Huntington Bank is a regional bank with strengths in checking accounts and a wide branch network, but it has higher-than-average fees and lower savings rates than online competitors

Huntington Bank operates about 900 branches across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, which matters if you deposit cash regularly or need in-person service. Its checking accounts come with no monthly fee if you meet a low balance requirement, and it offers a debit card with fraud protection. The bank also runs a mobile app for transfers and bill pay. But Huntington's savings account rates are typically 0.01% to 0.05% annual percentage yield (APY), while online banks offer 4% to 5% APY on the same money. If you carry a balance or overdraft your account, Huntington's fees are steeper than many competitors.

Whether Huntington is right for you depends on what you actually use a bank for. If you need a physical location to deposit checks or cash, and you keep most of your money in checking rather than savings, Huntington works. If you want to earn interest on savings or you want the lowest possible fees, you will find better options elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Huntington's checking accounts have no monthly fee if you maintain a $500 minimum balance or set up direct deposit, which is lower than many regional banks.
  • Overdraft fees run $35 per transaction, and the bank allows multiple overdrafts per day, which can stack fees quickly if your account runs low.
  • Savings accounts earn 0.01% to 0.05% APY, meaning your money grows slowly compared to online banks offering 4% to 5% APY.
  • Huntington has about 900 branches in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, so in-person service is available only in those regions.
  • The bank offers standard features like mobile banking, bill pay, and fraud protection on debit cards, but these are common across most banks.

Checking account structure and monthly fees

Huntington's main checking account is called the Huntington Checking account. It has no monthly maintenance fee if you keep a $500 minimum balance or receive direct deposit. If your balance drops below $500 and you have no direct deposit, the bank charges $8 per month. This is lower than Chase ($12) or Bank of America ($12), but higher than many online banks that charge nothing regardless of balance.

The account includes a debit card, online banking, and bill pay at no extra cost. You can also set up alerts when your balance falls below a certain amount, which helps prevent overdrafts. Huntington does not charge a fee to use its own ATMs, but out-of-network ATM withdrawals cost $2.50 per transaction.

Overdraft and NSF fees

Overdraft fees are where Huntington's costs climb. The bank charges $35 per overdraft transaction, and it allows up to four overdrafts per day. This means if you overspend by $100 across four separate transactions, you could face $140 in fees ($35 × 4). The fee applies whether you overdraft by $1 or $100.

Huntington does offer Overdraft Protection, which links your checking account to a savings account or credit line. If you overdraft, the bank transfers money from the linked account instead of charging a fee. This costs nothing to set up and can save hundreds of dollars if you occasionally overspend. You can also opt out of overdraft coverage entirely, which means transactions will simply be declined if you do not have funds—no fee, but also no purchase.

Savings account rates and money market accounts

Huntington's savings account earns 0.01% to 0.05% APY depending on your balance and current market conditions. At that rate, $10,000 earns roughly $1 to $5 per year. Online banks like Ally, Marcus, and Discover currently offer 4% to 5% APY on savings, meaning the same $10,000 earns $400 to $500 per year. The difference compounds over time, especially if you are saving for a goal that is years away.

Huntington does offer a Money Market Account with slightly higher rates, but these still lag behind online competitors. The bank also charges a $25 monthly fee on money market accounts if your balance falls below $2,500, which adds another cost if you are building savings slowly.

If you want to earn meaningful interest, moving savings to an online bank while keeping checking at Huntington is a common strategy. You can transfer money between banks in one to three business days, so the inconvenience is minimal.

Branch access and geographic limits

Huntington operates about 900 branches in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia. If you live in one of these states and deposit cash or checks regularly, branch access is a real advantage. You can walk in to deposit without waiting for mobile check deposit to process, and you can speak to a banker in person about loans or account issues.

If you live outside these states, Huntington is not practical unless you do all your banking online. The bank does not have a nationwide ATM network like Bank of America or Chase, so you will pay $2.50 per out-of-network withdrawal. Some regional banks partner with other banks' ATM networks to reduce this cost, but Huntington's partnerships are limited to its service area.

Loan products and credit services

Huntington offers personal loans, auto loans, home equity lines of credit, and mortgages. Personal loan rates vary based on your credit score and income, but they typically range from 6% to 36% APR. Auto loans are usually lower, around 4% to 8% APR depending on the vehicle age and your credit. These rates are competitive with other regional banks but not necessarily better than online lenders like LendingClub or SoFi, which often have lower rates for borrowers with good credit.

If you already bank at Huntington, applying for a loan is simpler because the bank already has your account history and deposit information. But you should still shop around—getting quotes from two or three lenders takes 15 minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars in interest.

Mobile app and digital banking features

Huntington's mobile app lets you check balances, transfer money between accounts, pay bills, and deposit checks by taking a photo. The app is available on iOS and Android and works as smoothly as most competitors' apps. You can also set up alerts for low balances, large transactions, or upcoming bill due dates.

The bank does not charge extra for mobile banking or bill pay. However, these features are standard across nearly all banks now, so they are not a reason to choose Huntington over a competitor. The app's quality is average—it works, but it does not offer anything unique.

Fraud protection and account security

Huntington's debit card comes with fraud protection: if someone uses your card without permission, you report it and the bank investigates. You are liable for no more than $50 of unauthorized charges if you report the fraud within two business days, and $0 if you report it within 60 days. This is standard across all banks and is required by federal law.

The bank also offers two-factor authentication for online banking, which requires a password plus a code sent to your phone. This reduces the risk of someone accessing your account remotely. If you use the same password across multiple websites, changing your Huntington password is worth doing—data breaches at other companies sometimes expose banking passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Huntington have a student checking account?

Huntington offers a Student Checking account with no monthly fee for up to four years after you open it, as long as you are enrolled in school. After that, it converts to a regular checking account and the $8 monthly fee applies if you do not meet the balance or direct deposit requirement. The account includes the same debit card and mobile app as regular checking.

Can I avoid overdraft fees at Huntington?

Yes. You can opt out of overdraft coverage, which means transactions will be declined if you do not have funds instead of being charged $35. You can also set up Overdraft Protection to link a savings account or credit line, which transfers money automatically if you overspend. Both options prevent fees.

Is Huntington FDIC insured?

Yes. Huntington is a member bank of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which means deposits up to $250,000 per account type are insured against bank failure. This applies to checking, savings, and money market accounts. If you have more than $250,000, you can open accounts in different names or at different banks to stay within the limit.

How does Huntington compare to online banks like Ally or Marcus?

Online banks offer higher savings rates (4% to 5% APY versus 0.01% to 0.05%) and lower or no monthly fees. Huntington offers branch access and in-person service, which online banks do not. Many people use both: checking at Huntington for convenience, savings at an online bank for interest.

What happens if I close my Huntington account?

You can close your account by visiting a branch, calling customer service, or requesting closure online. Huntington does not charge a fee to close an account. Make sure you have withdrawn all your money and transferred any automatic deposits or bill payments to your new bank before closing.