Huntington Bank Honored with ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award

Huntington National Bank, a leading financial institution based in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized for its outstanding commitment to local businesses and communities. The American Bankers Association Foundation has awarded Huntington with the prestigious 2023 ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award in the Economic Inclusion category. This recognition highlights Huntington’s exceptional efforts in supporting small businesses through its Lift LocalSM Business program.

Maggie Ference, Senior Vice President and Business Banking Credit, Operations, and SBA Director at Huntington, expressed the bank’s dedication to empowering small businesses and their communities. She stated, “Huntington is committed to supporting small businesses and the communities they call home. We are honored to be named a 2023 Community Commitment Award winner and grateful to be recognized alongside so many other impressive bank programs.”

The Lift Local Business program, a key component of Huntington’s $40 billion Strategic Community Plan, focuses on assisting minority-, woman-, and veteran-owned small businesses at every stage of their journey. From start-up to expansion, the program offers loans, business planning support, free financial education courses delivered through Operation HOPE, and other valuable services. By providing these resources, Huntington aims to help small business owners achieve their goals and contribute to the growth of their communities.

Since its launch in 2020, the Lift Local Business program has made a significant impact, having booked over 1,100 loans, totaling an impressive $77 million. This success demonstrates Huntington’s commitment to driving economic inclusion through access to capital, affordable housing and home ownership, and community lending and investment.

Brant Standridge, President of Consumer and Regional Banking at Huntington, emphasized the bank’s vision of creating strong communities. He stated, “We believe strong communities are communities where there are good jobs, a stable housing market, and a strong sense of belonging. At Huntington, we’re focused on making these things a reality through our commitment to community development by finding meaningful ways to help the communities throughout our footprint become the best they can be.”

The ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards recognize banks across the nation for their exceptional programs in various categories, including affordable housing, community and economic development, financial education, economic inclusion, protecting older Americans, supporting military families, and volunteerism. Huntington’s Lift Local Business program stood out among the impressive nominations, showcasing its creativity, thoughtfulness, and success in making a positive impact on local communities.

Lindsay Torrico, Executive Director of the ABA Foundation, commended Huntington Bank for its dedication to community engagement and expressed hope that other banks would be inspired by the Lift Local Business program.

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, the parent company of The Huntington National Bank, is a regional bank holding company with assets totaling $189 billion. With a history dating back to 1866, Huntington and its affiliates provide a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services to consumers, small and middle-market businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations. Operating in 11 states with over 1,000 branches, Huntington is committed to serving its customers and making a positive impact on the communities it serves.

Huntington’s recognition by the ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award further solidifies its position as a leader in the banking industry, showcasing its dedication to supporting local businesses and fostering economic inclusion. To learn more about Huntington’s Lift Local Business program, visit huntington.com/SmallBusiness/loans/lift-local. For additional information on the ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards, please visit aba.com/awards.