8-K. During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Servicer, on behalf of the Issuer, filed Reports on Form 8-K on October 16, 1996, November 15, 1996 and December 18, 1996. Supplemental Information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section 15 (d) of the Act by Registrants Which Have Not Registered Securities Pursuant to Section 12 of the Act: NONE SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the Issuer and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Dated: March 27, 1997 THE FIFTH THIRD BANK AUTO TRUST 1996-B (Issuer with respect to the Certificates and Notes) By: THE FIFTH THIRD BANK (Originator and the Issuer and Registrant) By: /s/ Roger W. Dean -------------------------- Name: Roger W. Dean Title: Senior Vice President & Controller 4 EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE - ----------- --------------------------- ---- 99.1 Annual Accountant's Report 6 relative to the Servicer's compliance with minimum servicing standards set forth in the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage Bankers and Annual Officer's Certification of Servicer relative to the Servicer's performance of its servicing obligations