CLEVELAND — A bank branch in Ohio is closing because of the crime risk from the area surrounding it.

What You Need To Know

  • Huntington Bank in Cleveland’s Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood to close because of violence

  • Cleveland City Countil President Blaine Griffin is concerned and trying to help stop violence

  • The bank is set to close February 9th

“We will not give up this neighborhood, and we hope that Huntington eventually will come back and be a good neighbor and a part of what we’re really trying to build over there. But we’re going to do whatever we can to really continue to fight for that neighborhood. I live in that neighborhood,” said Blaine Griffin, Cleveland City Council president.

Griffin lives in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood where a Huntington Bank branch is set to close February 9th. 

“We also know that their presence on Buckeye was huge and meant a lot to the community,” Griffin said.

Violent crime is forcing the bank to shut its doors in the area, leaving many residents upset and without a place to bank.  

“We’ve had petty crime, we’ve had incidents in the parking lot, but most recently, they’ve witnessed a couple of shootings that they just feel like their workers are in jeopardy and I do sympathize with their workers,” Griffin said.

Right now, customers cannot go inside the bank, but its ATM is still available. 

A Huntington spokesperson said the company will continue to work with the community partners to advance programs that serve the Buckeye neighborhood, such as digital empowerment, home repair programs, and local small business entrepreneurship. 

Griffin said city leaders are working to reduce violence in the area. 

“We want to put more cameras in the area. I’m working with my colleague who shares the south side of the street, Deborah Gray, to potentially get a cost if there’s a way to put more controls over there. But eventually it’s going to have to be the culture. We’re going to have to really get the business owners together and really have a close network of business owners that want to fight for the future of Buckeye. We put too much money into that neighborhood to give up on this community,” Griffin said.

Griffin said that living in an urban environment comes with risk. 

“It’s unfortunate that we’re watching so many drugstores, supermarkets and other businesses leave our community and we still need to shop, we still need to do our banking, do our things,” Griffin said.

Griffin has hope that Huntington will invest more into the community, and they will come together to find a solution to this challenge.

In a statement, the Cleveland Division of Police said, “We encourage residents to stay vigilant, report any suspicious activities promptly, and actively engage in neighborhood watch programs."

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