George Alphonse Schaefer Jr.^[1] (born May 17, 1945)^[2] is the former CEO of Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati, Ohio, a financial services company whose banking arm is Fifth Third Bank.^[3] In April 2007, Schaefer stepped down as CEO, deferring to Kevin T. Kabat, retaining his role as chairman of the board.

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (November 2010)

Born in Ohio^[2] and raised in Cincinnati,^[4] Mr. Schaefer is a 1963 graduate of Elder High School.^{[citation needed]} Upon graduation he was appointed to West Point^[3] where he received his bachelor of science degree in 1967,^[1] in nuclear engineering. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and soon after entered U.S. Army Ranger school. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, was awarded a Bronze Star^[3] and left the Army in 1970. He is a 1974 graduate of Xavier University Business School with an M.B.A. degree focused on finance.^[4]

He joined Fifth Third Bank in 1971 and continued in increasing roles within Fifth Third Bank, becoming a director in 1988, a company officer in 1990, at which time he reached the top position.

He is married to Betty Ann (Bruser) Schaefer. They have 3 children, George III, Shaune and Thomas.^{[citation needed]}