PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION—DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2007

MERGER PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

The board of directors of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, or Huntington, and the board of directors of Sky Financial Group, Inc., or Sky, have agreed to a strategic combination of the two companies under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 20, 2006 and referred to in this document as the merger agreement, by and among Huntington, Penguin Acquisition, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington, or Merger Sub, and Sky. At the effective time of the merger, Sky will merge with and into Merger Sub, and will be a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington.

If the merger is completed, Sky shareholders will have the right to receive 1.098 shares of Huntington common stock and a cash payment of $3.023 for each share of Sky common stock held immediately prior to the merger. This exchange ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted to reflect stock price changes prior to closing of the merger. Based on the closing price of Huntington common stock (NASDAQ: HBAN) on the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 19, 2006, the last trading day before public announcement of the merger, the exchange ratio of the 1.098 shares and $3.023 in cash represented approximately $30.22 in value for each share of Sky common stock. Based on the closing price of Huntington common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on [                    ] [    ], 2007, the latest practicable date before the date of this document, the exchange ratio represented approximately $[    .    ] in value for each share of Sky common stock. Huntington shareholders will continue to own their existing Huntington shares.

The merger is structured to be a “reorganization” for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code; accordingly, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Sky, Huntington and the Sky shareholders generally will not recognize any gain or loss in the transaction, except with respect to the cash consideration received. Upon completion of the merger, we estimate that current Huntington shareholders will own approximately [        ]% of the combined company and former Sky shareholders will own approximately [        ]% of the combined company.

At the annual meeting of Huntington shareholders, which we refer to as the Huntington annual meeting, Huntington shareholders will be asked, among other things, to vote on the issuance of Huntington common stock to Sky shareholders, which is necessary to effect the merger. The stock issuance proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast by the holders of common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

At the special meeting of Sky shareholders, which we refer to as the Sky special meeting, Sky shareholders will be asked to vote on the approval and adoption of the merger agreement. In order to complete the merger, an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Sky common stock entitled to vote on such proposal at such meeting at which a quorum is present must vote to approve and adopt the merger agreement.

The Huntington board of directors unanimously recommends that the Huntington shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to issue shares of Huntington common stock in the merger and “FOR” each of the other proposals.

The Sky board of directors unanimously recommends that the Sky shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to approve and adopt the merger agreement.

The obligations of Huntington and Sky to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of several conditions set forth in the merger agreement. More information about Huntington, Sky and the merger is contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Huntington and Sky encourage you to read this entire joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully.

We look forward to the successful combination of Huntington and Sky.

Sincerely,		Sincerely,
Thomas E. Hoaglin Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Huntington Bancshares Incorporated		Marty E. Adams Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Sky Financial Group, Inc.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, also referred to in this document as the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this joint proxy statement/prospectus or determined that this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [                    ] [    ], 2007 and is first being mailed to the shareholders of Huntington and Sky on or about [                    ] [    ], 2007.

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Huntington Center

41 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43287

Richard A. Cheap

General Counsel and Secretary

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Our Shareholders:

The Forty-First Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated will be held in the King Arts Complex, 867 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, on [                    ], [                    ], 2007 at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

The Huntington board of directors has fixed the close of business on [*], 2007 as the record date for the Huntington annual meeting. Only Huntington shareholders of record at that time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Huntington annual meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the Huntington annual meeting. The stock issuance proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast by the holders of common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The election of each nominee for director requires the favorable vote of a plurality of all votes cast by the holders of common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, approval of the 2007 Stock and Long-Term Incentive Plan and approval of the First Amendment to the Management Incentive Plan each will require the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast by the holders of common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please submit your proxy with voting instructions. Please vote as soon as possible by accessing the Internet site listed on the Huntington proxy card, by calling the toll-free number listed on the Huntington proxy card, or by submitting your proxy card by mail. To submit your proxy by mail, please complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but it will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs. Any holder of Huntington common stock who is present at the Huntington annual meeting may vote in person instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any previous proxy. In any event, a proxy may be revoked in writing or by telephone or Internet at any time before the Huntington annual meeting in the manner described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The Huntington board of directors unanimously recommends that the Huntington shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to issue shares of Huntington common stock in the merger and “FOR” each of the other proposals.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Richard A. Cheap

[*], 2007

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD, OR SUBMIT YOUR VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.

221 South Church Street

Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To the shareholders of Sky Financial Group, Inc:

A Special Meeting of Shareholders of Sky Financial Group, Inc. will be held at the Marriott Cleveland East, 26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio, on [                    ] [    ], 2007 at [    ]:[    ], local time, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following matters:

The Sky board of directors has fixed the close of business on [*], 2007 as the record date for the Sky special meeting. Only Sky shareholders of record at that time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Sky special meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the Sky special meeting. A complete list of Sky shareholders entitled to vote at the special meeting will be made available for inspection by any Sky shareholder at the time and place of the Sky special meeting. In order to complete the merger, an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Sky common stock entitled to vote on such proposal at such meeting at which a quorum is present must vote to approve and adopt the merger agreement.

Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please submit your proxy with voting instructions. Please vote as soon as possible by accessing the Internet site listed on the Sky proxy card, by calling the toll-free number listed on the Sky proxy card, or by submitting your proxy card by mail. To submit your proxy by mail, please complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but it will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs. Any holder of Sky common stock who is present at the Sky special meeting may vote in person instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any previous proxy. In any event, a proxy may be revoked in writing or by telephone or Internet at any time before the Sky special meeting in the manner described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The Sky board of directors unanimously recommends that the Sky shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to approve and adopt the merger agreement and “FOR” each of the other proposals.

By Order of the Board of Directors

W. Granger Souder, Jr.

[*], 2007

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD, OR SUBMIT YOUR VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING.