1
                                                                      Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE                                             [HUNTINGTON BANKS LOGO]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 11, 1998

             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
             MEDIA:                                ANALYSTS:
             ------                                ---------
             HILLARY JEFFERS 614/480-5413          GERALD WILLIAMS 614/480-4456


                SOFIA TO LEAVE HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED
                               TO FORM NEW COMPANY

         COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Frank Wobst, chairman and chief executive officer of
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, announced today that Zuheir Sofia,
president, chief operating officer, and treasurer, will leave The Huntington
effective June 30, 1998, to pursue a life-long ambition. Mr. Sofia will be
forming Sofia & Company, Inc., to be headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. His
company will be a vehicle to provide financial and investment services to a
broad spectrum of businesses.

         "Zuheir Sofia has been a valuable colleague who has made significant
contributions to our company for many years," said Frank Wobst. "He played an
important role in building our banking franchise through a focused and
disciplined acquisition program. He led our successful asset, liability, and
capital management activity and developed many of our fee-based businesses. In
doing so, he has gained industry-wide recognition for his expertise in these
fields." Mr. Wobst continued, "We would have liked to have Mr. Sofia continue
with us, but we respect his wishes to choose a second career at this time. We
wish him well in his new endeavor and expect to become one of his company's
first clients." Mr. Wobst will assume the additional title of president of
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated upon Mr. Sofia's departure. Sofia remains a
director of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

         Mr. Sofia said, "I have enjoyed a challenging and rewarding career of
more than twenty-six years with The Huntington and I am proud to have played a
part in its success. I have always viewed my position at The Huntington to be an
important one, but not the final challenge in my career." Mr. Sofia continued,
"I have long had an ambitious goal of running my own company and have chosen to
do this while I am still relatively young and in good health."

         Mr. Sofia joined The Huntington in 1971. After developing and
overseeing various business units, including international and corporate
banking, investment and funds management, and finance, he was named vice
chairman of The Huntington National Bank in 1983. He also served as chairman of
its Asset and Liability Management Committee. In 1984, he was elected president
and director of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, adding responsibilities for
capital markets, treasury, mortgage banking, operations, technology and other
banking subsidiaries. In 1986, Mr. Sofia assumed the additional titles of chief
operating officer and treasurer.

                                     -more-

             VISIT THE HUNTINGTON'S WEB SITE AT www.huntington.com
   2
PAGE 2
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED


         Mr. Sofia holds a business and economics degree from Western Kentucky
University and has earned a graduate degree in economics from Washington
University. He is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at
Rutgers University. His many professional and civic affiliations include serving
as a trustee of The Ohio State University, the Chairman of the Board of The
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, and a trustee of The
Ohio State University Hospitals. He is past Chairman of the Columbus Chapter of
Young Presidents Organization, and is a member of Columbus Presidents
Organization, the Chief Executive Organization, and the Bankers Roundtable. Mr.
Sofia is founder, past President and Chairman of the Honorary Trustees of the
Columbus Council on World Affairs. He is past Chairman of the Board of Columbus
School for Girls, and honorary trustee for life and past Chairman of the Board
of Trustees of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

         Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN) is a $26 billion
regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its
affiliated companies, The Huntington has more than 132 years of serving the
financial needs of its customers. The Huntington provides innovative products
and services through its 547 offices in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky,
Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina and West Virginia. International banking services are made available
through the headquarters office in Columbus and additional offices located in
the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong. The Huntington also offers products and
services through its technologically-advanced, 24-hour telephone bank, a network
of more than 1,250 ATMs and its Web Bank at www.huntington.com.

                                       ###