COLUMBUS, Ohio — Huntington Bancshares Finance & Dealer Services Group was the announced today that it is the No. 1 lender in Ohio for the fourth quarter of 2009.

Huntington's share of loans for financing the sales of new and used cars and trucks through franchised dealers more than doubled from the fourth quarter of 2008, officials pointed out.

"Our success is the result of 50 years of focusing on the auto dealership as our customer," said Nick Stanutz, senior executive vice president and Auto Finance & Dealer Services Group executive.

"We have the knowledge, trained staff and track record needed to help dealers make the right financial decisions for their businesses and their customers," he added.

"What is more important is that we are making credit available in the Midwest for car and light truck buyers," Stanutz continued. "We help provide financing options for our dealership customers to sell cars that in turn helps automobile manufacturers and related suppliers in the states we serve."

Huntington has been in the auto finance and dealer services business since the early 1950s. It provides new and used automobile financing for 2,000 dealerships in the Midwest, as well as a line of banking services for many of those same dealers.