Huntington launches AI studio for small businesses

Huntington Bank has launched The 1866 Studio, an AI-based operating system for small businesses built with Google Cloud. The product is aimed at both aspiring and existing small business owners.

The system combines business guidance, financial information, digital tools and human support in one platform. Named after the year Huntington was founded, it forms part of the lender's effort to deepen services for small business customers.

The launch reflects a broader push by banks and technology groups to bring generative AI tools into core business processes for smaller companies, which often lack dedicated teams for finance, compliance, marketing and operations. The 1866 Studio is intended to help users manage those demands through connected workflows across financial, operational and management tasks.

According to Huntington, the platform retains business context across tasks, allowing owners to move between activities without restarting the process each time. It is designed to help users turn information into decisions and actions while keeping control over how the tools are used as business needs change.

Initial functions include help with launching a business, creating marketing materials, and assessing readiness to borrow. In one use case, the platform guides users through steps such as choosing a legal structure, handling registration, obtaining licences and planning operational setup, while generating an action plan.

For marketing, the system can produce tailored collateral, digital advertising copy and social media campaigns using Google Cloud's Gemini models. In lending preparation, AI agents can identify gaps in a borrower's readiness, explain what lenders look for and suggest steps that may improve eligibility for future finance.

Huntington said the product is built on the Gemini platform, Google Cloud's AI platform, and forms part of its wider technology partnership with the cloud provider. The bank described the partnership as a multi-year effort to modernise its technology and expand the use of governed AI systems across the business.

Brant Standridge, President of Huntington Bank, linked the product to the bank's long-running focus on business customers.

"Small businesses are essential to strong communities and a strong economy, and helping businesses thrive has been central to Huntington's purpose for more than 160 years," said Standridge. "We are continually looking for new ways to help business owners navigate challenges, seize opportunities and spend more time focused on the financial success and growth of their businesses. The 1866 Studio is the next evolution of that commitment, bringing together Huntington's expertise and Gemini platform to help owners make more informed decisions and spend more time building the businesses they imagined."

The platform is intended to support businesses beyond initial formation, including day-to-day management, expansion and eventual ownership transition.

Vijay Konduru, Head of Innovation and AI Products at Huntington, said the system is organised around the practical work facing smaller companies.

"Small business owners shouldn't have to become experts in every function or in AI to build a successful business," said Konduru. "The 1866 Studio is an AI-powered platform designed around the small business jobs to be done. As the product evolves, it's intended to increasingly support the full range of those jobs across the business lifecycle, from turning an idea into a business to running and growing it, and ultimately preparing for succession, sale or exit."

Google Cloud also framed the launch as part of a shift in how financial services groups deliver support to business clients. The collaboration gives Huntington access to Gemini frontier models and the wider Google Cloud stack for building and managing AI agents.

Rohit Bhat, General Manager and Managing Director, Financial Services, Google Cloud, said the emphasis is on guidance at key points in a customer's business activity.

"The future of small business banking is about delivering expertise and guidance in the moments customers need it most," said Bhat. "By using Gemini platform and Gemini frontier models to build The 1866 Studio, Huntington is creating an innovative experience that helps small business owners move from information to action."

Konduru said AI agents are only one part of the product. He added that the system also includes expert content tailored to users and an AI assistant intended to help owners monitor operations and finances while managing daily work.

"Agentic AI workflows that help carry out tasks are one part of this end-to-end operating system," said Konduru. "Alongside them are relevant, personalized expert content and an AI assistant that helps owners both monitor their business operations and finances and manage and orchestrate daily work. Together, these capabilities help owners move from advice to action with support that evolves with the business, while they remain in control."

Huntington, which reports USD $284 billion in assets, said the offering is open for early access sign-ups and is not limited to existing bank customers.