Huntington Bank to Be Presenting Sponsor for Columbus Auto Show

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Huntington Bank (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) has announced that it is the presenting sponsor of the 2013 Columbus International Auto Show being held Thursday, March 14, through Sunday, March 17, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

“This year’s show will have many of the newest makes and models, with the latest automotive technology available, all showcased under one roof at the Convention Center,” said Rich Porrello, director of Huntington Automobile Finance. “Huntington is excited to be the presenting sponsor of this anticipated annual event, and we are pleased to support our automobile dealers in Ohio.”

Recently, Huntington Bank conducted a survey of its consumers in its Midwest markets that found one in five consumers plan to buy or lease a vehicle in 2013. Consumers are planning these purchases as a result of cautious optimism about the U.S. economy this year. The convergence of pent-up demand, improved credit scores, greater access to credit, aging vehicles, low interest rates, and high trade-in values has all created a perfect storm of buying for the automobile consumer in 2013, according to Porrello.

The Columbus Auto Show will also host a charity gala, "The Cars are the Stars", which will be held Friday, March 15, from 7pm -11pm at the Convention Center and will feature the Mojo Flo band. Tickets are $250, with the net proceeds benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, A Kid Again and the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio.

The show will feature thirty-seven car manufacturers with hundreds of foreign and domestic vehicles on display. In addition, there will be exhibits, family entertainment, a Nissan Ride & Drive, a RAM Off-Road experience, Columbus Zoo animals, an interactive on-site scavenger hunt, and face painting for the kids. In addition, there will be a Dialed Action Sports Team BMX Show featuring extreme skateboarding, rollerblading, and BMX biking. Attendees will have the chance to enter a drawing to win a 47” LG TV or a 2013 Honda Accord LX, sponsored by the Columbus Automobile Dealers Association. Tickets are $8. Children 12 and under are free, when accompanied by an adult.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $56 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 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 1,300 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state 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.

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

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
Cynthia Kincaid, 614-480-5415
cynthia.kincaid@huntington.com

Source: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Released March 13, 2013