Jay Plum, EVP and Head of Consumer Lending at Fifth Third Bank, exemplifies transformational leadership in consumer lending by integrating robust business outcomes with a deep sense of purpose. Under Plum’s direction, Fifth Third has expanded market share in 10 of its 11 key markets, maintaining exceptional customer experience standards. His innovative leadership spans mortgage, home equity, and specialty lending, with a focus on national housing equity, establishing him as a Vanguard in the housing economy.
With over two decades of leadership experience in consumer finance, Plum manages a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, including mortgage, home equity, indirect auto, and solar/home improvement lending. Before joining Fifth Third, he helped Huntington Bancshares become a leading mortgage lender in Ohio. His tenure at Fifth Third has seen the bank rank among the top 10 mortgage bank servicers nationally.
In the past year, Plum led Fifth Third into new lending categories, launching a fully integrated digital mortgage experience with ICE to enhance the homebuying process. As founding chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s CONVERGENCE Collaborative, he advocates for closing the racial homeownership gap. His leadership was recognized with the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Residential Leadership Award.
Plum’s impact at Fifth Third includes a 5% year-over-year loan portfolio increase despite challenging market conditions. The bank expanded its home equity and solar lending platforms under his guidance, aligning with customer demand and sustainability goals. Internally, Plum champions financial wellness and a culture of innovation and inclusion. His efforts have led to top performance in customer satisfaction and digital adoption across lending products, consistently achieving high Net Promoter Scores.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the best advice I ever received was from a speaker in business school who said, ‘If you can, go to the worst area of a company and fix it.’ He explained that not only will you enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done, and it’s always fun to build. He added that if it goes well, you are likely to get noticed.
Name:
Jay Plum
Title:
Fifth Third Bank
Company Name:
Head of Consumer Lending