Huntington Bank Introduces Virtual Backpack Aimed at Teaching Children Money Management...

Huntington Bank Introduces Virtual Backpack Aimed at Teaching Children Money
Management Skills
Financial literacy tool helps elementary through high school students learn
money management skills for back-to-school season

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Just in time for
students to stock up on supplies as they head back to school, Huntington Bank
has introduced an interactive online tool to help students learn the
importance of financial literacy, and provide parents and teachers with a fun
way to introduce money management skills to their children.
At www.huntingtonforschools.com students drag school supplies
electronically into a virtual backpack to see the total cost add up. The
online feature is the latest component of the annual Huntington Backpack
Index, a reference for smart shopping that can help teach children about
budgeting and bargains.
"Huntington recognizes that many young students graduate from high school
without basic knowledge of finances," said Mary Navarro, regional banking
group president at Huntington. "In fact, through our 2008 Huntington Backpack
Index survey, we've learned that many students don't know how to write a
check. We want to provide families with the tools they need to teach children
about budgeting and saving money. What better way to do that than by providing
them with real-life examples through the back-to-school season and the school
supplies each student will need."
The 2008 Huntington Backpack Index indicates that parents need to be
prepared to spend $385 for elementary school children, $551.81 for middle
school children and $911 for high school students. Huntington also found that
many schools are requiring more electronic devices such as flash drives as
well as more elaborate organization tools such as notebooks and planners.
For more comprehensive shopping and back-to-school saving tips; the
complete list of the 2008 Huntington Backpack Index for elementary, middle and
high school; and Huntington's "fill the backpack" interactive activity for
children, visit www.huntingtonforschools.com .
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $56 billion regional bank holding
company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Huntington has more than 142 years of
serving the financial needs of its customers. Huntington's banking subsidiary,
The Huntington National Bank, provides innovative retail and commercial
financial products and services through over 600 regional banking offices in
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Huntington
also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com;
through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its
network of almost 1,400 ATMs. Selected financial service activities are also
conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Arizona, Florida,
Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee; Private Financial and Capital
Markets Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and
New Jersey. Huntington Insurance offers retail and commercial insurance agency
services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia.
International banking services are made available through the headquarters
office in Columbus, a limited purpose office located in the Cayman Islands,
and another located in Hong Kong.
SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Jeri Grier of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, +1-614-480-5413