Huntington Bank Names Barbara Benham Director of Corporate Communications and Government Relations

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Huntington Bank (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) has named Barbara Benham director of corporate communications and government relations, the bank announced today. She has served as interim director for the past year, reporting to Steve Steinour, Huntington’s chairman, president and CEO. Benham has led the bank’s government relations department for the past 10 years and has extensive experience in building partnerships in the communities the bank serves.

Barbara will continue to oversee public relations, internal communications, and government relations. During her year in the position, she has helped to raise awareness in the community about Huntington, increase communications with Huntington colleagues and build strong innovative partnerships with elected officials, civic organizations and community groups.

“Barbara is one of the country’s top government relations professionals in the banking industry,” said Steinour. “Over the past year, she has helped strengthen Huntington’s business during a time of tremendous growth. She has taken on a new role and improved our corporate communications strategy, while continuing to lead government relations at a critical period for financial services. She is extremely active in our communities and dedicated to finding innovative solutions for our customers, colleagues and shareholders. She is the right leader to help guide Huntington’s communications and government affairs as the bank continues to grow.”

“Huntington has demonstrated an industry-leading commitment to our customers and communities,” said Benham. “We have created innovative, customer-friendly banking products and groundbreaking partnerships in our markets that position us to drive economic recovery in the neighborhoods we serve.”

Benham has nearly 20 years of experience in community and government relations. She has worked for a wide variety of organizations spanning the nonprofit, civic, corporate and government sectors. Before joining Huntington in 1998, she served as the development director for Children’s Hunger Alliance, manager of the Wexner Center Foundation, as an account executive at RWA Management and Marketing, and in senior leadership roles for statewide and federal political campaigns.

Based in Columbus, Benham currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Community Shelter Board, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Just Think, Inc, The Capital Square Foundation, and is Chair of the Government Affairs Steering Committee for the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. She previously served on the Board of the YWCA Columbus, the Homeless Families Foundation, and was inducted as a member of the Ohio Commodores for her volunteer work in economic development.

A native of Kettering, Ohio, Benham earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago.

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 690 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 1,380 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.

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
Maureen M. Brown, 614-480-5512
maureen.brown@huntington.com

Source: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Released December 4, 2012