Huntington Receives Consumer Bankers Association Honor

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Huntington National Bank and its Lift Local Business program were recognized nationally with the 2024 Joe Belew Award by the Consumer Bankers Association.

Established in honor of former CBA President Joe Belew, the award changes annually to focus on pressing social and community issues, with this year’s CBA focus on recognizing impactful programs seeking to improve workforce development and educational opportunities.

The Huntington Lift Local Business program, part of Huntington’s $40 billion Strategic Community Plan, supports small businesses that are minority-, woman- and veteran-owned throughout the business life cycle, from startup to expansion. It provides direct lending, business planning support and free financial education courses through Operation HOPE. The purpose is to help small-business owners take charge of their careers and create long-term wealth for themselves and their families.

“Huntington is proud of the number of small businesses we’ve supported through Lift Local Business. We’re committed to investing in our small-business lending program so we can help more small businesses start, grow and prosper, and help the communities throughout our footprint become the best they can be,” said Maggie Ference, Huntington’s small business and Small Business Administration director.

As the 2024 Joe Belew Award winner, Huntington has selected the 1 Million Black Business initiative as the nonprofit of its choice to receive the donation from the CBA. The 1MBB initiative is powered by Operation HOPE and provides the Black community a successful path to wealth creation through sustainable and profitable business ownership.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.