Huntington to partner with Steelcase for cutting-edge design of its new Meijer In-Store branches, creating a truly unique and differentiated customer experience

Company Website: http://www.huntington.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich -- (Business Wire)

Huntington Bank (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) and Meijer (www.meijer.com) today announced that they have signed an in-store banking agreement that will add more than 500 jobs for Huntington in Michigan. The agreement will also give Huntington more than 200 branches in Michigan – an increase of more than 65 percent in the state.

With the 10-year agreement, Huntington will install seven-day-a-week, full-service branches in dozens of Meijer stores throughout Michigan over the course of the next several years. The branches will operate with extended hours, giving Meijer shoppers the added convenience of banking in the evening and on the weekends.

In the short-term, new Huntington branches will be built in more than 20 Meijer stores in Michigan, which will be constructed from May of 2012 through the end of the year and will include several newly constructed Meijer stores.

Huntington also announced today that it has partnered with Steelcase (www.steelcase.com), the global leader in the office furniture industry, to design its new Meijer in-store branches based on its deep research on retail banking environments. Steelcase’s focus on delivering a better work experience by providing products, iterative design services and insights into the ways people work, will create a truly differentiated and innovative in-store branch design.

“Huntington and Meijer share the same, long-held commitment to customer service, convenience and our local communities,” said Steve Steinour, chairman, president and CEO of Huntington. “We look forward to giving consumers and small business owners more convenience through seven-day-a-week, in-store banking at Meijer store locations throughout the state of Michigan. And our new Meijer in-store branches, designed by Steelcase, will feature a unique, cutting-edge design to enhance customer experience and allow for more open interaction in the branch.”

Huntington’s in-store distribution channel is an important part of the bank’s strategy to give customers added convenience and continue the growth of the bank. This agreement with Meijer fills in Huntington’s Michigan statewide footprint and almost doubles the bank’s branch presence over the course of several years. New markets for Huntington as a result of this agreement include Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Jackson, Battle Creek, Gaylord and Cadillac.

“Meijer is very pleased to enter into this business relationship with Huntington Bank,” said Mark Murray, president of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. “We welcome Huntington as they bring this commitment to Meijer customers throughout the state of Michigan."

Jim Hackett, president and CEO of Steelcase added, “Our teams are constantly observing users and taking note of how every aspect of life is changing and blending today. As we see personal preferences, technology and work styles evolving, we know that the phrase ‘going to work’ has taken on a new meaning. So too has the phrase ‘going to the bank.’ A combined project like this gives Steelcase the opportunity to put our knowledge to work, continue our intense user research and smartly influence the design of a different kind of space – however, one that we believe will best promote and respond to customer behavior.”

Huntington believes strongly in the future of Michigan, and the Midwest overall, and has made several significant investments in the state during the past year, including the opening of new offices in Downtown Detroit, Grand Rapids and Pontiac; a $2 billion lending commitment for Michigan businesses; and most recently, a $100 million affordable housing commitment.

“Our partnership with Meijer and Steelcase exemplifies all three companies' continued support of their local markets throughout the state of Michigan,” noted Jim Dunlap, regional and commercial banking director for Huntington. “Huntington will continue to significantly invest in the economic health and well-being of Michigan, and all of our regions in the Midwest.”

The first Huntington in-store branch will be opened in a newly-opened Meijer story in Bath, Michigan on May 17, 2012.

Huntington’s new Meijer in-store branches will offer a full range of services and will be open seven-days-a-week: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a total of 75 hours a week.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $56 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The Huntington National Bank, founded in 1866, provides full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; mortgage banking services; treasury management and foreign exchange services; equipment leasing; wealth and investment management services; trust services; brokerage services; customized insurance brokerage and service programs; and other financial products and services. The principal markets for these services are Huntington’s six-state banking franchise: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The primary distribution channels include a banking network of over 660 traditional branches and convenience branches located in grocery stores and retirement centers, and through an array of alternative distribution channels including internet and mobile banking, telephone banking, and over 1,300 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state banking franchise area and selected other Midwest and New England states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

About Meijer

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 197 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Steelcase Inc.

For 100 years, Steelcase Inc. has helped create great experiences for the world's leading organizations — wherever work happens. Steelcase and our family of brands — including Steelcase®, Coalesse®, Designtex®, Details®, Nurture®, PolyVision® and Turnstone® — offer a comprehensive portfolio of furnishings, products and services designed to unlock human promise and support social, economic and environmental sustainability. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including approximately 650 dealers. Steelcase is a global, industry-leading and publicly traded company with fiscal 2012 revenue of $2.75 billion.

The Huntington National Bank, Member FDIC. The logo mark and Huntington^® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

Contacts:

Huntington
Matthew Samson, 614-480-3763
matthew.samson@huntington.com
OR
Meijer
Frank Guglielmi, 734-844-2781
frank.guglielmi@meijer.com
OR
Steelcase
Laura VanSlyke, 616-247-2747
lvanslyk@steelcase.com

Source: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated