Huntington Bank Has Lent $4 Billion To Small Biz

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WWJ) - Huntington Bank has made a huge commitment to small business.

The Midwest bank has announced that it has loaned more than $4 billion to small businesses in the last three years to help them through the recession -- making Huntington the largest small business lender in the nation.

Ken Connell, Executive Vice President of Huntington, said aiding the region's small business community is a major priority for the bank.

"Especially in Michigan, small business owners put a lot of value on the banks that are here because they want to be here, and banks that are really ingrained the in community, helping the communities thrive," Connell said.

Connell said the bank made the initial pledge when times were hardest for small business owners.

"We committed in a time ... when people were struggling and banks weren't lending, we made it really clear we were here to take care of them and grow with them and made the commitment," he said.

More than 24,000 small businesses in the Midwest obtained loans from Huntington in the last three years.