First Charter to Audio Webcast Special Meeting of Shareholders

First Charter Corporation (NASDAQ: FCTR) today announced that the special meeting of shareholders scheduled on January 18, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time will be available via toll free telephone dial-in and broadcast live over the Internet. The special meeting is being held to consider and vote upon the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 14, 2007, by and among First Charter, Fifth Third Bancorp and Fifth Third Financial Corporation pursuant to which First Charter will merge with and into Fifth Third Financial Corporation. To listen to the meeting via telephone, callers can dial (877) 723-9523 and enter confirmation code 3104502. To listen to the meeting via the Internet, please visit the Company’s website at firstcharter.com at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register and download any necessary audio software. Click on the "Investor Relations” link on the home page and select the link for "Webcast.” An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the end of the meeting and continue through February 1, 2008. About First Charter First Charter Corporation (NASDAQ: FCTR), headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a regional financial services company with assets of $4.8 billion and is the holding company for First Charter Bank. First Charter operates 60 locations, four insurance offices, and 137 ATMs in North Carolina and Georgia, and also operates loan origination offices in Asheville, North Carolina and Reston, Virginia. First Charter provides businesses and individuals with a broad range of financial services, including banking, financial planning, wealth management, investments, insurance, and mortgages. For more information about First Charter, visit the Company's website at firstcharter.com or call (800) 601-8471.