Huntington Names Pete Dunlap Insurance President

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 12, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Bancshares Inc.(Nasdaq:HBAN) recently announced the appointment of Pete Dunlap as president of Huntington Insurance. In this role Dunlap is responsible for the oversight and strategic direction for the company's insurance business, which includes consumer and commercial services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana and West Virginia.

"Huntington has been in the insurance business since 1996. Now with expanded offerings, there is an even greater opportunity to leverage the resources of the bank," said Daniel Benhase, senior executive vice president of the Private Financial and Capital Markets group, who is responsible for this and other specialized services offered by Huntington. "Pete has a proven track record for building momentum with associates and enhancing the service to our customers. I look forward to his contributions in this role for Huntington."

With Huntington since 2000, Dunlap has served as Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager of Huntington Investment Company (HIC) since 2005. His teams have been the primary distribution channel for Trust, Asset Management, 401K and Insurance Services. Dunlap also previously served as Regional Sales Manager for Huntington's Southern Ohio/Kentucky Region from 2002-2005, and worked in Insurance Services at Huntington for two years. His insurance industry experience includes positions with MetLife and the former Commercial Union Insurance Company, now known as Aviva PLC. A graduate of Babson College in Massachusetts, Dunlap was recently recognized by Bank Investment Consultant Magazine as one of their 2008 Top 25 Bank Investment Program Managers.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq:HBAN) is a $55 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Huntington has more than 142 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Huntington's banking subsidiary, The Huntington National Bank, provides innovative retail and commercial financial products and services through over 600 regional banking offices 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. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Texas; Private Financial and Capital Markets Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. Huntington Insurance offers retail and commercial insurance agency services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia. International banking services are made available through the headquarters office in Columbus, a limited purpose office located in the Cayman Islands, and another located in Hong Kong.

CONTACT:  Huntington Bancshares Inc.
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Released September 12, 2008