Huntington Bank Secures 15 National Awards for Business Banking Excellence

COLUMBUS, Ohio – February 13, 2026 – Huntington National Bank has been distinguished with 15 national and regional 'Best Bank' awards for its service to small and middle-market businesses, a recognition grounded directly in client feedback. The honors, presented by the analytics firm Crisil Coalition Greenwich for performance in 2025, highlight the bank's deep commitment to customer service, long-term relationships, and operational trust.

The Columbus-based institution's Business Banking team earned 11 of the awards, while its Middle Market Banking team secured four, underscoring a broad-based strategy that appears to be resonating strongly with the companies that form the backbone of the U.S. economy.

The Weight of Client-Driven Accolades

In an industry crowded with performance metrics, the Coalition Greenwich awards stand out for their methodology. They are not determined by a panel of judges but are the direct result of comprehensive market analysis drawn from over 22,000 interviews with U.S. businesses. The small business category surveys companies with $1-10 million in annual sales, while the middle market category includes those with $10-500 million in sales.

According to Coalition Greenwich, honorees are those that "stand out for their ability to combine high-quality day-to-day service, innovative digital banking tools and insights that help optimize business performance." The exclusivity of the awards adds to their prestige; fewer than 10% of the more than 500 banks evaluated by the firm receive this level of recognition.

Huntington's awards paint a picture of a bank excelling at the fundamentals of relationship banking. The Business Banking team was recognized for Trust, Customer Service, Overall Satisfaction, and Values Long-Term Relationships. The Middle Market team received similar honors for Trust and Customer Service, as well as for Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Product Implementation. These accolades suggest that beyond transactions, clients feel understood and supported by the bank.

Backing Accolades with Record-Breaking Lending

While the awards reflect qualitative strength, Huntington's 2025 performance also delivered powerful quantitative results. The bank's Business Banking team reported a record year in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) lending, providing over $1.8 billion in loans—a significant 20% increase from the previous year.

This figure places Huntington among the nation's elite SBA lenders. According to fiscal year 2025 data, the bank was the second most active SBA 7(a) lender by the number of loans approved and third by total dollar amount. In a competitive field where institutions like Live Oak Bank lead in loan value and Northeast Bank leads in loan volume, Huntington’s performance demonstrates substantial scale and reach.

This national success is built on a foundation of regional dominance. The bank maintains its position as the top SBA 7(a) lender by volume in key states, including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. In Michigan, for example, Huntington funded $173.3 million across 921 loans in 2025, cementing its status as the state's leading SBA partner for entrepreneurs.

A Strategy Built on Relationships and Regional Focus

Huntington executives attribute this dual success in both client satisfaction and lending volume to a deliberate corporate strategy. "This recognition reflects the difference it makes when we show up as one team and bring the full capabilities of Huntington to our customers," said Christian Corts, Huntington's director of Regional Banking. He pointed to the bank's Regional Banking model as a key factor in building "strong, lasting partnerships."

This model emphasizes local-market knowledge and empowers relationship managers (RMs) to act as advisors. The specific awards for "Advisory Capabilities of RM" and "Satisfaction with RM" suggest this strategy is effective. It aims to move the banker-client dynamic from a simple service provider to a trusted partner who can offer insights on everything from cash management to strategic growth.

Scott Kleinman, president of Huntington Commercial Bank, reinforced the importance of this client-centric view. "What makes this recognition so meaningful is that it comes directly from our clients' experiences with us," he stated. "Their feedback reflects the deep expertise, strong relationships and unwavering commitment our colleagues bring to the businesses we serve every day."

Navigating a Competitive and Demanding Market

Huntington's achievement is notable, but it occurs within a highly competitive financial landscape. Other institutions, such as Pinnacle Financial Partners and Cadence Bank, also received numerous Coalition Greenwich awards, indicating a widespread industry focus on improving the business banking experience. The high bar for recognition underscores the challenge and significance of Huntington's 15 distinct honors.

Beyond curated success stories, a broader look at customer perspectives reveals a more complex picture. Huntington has earned praise for initiatives like its "Lift Local Business" program, which has provided over $133 million in funding to more than 1,800 small businesses, with a focus on minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs. Many business owners also lauded the bank's support during the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan process.

However, like many large financial institutions, Huntington is not without its critics. Independent review platforms show some customer complaints regarding issues like unexpected account closures and high balance requirements to waive monthly fees on certain business accounts, which can be a hurdle for smaller enterprises. While the bank's robust digital tools receive high marks, some clients note that its physical branch presence is concentrated primarily in 21 states. These mixed experiences highlight the immense challenge of delivering consistently personalized service at scale. Ultimately, the awards and the lending data suggest that for a significant number of American businesses, Huntington's approach is not just working—it's setting a benchmark for the industry.