<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT (4) (c)






                              [Form of Senior Note]

                               [Face of Security]

If the registered owner of this Security is the Depositary or a nominee of the
Depositary, this Security is a Global Security and the following legend is
applicable except as specified on the reverse hereof:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A
SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE
REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE
THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations
thereunder.]

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE BANK INSURANCE FUND, THE SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
INSURANCE FUND OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

                               FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

                 ..............................................

No. .........                                                         $ .......

     Fifth Third Bancorp, a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of Ohio (herein called the "Company", which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to ..............................................., or
registered assigns, the principal sum of ......................................
Dollars on ........................................................ [if the
Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - , and to pay interest
thereon from ............. or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on ...........
and ............ in each year, commencing ........., at the rate of ....% per
annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if
applicable, insert - , provided that any principal and premium, and any such
instalment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of ...%
per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made
available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The
interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose
name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be
the ....... or ....... (whether or not a



<PAGE>

Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith
cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be
paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for
the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice
whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10
days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange
on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as
may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

     [If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - The
principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall
bear interest at the rate of ....% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue
principal or premium shall be payable on demand. [Any such interest on overdue
principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate
of ......% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on
interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date of such demand until the
amount so demanded is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any
overdue interest shall be payable on demand.]]

     Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable,
insert - any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in ............, in such coin
or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert - ;
provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register].

     Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:



                                     FIFTH THIRD BANCORP


                                     By.........................................

Attest:

..........................................





                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in
the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                     ..........................................,
                                                                      As Trustee

                                     By.........................................
                                                              Authorized Officer



                                      -3-
<PAGE>







                              [Reverse of Security]

     This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of ............... (herein called the
"Indenture", which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and ..................., as Trustee (herein
called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the
respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of
the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon
which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This
Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable,
insert - , limited in aggregate principal amount to $...........].

     [If applicable, insert - The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, [if applicable, insert -
(1) on ........... in any year commencing with the year ...... and ending with
the year ...... through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if
applicable, insert - on or after .........., 20..], as a whole or in part, at
the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert - on or
before ..............., ...%, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period
beginning ............. of the years indicated,


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year                    Redemption                 Year                    Redemption
                            Price                                              Price
----                    ----------                 ----                    ----------
<S>                   <C>                         <C>                     <C>
</TABLE>



and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to .....% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert - (whether
through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to
the Redemption Date, but interest instalments whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities,
or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the
relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.]

     [If applicable, insert - The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, (1) on ............ in
any year commencing with the year .... and ending with the year .... through
operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for
redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if
applicable, insert - on or after ............], as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than
through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal
amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning ............ of the years indicated,




                                      -4-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year                            Redemption Price
                                 For Redemption                     Redemption Price For
                               Through Operation                    Redemption Otherwise
                                     of the                        Than Through Operation
                                   Sinking Fund                     of the Sinking Fund
----                           -----------------                   ----------------------
<S>                           <C>                                <C>
</TABLE>




and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to .....% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest instalments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

     [If applicable, insert - Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may
not, prior to ............., redeem any Securities of this series as
contemplated by [if applicable, insert - Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph
as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application,
directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the
Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of
less than .....% per annum.]

     [If applicable, insert - The sinking fund for this series provides for the
redemption on ............ in each year beginning with the year ....... and
ending with the year ...... of [if applicable, insert - not less than
$.......... ("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $......... aggregate
principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series
acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable,
insert - mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if
applicable, insert - mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be
made [if applicable, insert - , in the inverse order in which they become due].]

     [If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert - In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

     [If applicable, insert - The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance
at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain
restrictive covenants and Events


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

     [If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an
Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due
and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

     [If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an
Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to - insert formula for determining the
amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable
and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each
case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series
shall terminate.]

     The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture
also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in
principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on
behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults
under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and
upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof,
whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

     As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder
of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for
any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing
shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the
enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon
on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.



                                      -6-
<PAGE>

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest
on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or
agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and
interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series
and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

     The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $....... and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount
of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

     No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

     Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.



                                      -7-