Columbus-Area Small Business Owners See New Opportunities for Growth Through Small Business Loans From Huntington

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Audrey Todd, a clinical psychologist and founder and owner of Food for Good Thought Bakery, says the help she received from Huntington not only allowed her to realize her dream as a business owner, but also was the key to helping her make a greater impact in the Central Ohio community.

When Dr. Todd's son was diagnosed with autism in 2006, she was motivated for action. After failing to secure funding for her business with another financial institution, Dr. Todd received an SBA-backed loan from Huntington, which allowed her to purchase and renovate what is now the Food for Good Thought Bakery in Clintonville.

Today, Food for Good Thought is a for-profit, gluten-free bakery and also serves as a nonprofit organization that provides vocational training and employment for individuals with autism. Since the bakery's opening in July 2010, Todd has hired two teenagers with autism and a program director. Her company also was recognized by I&K Distributors, the bakery distributor for Kroger and Giant Eagle grocery stores, which now carry Food for Good Thought products. Also through I&K, her products are distributed at Kent State University.

According to Todd, the loan along with the personal attention she received from Huntington were the reasons she was able to start her bakery and nonprofit organization in the same location.

"The Huntington employees have an incredible breadth of knowledge, and were innovative, professional and extremely personal," Todd said. "I was able to purchase a commercially zoned property to accommodate both the bakery and nonprofit organization to provide people with autism an opportunity to work. If it wasn't for Huntington, Food for Good Thought may not be here today."

Huntington is committed to small business lending. In 2010, Huntington lent $1.1 billion to small businesses, keeping it on track to meet its commitment to lend $4 billion to small businesses in the Midwest through 2012.

"At Huntington, we are dedicated to helping small businesses grow and succeed," said Steve Rhodes, Huntington's director of business banking. "We are excited about the impact we are making in all our local communities and our goal is to make an even greater impact to help small businesses drive our economy forward."

Huntington is recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the number-one SBA 7(a) lender cumulatively, both in the number of loans made and overall dollar amount of those loans, within its six-state Midwest footprint.  And Huntington is the fourth largest SBA lender in the country by number of loans.*

For more information about Huntington and its small business lending programs, visit https://www.huntington.com or call 1-800-480-2001.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $54 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, it 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 product 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 600 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 New England states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

*Huntington is the #1 SBA 7(a) lender in the region made up of Indian, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Western PA, Source: U.S.SBA from October 1, 2007, through December 31, 2010.  

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

SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated