George Schaefer Jr. Joins Western & Southern Board

Western & Southern Financial Group announced that George A. Schaefer Jr., former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Fifth Third Bank, has joined its board of directors.

"George brings a wealth of experience to our board of directors,” said John F. Barrett, Western & Southern’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “His distinguished service to our country and decades of leadership in banking embody the integrity, discipline and vision that define Western & Southern. We are honored to welcome him as we continue to build on our tradition of strength and service.”

Born in Ohio and raised in Cincinnati, Schaefer graduated from Elder High School and went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science. He rose to the rank of captain and served in the Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University after he returned to Cincinnati.

Schaefer joined Fifth Third as a management trainee and progressed through the ranks. He led the bank through a period of tremendous expansion over the course of three decades. He also served on a number of boards, including Anthem, Inc. and Ashland, Inc., and was named Banker of the Year by American Banker and a Great Living Cincinnatian by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.