Huntington Bank is the nation’s second largest lender of Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loans during SBA fiscal year 2016, maintaining its ranking for total 7(a) loans nationwide, and ranking as the top 7(a) lender for total loans and dollars lent within its six-state core footprint.

Huntington has ranked as a top three national SBA 7(a) lender since 2011 and been the premier 7(a) lender in its core footprint since 2008. Over the 2016 fiscal year, Huntington lent $633 million to small businesses via 3,905 7(a) loans. Plans are set to expand SBA lending and deepen relationships with small business owners across all of its markets in 2017.

“Businesses are growing as a result of credit made available through the SBA and Huntington’s partnership in fiscal year 2016,” said Huntington’s SBA Group Manager Maggie Ference. “Small business owners contributed to a healthier and more vibrant economy through Huntington-supported access to the SBA’s signature 7(a) program to open, acquire and expand their businesses.”

Huntington’s SBA lending for business acquisitions increased 83%to $249 million over fiscal year 2015. Additionally, the bank’s 7(a) lending to startups in business one year or less increased by 69% to $214 million.

Huntington led SBA lending within its core footprint for the ninth-consecutive year. Huntington also made inroads into Illinois, Florida and Wisconsin. The bank added 17 SBA specialists and regional sales managers across its footprint with an emphasis on building lending relationships in Chicago, Wisconsin and other new markets following its recently completed acquisition of FirstMerit Bank.