Huntington 'Spirit Check' Fundraising Program Growth Helps More High School Sports Teams Score Support

Fivefold increase in school participation in customized check program

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As Midwest high school hoops teams line up for spring tourneys, more and more fans can express their school spirit while financially supporting hometown student programs through the Huntington Bank Spirit Check initiative.

To date 91 high schools in Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Northern Kentucky and Indianapolis have adopted the Spirit Check program, through which Huntington is designed to collect $3 for school programs for the purchase of every box of customized checks bearing the team mascot.

"At Huntington we have been working with families and school administrators to determine how we can help support athletics, academic and other student programs," said Mary Navarro, executive senior vice president of retail and commercial banking at Huntington Bank. "Through the Spirit Check program, Huntington has found a way to help schools raise money, give families more choice in the checks they order and spread team spirit throughout the community."

Launched in 2006, enrollment in Huntington's Spirit Check program has grown from an initial 15 schools to nearly 100 and continues to attract new participants. Interested schools can contact Huntington to sign up so that boosters can order the fundraising checks. For more information, visit HuntingtonforSchools.com or stop by your local Huntington Bank branch.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated 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 over 1,400 ATMs. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; Private Financial and Capital Markets Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. Sky Insurance offers retail and commercial insurance agency services, through offices in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia. International banking services are available through the headquarters office in Columbus, a limited purpose office located in both the Cayman Islands and another located Hong Kong.

SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Released February 7, 2008