COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) today announced that Jana Litsey is joining the company as general counsel, following the retirement of Richard "Dick" Cheap at the end of the year after 19 years of service to the Bank, all as general counsel.

Litsey, an industry veteran, will join Huntington from Bank of America, where she served in multiple leadership roles for more than 20 years. In her new role, Litsey will be only the third general counsel at Huntington. Litsey will join Huntington's executive leadership team and report to Stephen D. Steinour, chairman, CEO and president of Huntington.

"Jana is a widely-respected leader within our industry and the legal community with a very impressive track record and broad set of experiences. She is an excellent attorney and counselor, and I'm very pleased to welcome her to Huntington," said Steinour. "She appreciates our mission to look out for people and I'm confident she will lead our legal team and the Bank well into the future."

Litsey, who brings 30 years of legal experience to her new role noted, "I'm excited to join Huntington, an organization positioned for dynamic growth. I've been extremely impressed with Huntington's culture, distinctive customer-friendly products, focus on customer service and advocacy, and disciplined business strategy. I am looking forward to contributing to Huntington's continued success."

After nearly two decades at Huntington, and more than 36 years as an attorney, Dick Cheap is retiring at the end of this year. Cheap, who was only the Bank's second General Counsel, led Huntington and its legal team through many successful acquisitions, including its largest-ever with FirstMerit last year.

"It has been unbelievably rewarding to play an integral role in Huntington's growth and expansion during the past two decades. It was my distinct privilege to lead our exceptional legal team and provide counsel as Huntington charted its path through multiple acquisitions and the launch of industry-leading products and services," said Cheap. "I feel fortunate to have been able to partner with a great group of colleagues during my time at Huntington. I'm confident in our team and excited about Huntington's future, and feel now is an ideal time to look to my next chapter with my family."

"Dick has been an extraordinary partner for me and our board of directors," said Steinour. "He is an industry-respected general counsel whose long tenure reflects his success at building successful teams and leading through change including multiple acquisitions. He's been an outstanding colleague, counselor and partner, who has always exemplified how to look out for others. We're grateful for his leadership and will continue to benefit from the strength of his team now under Jana's leadership."

Litsey earned her J.D. from Baylor University School of Law and her bachelor's degree from the University of Houston-Victoria.

About Huntington Bank

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with $101 billion of assets and a network of 996 branches and 1,860 ATMs across eight Midwestern states. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank and its affiliates provide consumer, small business, commercial, treasury management, wealth management, brokerage, trust, and insurance services. Huntington also provides auto dealer, equipment finance, national settlement and capital market services that extend beyond its core states. Visit huntington.com for more information.

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SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated