As fall semester begins, students and faculty are adjusting to changes made at Kent State over the summer, including the university’s new banking service PNC Bank.

Previously Huntington Bank, the change was made official July 1, as 11 new ATMs were placed around campus. The new PNC branch also replaced Huntington’s branch in the Student Center.

“Kent State as a whole was very excited about this, as were we at PNC,” said David Grenert, campus branch manager. “We were very excited to join the Kent State community and family.”

Jeannie Reifsnyder, Kent State’s senior associate vice president for finance and administration, said the university’s contract with Huntington Bank had expired, so a public request was put out for a proposal in which they got responses from five banks.

She said the eight-member committee determined PNC had the best proposal. The factors taken into account included cost and the presence of the branch and ATMs on campus.

PNC began its transition into Kent’s main campus as well as the regional campuses earlier this month, officially opening the Student Center branch on Aug. 3.

Once students arrived on campus, a table was set up next to the branch to help students with opening accounts and general inquiries.

Overall, PNC has plans in place for aiding students with their banking needs.

“What we’re really excited about is forming that tight relationship with Kent State and offering our expertise to both the school and the students,” said Drew Martin, executive vice president and retail market manager for PNC. “You look at financial education and how crucial it is to a student’s success.”

Martin said students can also utilize PNC’s Virtual Student Wallet, which will help students monitor spending and check their accounts.

The transition from Huntington to PNC went well, Grenert said.

“It was very efficient, very quick (and) very seamless,” he said.

However, the switch did cause issues for some students, especially those who bank with Huntington.

“I didn’t like it because I have Huntington, and that was really convenient,” said sophomore speech pathology and audiology major Nicole Hinds, who had set up a Huntington account when she came to Kent State. “I don’t really feel like switching.”

For students with Huntington accounts, a Huntington ATM is available at the library on Kent State’s main campus as part of the new deal with PNC, Reifsnyder said.

For students who already had PNC accounts, the news was more positive.

“Last year I got PNC, so I’m totally happy about this,” said sophomore fashion merchandising major Sarah Botscheller. “When I heard that they changed, that’s so much easier for me because now I can go right on campus and get money out of the ATM without being charged.”

Grenert said he is planning financial literacy seminars for students.

“My main goal with the students here is for them to never worry about their banking,” Grenert said. “You guys are here to get an education; that’s your primary goal.”

Contact Skye McEowen at [email protected].