Huntington Commits to Columbus Headquarters for 20 More Years

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Huntington Bank name will continue to grace the Columbus skyline for at least another 20 years, Huntington's Chairman, President and CEO Steve Steinour announced today at an afternoon press conference. The bank signed a lease extending its occupancy of the 38-story Huntington Center at 41 S. High Street to February 2030. The previous lease was scheduled to expire in 2015.

Steinour also announced that Huntington will add another 500 jobs to Columbus over the next five years. The jobs will be at all levels and in a variety of disciplines. Currently, the bank has approximately 3,600 colleagues in Columbus.

"We are committed to downtown Columbus and to the people who work and live here," said Steinour. "The continued presence of Huntington's headquarters at the heart of the city will help to keep Columbus vibrant. It will also help to maintain and grow jobs while attracting more businesses and development to downtown."

"Huntington and Columbus both benefit from our continuing relationship," said Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. "We are both committed to a strong core and strong economic future for our city. Working in partnership, we will continue to transform downtown and retain and grow jobs throughout Columbus."

Huntington has extended its lease for 200,000 square feet at the Huntington Center. It occupies floors three through 10 of the building. Huntington Center abuts Huntington's main downtown branch, which has been at the corner of Broad and High streets for 144 years. That building has 13 floors and Huntington occupies four floors.

"This is a landmark day for downtown," said Columbus City Council President Michael C. Mentel. "Few cities can boast such a longstanding relationship with a leading corporate citizen. Huntington's commitment to downtown Columbus through the bank's 164th anniversary is a huge vote of confidence in our mutual long-term success."

"Job creation and retention are the keys to economic success not only in downtown Columbus, but throughout the city," said Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther, chair of the Finance and Economic Development Committee.  "With today's announcement, Huntington is reaffirming its long-term commitment to Columbus as a trusted business and community partner."

Huntington has long invested in downtown Columbus, most recently acquiring the naming rights to Huntington Park in 2008 to support the expansion of Arena District revitalization. Over the past several years, Huntington has also been a major lender supporting Mayor Coleman's downtown housing initiative to build and expand a thriving residential community in the city core.

In the Huntington Center lease extension transaction, Rich Machinski and Mark Thompson of Huntington received assistance from Terry Mathews and Chandler Converse of CB Richard Ellis, while Hines representatives Scott Linville and Greg Van Schaack represented the property.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $52 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.  Through its affiliated companies, Huntington has been providing a full range of financial services including checking, loans, savings, insurance and investment services to customers for 144 years.  Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, telephone bank; and through its network of over 1,300 ATMs.

SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated