SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: ~~February~~March 199, 2001

Old Kent Financial Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)

Michigan
(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)

0-14591
(Commission
File Number)

38-1986608
(IRS Employer
Identification no.)

111 Lyon Street, N.W.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(Address of principal executive offices)

49503
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number,
including area code: (616) 771-5000

Item 59. ~~Other~~Regulation ~~Events.~~FD Disclosure

On Old ~~February~~Kent 19Financial Corporation will hold a special meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, March 13, 2001, ~~Old~~at ~~Kent~~10:00 ~~Financial~~a.m., ~~Corporation~~Eastern ~~issued~~Standard Time. The purpose of the ~~press~~special ~~release~~meeting ~~attached~~is for asshareholders ~~Exhibit~~to ~~99.1~~consider and vote upon a proposal to ~~this~~approve ~~Form~~the ~~8-K~~merger agreement under which Old Kent would be merged with and into Fifth Third Financial Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bancorp.

~~Item~~ Old 7Kent is making this meeting accessible to the public by telephone on a listen-only basis. Anyone ~~Financial~~interested ~~Statements,~~in ~~Pro~~the ~~Forma~~meeting ~~Financial~~may ~~Information,~~access ~~and~~the ~~Exhibits~~meeting on a live basis by dialing 303-267-1001. No access code is required to access the meeting.

	(c)	Exhibits:
		99.1	Old Kent Press Release dated February 19, 2001.

Forward-Looking Statements

Old Kent's discussion during this special meeting may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, expressions such as " anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "is likely," "will," "projects," "estimates," "should," "forecasts," "predicts," "judgment," "opinion" and "view." These statements are necessarily statements of belief as to the expected outcomes of future events. Actual results could materially differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Internal and external factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the possibility that anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements from the merger or other actions may not be fully realized within the expected time frame and that future circumstances could cause business decisions or accounting treatment to be decided differently than now intended. Old Kent undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or conditions after the date of the discussion at the special meeting.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized .

Dated: February 19, 2001	OLD KENT FINANCIAL CORPORATION (Registrant)
Dated: March 9, 2001	OLD KENT FINANCIAL CORPORATION (Registrant)
	By: /s/ Albert T. Potas
	Albert T. Potas Senior Vice President

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number			Document
99.1			Old Kent Press Release dated February 19, 2001.

Filing Compare · OLD KENT FINANCIAL CORP /MI/