Huntington Banks in Cleveland Expand Hours to Sunday

Going to the bank on Sunday was not possible in Cleveland until Huntington Bank established Sunday hours recently.

Huntington didn't stop on Sunday, either, as they expanded their hours on every other day of the week.

"We surveyed many customers and non-customers asking what they would appreciate the most," said Maureen Brown, the bank's publicist. "Convenient hours was on top of their list, including Sunday. They wanted more hours during the week, too."

So now Huntington is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m.

Brown said the change has already led to the bank attracting more customers.

"As clients told us through the survey, now more than ever, they need convenience," she said.

All of the bank's services are available during the extra hours, so a customer could conceivably come in on a Sunday and get documents notarized or take out a mortgage loan.

The bank is also touting 24/7 "real person phone support" for customers, who can call 1-800-480-BANK.

Of course, that brings up the question of the bank employees. The familiar term "bankers' hours" would no longer apply to Huntington employees, who would seem to be losing the perk of being free from work every evening and weekend.

Brown said the employees of the Columbus-based bank have not had a problem with the new arrangement.

"Our colleagues are not too different from our customers. Their lives are more complex these days too, and they quickly came to appreciate our workplace flexibility," she said.

Existing Huntington employees had the first opportunity to adjust their hours. Then, the bank hired 150 new employees to fill the gaps.

"We did not want to stretch our existing colleagues," Brown said. "This has resulted in significantly less turnover.

"While we cannot guarantee a perfect schedule all the time, there is now a good amount of flexibility," she added. "Also, when the colleagues saw how much the clients loved evening and Sunday hours. They felt great."

Huntington made the move to Sunday hours on Feb. 1, adding the new wrinkle to Cleveland's banking marketplace.

Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank officially entered that marketplace on April 12 when it took over the city's previous National City Bank locations.