Huntington Bancshares Reports Third Quarter Results
The Columbus-based bank reports $680 million in net income for the quarter ending September 30, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Corporate Finance
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Huntington Bancshares announced $680 million in net income for the third quarter of 2026. The bank reported $0.33 earnings per share, or $0.38 when excluding merger-related expenses.
Why it matters
The bank is shifting its lending strategy by prioritizing commercial verticals while intentionally slowing production in auto and mortgage sectors where risk-adjusted returns fell short of expectations.
Commercial-and-industrial loan balances reached $94 billion, marking a 3% increase during the quarter. Conversely, commercial real estate, residential mortgage, and auto-loan portfolios saw a combined decline of $872 million from June 30, 2026 levels.
The players
Huntington Bancshares
A regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus that manages a total asset size of $287.8 billion.
Cadence Bancorp
A financial institution whose customers were fully converted to the Huntington operating system in June 2026.
Veritex Holdings
A financial services organization that saw its client base integrated into the Huntington platform in January 2026.
The details
Huntington Bancshares reached a total loan balance of $191.4 billion and $224.7 billion in deposits as of September 30, 2026. The firm continues to integrate recent acquisitions, having completed the conversion of Cadence Bancorp and Veritex Holdings clients earlier in 2026.
Timeline
January 2026: Conversion of Veritex Holdings clients completed.
June 2026: Conversion of Cadence Bancorp customers completed.
June 30, 2026: Benchmark date for prior loan portfolio balances.
July and August 2026: Period marking a surge in construction-loan paydowns.
September 30, 2026: Close of the third-quarter financial reporting period.
Market Landscape
The bank is transitioning from a period of heavy systems integration following the 2026 conversion of Cadence Bancorp customers toward a strategy focused on specialized national lending verticals. This pivot positions Huntington to compete more aggressively in the C&I space while de-emphasizing portfolios that failed to meet return benchmarks.
Customers may notice tighter underwriting standards for auto and mortgage loans as the bank pulls back on production in those areas. The shift toward commercial-lending verticals is intended to drive institutional earnings but is unlikely to change daily service levels for retail banking clients.
The takeaway
Management has signaled a clear intent to prioritize high-yield commercial lending over consumer portfolios that lack sufficient return on equity. Investors should watch whether the projected 17% to 18% return on tangible common equity is achieved through these specialized commercial efforts.
Further reading
For more information on regional financial performance, visit Corporate Finance.
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