Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) Bernstein 42nd Annual Strategic Decisions Conference summary

Strategic vision and operating model

• Focuses on a differentiated, relationship-based model delivering expertise nationally and locally, emphasizing customer trust and consistent performance through cycles.

• Aims to be the leading people-first, customer-centered bank in the country, leveraging a super-regional model with a presence in 21 states and $285B in assets as of March 2026.

• Recognized for top-tier culture, customer experience, and digital capabilities, with multiple industry awards in digital banking, business banking, M&A, and workplace satisfaction.

• Five key pillars: differentiated model, continuous investment, disciplined acquisitions, moderate risk appetite, and robust earnings growth.

Growth drivers and market expansion

• Achieved significant scale and diversification through integrations (TCF, Capstone, Veritex, Cadence) and de novo expansion into new markets.

• Recent acquisitions (Veritex and Cadence) are being integrated, with expense and revenue synergies targeted at $435M and $500M, respectively, over three years.

• Expansion into high-growth markets in Texas and the South, with significant branch buildout in the Carolinas and strong population growth in core markets.

• Specialty commercial verticals and digital capabilities are driving above-peer loan and deposit growth, with commercial bank segment posting 10% loan and 18% deposit organic growth in FY25.

• Delivered strong organic growth in loans and deposits, with 17.3% and 14.2% cumulative growth rates respectively from 2022 to 2025, outpacing peers.

Financial performance and capital management

• Achieved 11% revenue growth, 16% adjusted earnings growth, and 19% tangible book value growth last year.

• Noninterest income grew at an 11% CAGR across three strategic segments, with capital markets, wealth, and payments leading growth.

• Maintains a moderate-to-low risk appetite, with peer-leading liquidity (90% cash/borrowing capacity to uninsured deposits), strong reserve coverage, and CET1 ratios within a 9-10% target range.

• Disciplined capital allocation prioritizes organic growth, dividends, and buybacks, with $550M in repurchases expected in 2026 and $1.1B-$1.2B in 2027.

• Revenue growth and systematic cost reengineering have generated over $1.4B in efficiency gains, enabling increased investment and sustainable competitive advantage.