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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


NEWSRELEASE                                                  [HUNTINGTON LOGO]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 26, 2003

CONTACTS:


Analysts                                                      Media
                                                                               
Jay Gould                  (614) 480-4060                     Jeri Grier                (614) 480-5413
Susan Stuart               (614) 480-3878                     Karen Del Toro            (614) 480-3077


                  HUNTINGTON COOPERATING WITH SEC INVESTIGATION

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN;
www.huntington.com) announced today that the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) staff is conducting a formal investigation, and that Huntington is
cooperating fully with the investigation. The company has been told that this is
a fact-finding inquiry, and the SEC has not asserted that Huntington has done
anything improper.

         The SEC investigation began following Huntington's announcement on
April 16, 2003 that it intended to restate its financial statements in order to
reclassify its accounting for automobile leases from the direct financing lease
method to the operating lease method. The financial statements included in
Huntington's amended 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, as well as its Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, both of which were
filed on May 20, 2003, reflect the reclassification of approximately two-thirds
of Huntington's automobile lease portfolio as operating leases. The remaining
one-third of the portfolio is properly reflected as direct financing leases as a
result of an endorsement added to Huntington's insurance policy covering those
leases as well as all future leases.

         The SEC investigation is also reviewing allegations by a former
Huntington employee regarding certain aspects of Huntington's accounting and
financial reporting practices, including the recognition of automobile loan and
lease origination fees and costs, as well as certain year-end reserves. These
allegations were immediately reviewed with the Audit/Risk Committee, a Board
committee composed entirely of independent directors. The Audit/Risk committee
retained independent legal counsel who, in turn, retained independent
accountants to assist it in its investigation of the allegations. While the
investigation is ongoing, progress reports have been shared with the Audit/Risk
Committee and the SEC. The allegations raised by the former employee were also
reviewed by Ernst & Young LLP, Huntington's independent auditors, prior to
issuing their unqualified opinion on Huntington's amended 2002 Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A, as well as its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003.

         "We believe Huntington's financial statements fairly present its
financial condition and results of operations," said Thomas Hoaglin, chairman,
president and chief executive officer. "We are committed to maintaining the
highest standards of communication transparency with all of our stakeholders.
That is why we felt it important to make a public disclosure of this non-public
investigation. We will continue to cooperate fully with the SEC."






ABOUT HUNTINGTON

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $28 billion regional bank holding
company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its affiliated companies,
Huntington has more than 137 years of serving the financial needs of its
customers. Huntington provides innovative retail and commercial financial
products and services through more than 300 regional banking offices in Indiana,
Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and
commercial financial services online at www.huntington.com; through its
technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of
more than 850 ATMs. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in
other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee,
Pennsylvania and Arizona; Private Financial Group offices in Florida; and
Mortgage Banking offices in Florida, Maryland and New Jersey. International
banking services are made available through the headquarters office in Columbus
and additional offices located in the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

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