Huntington Bank Elevates Corporate Support for LGBT Equality to Achieve Perfect HRC Rating

Key inclusion culture enhancements support increase to Huntington’s first 100 percent score on Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) today announced it is rated among the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, based on a 100 percent score on the 2014 Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation Corporate Equality Index – the leading national measurement of LGBT corporate support.

Huntington’s improved HRC rating is the result of grassroots employee engagement with executive leadership toward a shared goal of better demonstrating Huntington’s commitment to the LGBT community as part of its overall commitment to inclusion, said Steve Steinour, Huntington chairman, president and CEO.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our colleagues for uniting together to improve Huntington’s HRC Corporate Equality Index score,” said Steinour. “Recognition among the Best Places to Work by the Human Rights Campaign is a great honor and validation of our ongoing efforts to be a leading employer of choice.”

While most benefits standards assessed by HRC were already available to Huntington LGBT colleagues, Huntington’s actions to improve to a 100 percent Corporate Equality Index score included benefits expansion such as a tax gross-up provision for health care coverage to equalize the tax effect for same-sex partners participating in the health care plan. Among other factors, the Corporate Equality Index also recognizes Huntington’s equal employment and nondiscrimination policies, as well as LGBT colleague and community engagement.

“Huntington is committed moving forward to continue an excellent reputation for LGBT equality as an employer and business dedicated to inclusion as a core value,” Steinour said.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $57 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The Huntington National Bank, founded in 1866, provides full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; mortgage banking services; treasury management and foreign exchange services; equipment leasing; wealth and investment management services; trust services; brokerage services; customized insurance brokerage and service programs; and other financial products and services. The principal markets for these services are Huntington’s six-state retail banking franchise: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The primary distribution channels include a banking network of more than 700 traditional branches and convenience branches located in grocery stores and retirement centers, and through an array of alternative distribution channels including internet and mobile banking, telephone banking, and more than 1,500 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state retail banking franchise area and selected other Midwest and New England states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

The Huntington National Bank, Member FDIC. The logo mark and Huntington® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

Huntington Bancshares Inc.
Brent Wilder, 614-480-5875 or 614-935-8547
brent.wilder@huntington.com

Source: Huntington Bancshares Inc.