An Operations Manager at Huntington Bancshares plays a critical role in bridging the gap between superior customer service and rigorous operational compliance. Within the retail banking division, this position is responsible for the day-to-day execution of branch operations, risk mitigation, audit readiness, and team performance. Unlike traditional sales-focused roles, the Operations Manager ensures that the branch runs safely, efficiently, and in strict accordance with federal regulations and internal bank policies.

At Huntington Bancshares, this role is highly collaborative. You will not only manage the operational integrity of the branch but also actively coach and develop tellers and customer service representatives. Your leadership directly impacts the customer experience, as seamless back-end operations translate to fast, accurate, and trustworthy face-to-face interactions at the counter.

Ultimately, the Operations Manager is the backbone of the branch. By maintaining high operational standards and fostering a culture of compliance and continuous improvement, you enable the branch to achieve its financial goals while protecting the assets of both the bank and its customers. It is a dynamic position requiring a unique blend of analytical risk assessment, people leadership, and hands-on execution.

The questions you will encounter during the hiring process are designed to test your operational acumen, leadership style, and compliance mindset. These questions are drawn from real interview experiences at Huntington Bancshares and are structured to evaluate how you handle real-world branch scenarios rather than just theoretical concepts.

Team Coaching and Performance

At Huntington Bancshares, leadership is measured by the success of your team. Expect questions that assess your ability to uplift others and manage overall branch metrics.

• How do you transition from being an individual high performer to coaching your team to meet collective branch metrics?
• Describe a time when you had to coach a team member who was struggling to meet operational or compliance standards.

Preparing for an interview at Huntington Bancshares requires a balanced approach. You must demonstrate that you are both a meticulous operator who respects compliance and a supportive leader who can build a high-performing team.

Operational Integrity – This is the foundation of the role. You must prove that you understand risk management, audit procedures, and regulatory compliance. Be prepared to discuss how you enforce policies consistently without compromising team morale or customer trust.

Coaching and Development – Huntington Bancshares highly values leaders who can elevate their entire team. Interviewers want to see that you do not just focus on your personal production, but that you know how to coach tellers and service reps to reach their full potential.

Resilience and Adaptability – Retail banking operations can be fast-paced and occasionally stressful. You need to show that you can remain calm under pressure, handle difficult customer escalations, and adapt to shifting corporate priorities or management styles.

The interview process for the Operations Manager position at Huntington Bancshares typically begins with a brief, high-level screening call with a Human Resources representative. This call is straightforward, usually lasting around 10 to 15 minutes, and focuses on verifying your resume, salary expectations, and basic alignment with the role's requirements.

Following a successful phone screen, you will move on to the face-to-face interview stage. This stage is highly localized and usually involves meeting with the District Manager and the Branch Manager of the location you are applying to. Depending on the region, this phase can sometimes be fast-tracked or require you to meet with multiple stakeholders on the same day, occasionally requiring travel to nearby branches.

A distinctive and highly practical element of the Huntington Bancshares hiring process is the branch shadowing session. Candidates are often asked to spend an hour shadowing team members at an active bank branch. This allows the hiring team to observe how you interact with the staff, how you analyze real-time branch dynamics, and how comfortable you are in the actual working environment.

The timeline above outlines the typical progression from the initial HR contact to the final decision. While some stages can move very quickly depending on urgent staffing needs, you should prepare for a thorough evaluation that tests both your theoretical knowledge and your real-world observation skills during the shadowing phase.

To succeed in the Huntington Bancshares interview process, you must understand exactly what the hiring managers are looking for in each key competency area.

Team Coaching and Branch Performance

This evaluation area focuses on your ability to transition from an individual contributor to an effective leader. Huntington Bancshares looks for managers who prioritize collective branch success over individual accolades.

Be ready to go over:

• Coaching Frameworks – How you structure feedback sessions and set performance goals for your staff.
• Metric Analysis – How you interpret overall branch figures and translate them into actionable daily behaviors for your team.
• Performance Turnarounds – Your approach to managing underperforming team members and helping them meet expectations.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Cross-training initiatives to ensure operational redundancy and handling legacy team resistance during operational transitions.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "If your branch is failing to meet its operational efficiency metrics, but you have one standout employee, how do you leverage that employee's skills to lift the rest of the team?"
• "Describe a time you had to deliver difficult performance feedback to a direct report who believed they were doing a great job."

Operational Risk and Compliance

This area tests your technical banking knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to safeguarding the bank's assets.

Be ready to go over:

• Audit Readiness – Maintaining a continuous state of compliance rather than scrambling just before an audit.
• Risk Identification – Spotting red flags in daily transactions, cash handling, and customer documentation.
• Policy Enforcement – Ensuring that critical procedures, such as dual-control and identity verification, are never bypassed.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Managing complex regulatory updates (e.g., BSA/AML compliance) and coordinating with regional risk officers.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How do you handle a situation where a long-term, trusted customer asks you to waive a standard verification procedure because they forgot their identification?"
• "Walk me through how you conduct a daily vault reconciliation and what steps you take if you discover a cash discrepancy."

On-Site Branch Shadowing

The shadowing portion of the interview is a unique opportunity to demonstrate your observational skills and operational instincts in a live environment.

Be ready to go over:

• Customer Flow Analysis – Observing how customers move through the branch and identifying bottlenecks.
• Team Dynamics – Watching how the teller line interacts under pressure and how they support one another.
• Operational Efficiencies – Identifying areas where processes could be streamlined to improve service speed without sacrificing compliance.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "During your hour shadowing our team, what did you notice about the interaction between the teller line and the platform bankers?"
• "If you were to take over this branch tomorrow, what is the first operational adjustment you would make based on what you observed today?"

As an Operations Manager at Huntington Bancshares, your day-to-day activities will be varied and highly impactful. You are responsible for ensuring that the branch operates like a well-oiled machine.

• Daily Operational Oversight – You will manage the opening and closing procedures of the branch, oversee cash vault operations, conduct daily audits, and ensure all security protocols are strictly followed.
• Compliance and Risk Management – You will serve as the primary point of contact for operational audits, ensuring the branch adheres to all federal, state, and internal banking regulations, including Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards.
• Staff Coaching and Development – You will actively coach, train, and mentor the teller and customer service staff, conducting regular performance reviews and huddles to align the team with branch operational goals.
• Customer Escalation Resolution – You will handle complex customer transactions and resolve escalated service issues, balancing policy enforcement with a positive customer experience.
• Collaboration with Branch Leadership – You will partner closely with the Branch Manager to align operational efficiency with sales and customer acquisition goals, ensuring a seamless experience across all branch functions.