FIFTH THIRD <FITB.O> TO MERGE WITH C AND H
Fifth Third Bancorp and <C and H
Bancorp> said they reached a preliminary agreement to merge.   
 C and H Bancorp has assets of 257 mln dlrs and is the parent
company of Citizens Heritage Bank N.A.
    The companies said the agreement calls for each of the
about one mln shares of C and H Bancorp to be exchanged for one
share of Fifth Third Bancorp. Based on its financial
expectations, Fifth Third said the dilution in per share
earnings for the merger will be negligible.
 Reuter
