NEWSRELEASE [HUNTINGTON BANKS LOGO] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: SUBMITTED: APRIL 9, 1997 JACQUELINE THURSTON (614) 480-3878 HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES REPORTS EARNINGS INCREASE OF 12% FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 1997 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) today reported earnings per share of $.47, an increase of 12% from $.42 per share in the first quarter of 1996. Net income was $66.5 million for the first quarter of 1997 compared with $62.8 million for the same period one year ago. For the recent three months, Huntington's return on average equity was 17.75% and return on average assets was 1.28%. "Net interest income was up 14.5%, with average loans increasing 9% from one year ago. Consumer loan and lease growth was particularly strong at 13.3%. In addition, we completed our acquisition of Citi-Bancshares, Inc. in Leesburg, Florida bringing total assets in Central and West Coast Florida to approximately $2 billion," stated Frank Wobst, chairman and chief executive officer of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. The net interest margin for the quarter was 4.35%, an increase of 32 basis points from the first quarter of 1996. Interest rate swaps and other off-balance sheet financial instruments provided a modest contribution in the recent three months versus a reduction of $15.1 million one year ago. Non-interest income, excluding securities transactions, amounted to $63.8 million for the first three months of 1997 compared with $61.1 million during the same period last year. Electronic banking fees, investment product sales and trust services showed the most significant increases. Non-interest expense increased 8.2% to $155.3 million compared with $143.5 million one year ago. Adjusting for the effects of acquisitions accounted for under the purchase method, non-interest expenses increased 6.2%. Advertising costs associated with Huntington's branding campaign also contributed to the growth in expenses. The efficiency ratio continued to be solid at 56.3% compared with 58.2% in the same period last year. The company's asset quality remains strong. At March 31, 1997, non-performing assets as a percentage of total loans and other real estate were .54% down from .62% one year ago. The coverage ratio was 341% up from 313% at March 31, 1996. Huntington's allowance for loan losses (ALL) represented 1.40% of total loans at the end of the first quarter. Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans were .43% for the three month period. Huntington Bancshares is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with assets in excess of $21 billion. The company's banking subsidiaries operate 355 offices in Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia. Huntington's mortgage, trust, investment banking, and automobile finance subsidiaries manage 80 offices in the six states mentioned as well as Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. # # # HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED COMPARATIVE SUMMARY (CONSOLIDATED) (in thousands, except per share amounts)
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS THREE MONTHS ENDED OF OPERATIONS MARCH 31, CHANGE - ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------- 1997 1996 % ------------ ------------ -------- Interest Income $405,184 $374,296 8.3% Interest Expense 193,664 189,578 2.2 -------- -------- Net Interest Income 211,520 184,718 14.5 Provision for Loan Losses 18,892 11,823 59.8 Securities Gains 1,977 7,090 N.M. Non-Interest Income 63,824 61,072 4.5 Non-Interest Expense 155,315 143,496 8.2 Provision for Income Taxes 36,664 34,736 5.6 -------- -------- NET INCOME $66,450 $62,825 5.8% ======== ======== PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS (1) - ---------------------------- Net Income $0.47 $0.42 11.9% Cash Dividends Declared $0.20 $0.18 11.1% Shareholders' Equity (period end) $10.82 $10.27 5.4% Average Shares Outstanding (1) 142,821 148,559 (3.9%) KEY RATIOS - ----------- Return On: Average Total Assets 1.28% 1.26% Average Shareholders' Equity 17.75% 16.02% Efficiency Ratio 56.27% 58.24% Net Interest Margin 4.35% 4.03% Average Equity/Average Assets 7.21% 7.89% Tier I Risk-Based Capital Ratio (period end) 8.92% 7.94% Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio (period end) 12.34% 11.53% Tier I Leverage Ratio (period end) 7.60% 6.62% CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CONDITION DATA AT MARCH 31, CHANGE - ------------------------------ ------------------------------------ 1997 1996 % ----------- ----------- --- Total Loans $14,869,139 $13,369,308 11.2% Total Deposits $13,940,274 $13,006,213 7.2 Total Assets $21,603,478 $20,137,982 7.3 Shareholders' Equity $ 1,569,076 $ 1,502,510 4.4 ASSET QUALITY - ------------- Non-performing loans $ 61,225 $ 63,108 Total non-performing assets $ 81,075 $ 83,494 Allowance for loan losses/total loans 1.40% 1.48% Allowance for loan losses/non-performing loans 340.98% 312.76% Allowance for loan losses and other real estate/non-performing assets 254.48% 225.01% (1) Adjusted for the ten percent stock dividend distributed July 31, 1996, as applicable. N.M.-Not meaningful