Exhibit 24(a)

POWER OF ATTORNEY
(Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3)

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Richard A. Cheap, Thomas E. Hoaglin, and Donald R. Kimble, as their true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign Huntington Bancshares Incorporated’s Form S-3 Registration Statement, any and all amendments thereto, any subsequent registration statements pursuant to Rule 462 of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or either one of his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

          In Witness Whereof, the undersigned have signed these presents as of the dates indicated next to their respective signatures below.

Signature:		Title:		Date:
/s/ Thomas E. Hoaglin				12/19/2008
Thomas E. Hoaglin		Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Donald R. Kimble				01/06/2009
Donald R. Kimble		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Thomas P Reed				12/19/2008
Thomas P. Reed		Controller and Senior Vice President (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Raymond J. Biggs				12/18/2008
Raymond J. Biggs		Director
/s/ Don M. Casto III				01/06/2009
Don M. Casto III		Director
/s/ Michael J. Endres				01/06/2009
Michael J. Endres		Director
/s/ Marylouise Fennell				12/17/2008
Marylouise Fennell		Director
/s/ John B. Gerlach, Jr.				12/17/2008
John B. Gerlach, Jr.		Director
/s/ D. James Hilliker				12/17/2008
D. James Hilliker		Director
/s/ David P. Lauer				01/06/2009
David P. Lauer		Director
/s/ Jonathan A. Levy				12/17/2008
Jonathan A. Levy		Director
/s/ Wm. J. Lhota				12/17/2008
Wm. J. Lhota		Director
/s/ Gene E. Little				12/21/2008
Gene E. Little		Director
/s/ Gerald P. Mastroianni				12/17/2008
Gerard P. Mastroianni		Director
/s/ David L. Porteous				12/29/2008
David L. Porteous		Director
/s/ Kathleen H. Ransier				01/06/2009
Kathleen H. Ransier		Director