Huntington Bancshares Appoints Elizabeth Heller Allen Director of Corporate Public Relations and Communications

Allen Has More Than 30 Years of Experience in Communications and Marketing For Fortune 100 and Fortune 200 Companies

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elizabeth Heller Allen has been named executive vice president and director of corporate public relations and communications for Huntington Bank. Allen has expertise in global communications, brand management, government relations and banking. In her new role, she will be a member of Huntington's leadership team. Her appointment is effective Sept. 28, 2009.

"Elizabeth shares Huntington's commitment to create public relations and communications programs that support our colleagues, enhance our communities and benefit our customers," said Steve Steinour, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the bank. "She has outstanding and broad experience at several Fortune 100 and Fortune 200 companies. She will lead the creation and delivery of an integrated communications program that supports and is consistent with the Huntington brand. "

A native of Ohio, Allen is currently a lecturer at Northwestern University on integrated marketing communications programs. She has served as vice president, marketing and communications for Premier Health Partners in Dayton, Ohio. In that capacity, she also held the titles of chairman and president of Premier Community Health.

Her experience includes working as vice president, corporate communications for Dell, Staples, Raytheon Company and Loral Corporation. She also worked at Citicorp from 1977 to 1988, where she rose to the position of vice president and director, marketing communications, for Citicorp Investment Bank. In 2003, PR Week named Allen one of its Top 20 Corporate PR Practitioners.

Allen is a member of the Board of Advisors of Northwestern University Medill School, a member of the Board of Directors of Culture Works in Dayton and a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of Cox Arboretum, also in Dayton.

She earned a bachelor's in journalism from Northwestern University and a master's in business administration from Indiana University.

"I am very excited to be joining a bank that is so committed to the Midwest," said Allen. "Huntington is on the right path to growth and to continuing to find ways to support the communities it serves."

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $52 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Huntington has more than 143 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Through our subsidiaries, including our banking subsidiary, The Huntington National Bank, we provide full-service commercial and consumer banking services, mortgage banking services, equipment leasing, investment management, trust services, brokerage services, customized insurance service program, and other financial products and services. Our over 600 banking offices are located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of almost 1,400 ATMs. The Auto Finance and Dealer Services group offers automobile loans to consumers and commercial loans to automobile dealers within our six-state banking franchise area. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Private Financial Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. International banking services are available through the headquarters office in Columbus and a limited purpose office located in both the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Released September 24, 2009