About Nikki & Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank has been a proud lender sponsor for CONVERGENCE Columbus for three years, with Jay Plum serving as co-chair of the CONVERGENCE Collaborative nationally. Fifth Third is actively involved in affordable housing committees, task forces, and advisory boards, and has piloted innovative programs including the Equity DPA — a Special Purpose Credit Program developed with the Homeownership Council of America that delivered meaningful increases in lending to Black homeowners.
Homebuyer Fair at the Junto Hotel (April 2025)
Fifth Third led planning for a major homebuyer event at the Junto Hotel in Columbus — a collaborative effort with the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association, Bloom 614, Fannie Mae, Columbus REALTISTS, and other lenders. The event featured a full day of financial literacy and homebuyer education programming, with breakfast, lunch, childcare, and kids’ activities to remove participation barriers for families.
Most useful CONVERGENCE tools
“Bloom 614 serves as a one-stop shop for consumers, offering centralized access to homeownership resources. The product matrix bridges the knowledge gap between lenders and real estate agents, providing clear, comparative information on available lending products.”
Key lessons
“Coordinated, early marketing efforts — especially with active partner participation — are essential for successful outreach. Removing logistical and emotional barriers means ensuring easy access, ample parking, food, childcare, and creating an environment that is fun, friendly, and inspiring.”
“The CONVERGENCE initiative has proven to be a powerful model for place-based collaboration and impact. Scaling this concept nationally could unlock transformative change in housing access and financial inclusion across diverse communities.”
— Fifth Third Bank, CONVERGENCE Columbus