Community Development, Financial Literacy, Internships Highlight Multi-Year Commitment

CLEVELAND – Huntington Bank and Cleveland State University have entered into an exclusive 10-year partnership that provides more than $1 million for scholarships and academic programming through an expanded banking program Huntington will offer as "The Official Bank of Cleveland State University."

Cleveland State University President Ronald M. Berkman and Huntington Bank Greater Cleveland Region President Dan Walsh announced the partnership during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, June 27, at the opening of Huntington's new full-service branch in the University's Main Classroom Building. Together they discussed the benefits of the program and unveiled the new Huntington Bank Vikings debit card. "This is an anchor institution inside an anchor institution," Berkman said. "We are very pleased to have Huntington as a banking partner. The scholarships and internships it has provided will be invaluable to many of our students throughout the next 10 years."

Among the other VIPs at the ceremony were Cleveland City Council President Martin Sweeney; CSU Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance Stephanie McHenry; and Merissa Price, a CSU student and Huntington intern.

Over the life of the relationship, CSU will receive $50,000 in scholarships, a minimum of three paid Huntington internships per year and $250,000 to support the University's Allen Theatre Project, the "Power of Three." Huntington will also work with CSU to develop and deliver a financial literacy program to arm students with practical advice on how to build and sustain a strong financial foundation.

"Huntington is proud to be a part of the community so well served by Cleveland State," said Walsh. "This extraordinary university contributes significantly to the vibrancy and economy of our city. We are proud to make this investment in its academic, cultural and athletic excellence. With the opening of the new Huntington branch on campus, Cleveland State students, alumni, faculty and staff will have access to the full complement of Huntington products and services. In addition, they can bank conveniently at any of our branches throughout greater Cleveland."

Under the agreement, Huntington, which operates the largest branch network in the state of Ohio and greater Cleveland, receives exclusive rights to branch and ATM distribution on the CSU campus.