COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Wednesday, Huntington announced it is expanding its auto dealer financing business into two new states, including Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Huntington will begin processing applications through dealers by Oct. 24. The company expects to provide financing solutions to more than 400 dealers throughout the two states.

Officials stressed they've hired a seasoned team with local market knowledge for each state. They're also expecting to hire additional staff to support the sales and underwriting functions of the expansion.

According to management, Huntington Automobile Finance has continually met the financial needs of dealers for more than 60 years, including the financing of new and used vehicles purchased by dealers' retail customers, as well as commercial loans to dealers primarily to finance new- and used-vehicle inventory.

As of June 30, Huntington services 2,800 dealers with $6.2 billion in indirect auto loans and $1.0 billion of floor plan loans.

Dealerships served are located within Huntington's primary banking markets of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky, as well as other selected markets, including Tennessee, New Jersey and five New England states.

In a recent customer satisfaction study performed by a leading marketing information services firm, Huntington Automobile Finance was ranked in the top 10 of all lenders in the country for dealer financing services and the No. 1 bank lender.

"We have top market share in many of the states we serve, and auto dealers in Wisconsin and Minnesota want to be affiliated with a bank that offers our track record of proven success in underwriting, funding and superior customer service," explained Rich Porrello, director of Huntington Automobile Finance.

"This expansion into Wisconsin and Minnesota continues our strategy of providing auto dealer financing into markets where we see opportunity for profitable growth," Porrello added.