The short answer
A transaction stating 53 SERVICE CHG MAINT indicates a monthly checking account maintenance charge assessed by Fifth Third Bank on accounts that did not meet qualifying fee waiver conditions during the statement billing cycle.
How Fifth Third Monthly Service Charges Occur
The descriptor 53 SERVICE CHG MAINT on your monthly bank statement indicates an internal account maintenance fee billed by Fifth Third Bancorp. The abbreviation 53 SERVICE CHG stands for Fifth Third service charge, while MAINT designates account maintenance. This fee is not an outside merchant debit or third-party card charge. Instead, it is an automated institutional service charge deducted directly from your checking or savings balance at the close of your monthly statement cycle.
Fifth Third assesses this Fifth Third Monthly Account Maintenance Fee when an account fails to satisfy specific waiver requirements during the preceding billing period. While modern consumer accounts like Fifth Third Momentum Checking feature zero monthly service charges, older legacy tiers (such as Essential Checking or Enhanced Checking) charge recurring fees, commonly $11.00 each month. These fees trigger if your combined average daily balance dips below required minimum thresholds or if your account fails to receive a qualifying ACH direct deposit during the monthly cycle.
To eliminate this recurring cost, inspect your recent account statements at 53.com to verify your current account tier and monthly requirements. You can contact Fifth Third customer service by phone or visit a local branch to convert your legacy account into Fifth Third Momentum Checking, which has no minimum balance requirements and no recurring monthly maintenance fees. If this was your first time incurring the fee due to an interrupted payroll deposit or an unexpected balance dip, ask the customer service representative for a one-time courtesy refund.
- Account did not receive qualifying direct deposits totaling required minimums
- Average daily combined balance fell below monthly minimum maintenance thresholds
- Account is an older legacy checking product subject to monthly service charges
Waiving Monthly Fees or Switching Account Tiers
Contact Fifth Third customer service to upgrade your account to fee-free Momentum Checking.
- Sign in to online banking and review your account fee disclosure summary.
- Check whether your account received qualifying payroll direct deposits during the cycle.
- Call Fifth Third customer support to request a transition to fee-free Fifth Third Momentum Checking.
- Request a one-time courtesy fee waiver if maintenance conditions were missed temporarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I avoid monthly maintenance fees at Fifth Third Bank?
Switch your account to Fifth Third Momentum Checking, which has zero monthly service fees, no minimum balance requirements, and zero overdraft transfer fees.
Can I get a refund for a 53 SERVICE CHG MAINT fee?
Fifth Third customer service representatives can frequently issue a courtesy refund for periodic service charges upon request if you establish qualifying direct deposits.
Part of a family
53 SERVICE CHG MAINT is one of the Fifth Third Bank statement codes lines — see the whole family decoded.
Independent reference — not affiliated with Fifth Third Bank. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- Fifth Third Checking Accounts and Fee Schedule Disclosures https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/personal-banking/bank/checking-accounts.html
- CFPB Guide to Checking Account Fees and Waivers https://www.consumerfinance.gov
Reviewed Sep 11, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges