Huntington Bancshares reported Q4/14 net income of $164 million, up 3.8% or $5 million from the same year-ago quarter. Earnings per share of $0.19 in Q4 matched analysts’ estimates.

Specific Q4/14 highlights included:

• $1.0 billion annualized increase in average loans and leases
• Net interest margin of 3.18%, a decrease of two basis points
• $22 million decrease in provision for credit losses

Steve Steinour, chairman, president and CEO, said: “Last year we invested in a series of initiatives that drove revenue growth while streamlining our operations. As a result, Huntington is uniquely attractive to both consumer and commercial customers who appreciate our innovative products, strong distribution system, digital banking, and award-winning customer service.”

Steinour noted, “2014 was a year of accomplishments, evidenced by retail banking customers rating Huntington ‘Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the North Central Region’ for the second year in a row in the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. Furthermore, small business owners ranked Huntington ‘Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Small Business Banking in the Midwest Region’ in another study released by J.D. Power in 2014,” Steinour aid. “Huntington has been recognized as the No. 1 SBA lender in the country in terms of number of loans, and also cited by the U.S. Treasury Department as the largest lender in its state small business credit initiative.”

To view the full Huntington Bancshares news release, click here.