FirstMerit and Huntington bank employees this week have begun getting notices that their positions are being eliminated or that they have a new job with the merged company.
But how many employees have been given layoff notices or new job offers is unclear. Jobs affected are nonbranch employees. Bank officials have previously announced that no branch employees will lose their jobs as part of the merger.
Huntington spokesman Brent Wilder on Wednesday confirmed that notification was beginning, but said the bank considered the actions to be personnel matters and would not be disclosing exact numbers.
Wilder also said the employment number will continue to change as affected employees whose jobs are eliminated will be able to apply for other open positions and new positions, which may be added to the company. Those employees will get priority in applying for those positions, he said.
“Even though in some instances employees may be getting notice that their position is not being retained, that doesn’t mean for the long term they won’t have a job,” he said.
In some cases, the job changes won’t happen until the full conversion of banks, which is expected in the first quarter of next year, but other changes will happen sooner, Wilder said.
The job offers and layoff notices are occurring throughout the FirstMerit and Huntington footprint and not just in Akron, where FirstMerit has its downtown headquarters.
Columbus-based Huntington is buying FirstMerit in a $3.4 billion purchase. The merger will make Huntington the largest bank in Ohio, based on deposits. The merger is expected to be finalized sometime before Sept. 30. It received Federal Reserve Board approval last week and is waiting on final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
In the merger agreement, Huntington officials promised that the employment numbers for Akron and Summit County would equal 1,200 within two years — the same number of employees currently employed in the region by FirstMerit. The agreement also promised a new call center or operations center in Akron within two years.
Huntington Bancshares Chairman, President and Chief Executive Steve Steinour has said Akron will maintain its own regional headquarters and that the total employment in Akron could exceed 1,200.
Said Wilder: “... our goal moving forward is to continue prioritizing sourcing positions in the city of Akron, so that when we add jobs, we look to put them in Akron, if possible.”
In an email Wednesday evening, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said his office was contacted by the bank “and we will continue to work with Huntington/FirstMerit on the current agreement, as they have assured us that they will meet the employment numbers. We will continue to work with Huntington and help their business grow in Akron.”
Those who received job offers have been given 24 to 48 hours to notify the bank if they will accept the position. If they do not accept the position, they will not be eligible for severance pay. Those whose jobs have been eliminated will be receiving severance pay, said Wilder.
Wilder also said he could not specify how long employees whose positions will be eliminated will remain working for the company since there was a range in dates. But he said he did not believe any employees were asked to leave on the same day.
FirstMerit currently employs 4,100 in five states.
Huntington Bank’s Summit County presence is fairly low, employing 133 people at 20 stand-alone and Giant Eagle branches. The bank employs 12,000 in six states with 8,650 in Ohio.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com.