Huntington Opens Third Branch in Downtown Columbus to Help Drive the Commercial Revitalization of High Street

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Bank (Nasdaq: HBAN: www.huntington.com) joined today with the City of Columbus and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation for the grand opening of Huntington's newest downtown branch at 139 South High Street in the iconic former Lazarus Department Store building.

The branch is part of the RiverSouth District, one of Columbus' newly revitalized downtown neighborhoods, which includes more than 600 apartments and the Franklin County Courthouse. The branch is located at the street level entrance of the former Lazarus building next to the soon-to-open Cup O'Joe's Coffee House/MoJoe Lounge. The Lazarus building has 700,000 square feet of occupied office space and is at the heart of the High Street commercial revitalization district.

Huntington took a leadership role that resulted in the creation of the public-private partnership responsible for RiverSouth. Additionally the bank financed a 300-unit apartment complex in the area along with the nearby nine-acre Columbus Commons Park, scheduled to open on May 26.

"We are committed to downtown Columbus and to the people who work and live here," said Steve Steinour, chairman, president and CEO of Huntington, who is a member of the CDDC board. "We continue to invest in the heart of the city because we want to keep Columbus vibrant and help it to grow. We look forward to more successes with our partners at the city and the CDDC."

"Huntington, Columbus and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation have a successful partnership that is building a strong core and economic future for our city," said Mayor Michael B. Coleman, who also attended today's event. "These are the kinds of public-private partnerships that will continue to transform downtown."

In addition to the branch, Huntington is placing an ATM kiosk in the nearby Columbus Commons Park. The park will include a carousel and serve as the venue this summer for concerts, a farmers market and a series of Shakespeare plays.

"Job creation and retention are the keys to economic success not only in downtown Columbus, but throughout the city," said Columbus City Council President Andrew J. Ginther.  "With the revitalization of the High Street corridor, Huntington, Columbus and the CDDC are generating additional job opportunities for the city."

"RiverSouth is a great success story for the residents of Columbus," said Guy Worley, CEO of CDDC. "The real beneficiaries are the citizens of Columbus, who will now have more housing, job and recreational opportunities."

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $53 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, Huntington 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 product 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 over 600 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 over 1,300 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state banking franchise area and selected New England states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated