Level One Bancorp stock (US52736R1023): what’s next after the Huntington Bancshares takeover?

Level One Bancorp has been part of Huntington Bancshares since mid?2022, but the brand and local franchise still matter for investors watching U.S. regional banks. How the business model fits into Huntington’s strategy and what that means for the stock.

Level One Bancorp has not traded as an independent stock since its acquisition by Huntington Bancshares closed in June 2022, yet the legacy franchise continues to shape Huntington’s presence in Michigan’s fast?growing suburban markets, according to a merger closing announcement published on June 15, 2022 on Huntington’s investor relations website (Huntington release as of 06/15/2022 and Level One IR as of 06/15/2022).

As of: 17.05.2026

By the editorial team – specialized in equity coverage.

At a glance

• Name: Level One Bancorp Inc
• Sector/industry: Regional banking, financial services
• Headquarters/country: Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States
• Core markets: Metropolitan Detroit and broader Michigan
• Key revenue drivers: Commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate lending, consumer banking services
• Home exchange/listing venue: Formerly Nasdaq (ticker: LEVL); now integrated into Huntington Bancshares on Nasdaq (ticker: HBAN)
• Trading currency: U.S. dollar (USD)

Level One Bancorp: core business model

Level One Bancorp built its business as a community?focused regional bank centered on the Detroit metropolitan area, offering a mix of commercial and consumer banking products. Before the takeover, it generated interest income primarily from loans to small and mid?sized businesses as well as commercial real estate borrowers, while funding came largely from local deposits, according to historical company filings referenced in Huntington’s 2022 transaction materials (Huntington investor materials as of 06/2022).

The bank’s strategy emphasized relationship?based lending and high?touch service, seeking to differentiate itself from larger national banks. That approach included tailored credit solutions for locally based companies and active networking within the regional business community, which, according to management commentary at the time of the deal, complemented Huntington’s broader Midwestern footprint (Level One news archive as of 06/2022). The model relied on disciplined underwriting and an intimate understanding of local market conditions.

On the consumer side, Level One offered checking and savings accounts, residential mortgages and home equity lines, as well as digital banking services. These retail products provided a stable and relatively low?cost deposit base, which was important for funding the loan book and managing net interest margin. Prior to the acquisition, management regularly highlighted a focus on core deposits rather than more volatile wholesale funding in its disclosures.

Main revenue and product drivers for Level One Bancorp

Like most regional banks in the United States, Level One derived the majority of its revenue from net interest income – the spread between the interest it earned on loans and securities and what it paid on deposits and other funding sources. Commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate lending and residential mortgages were key drivers, with fee?based income from services such as treasury management, mortgage banking and deposit account fees providing an additional revenue stream, according to pre?merger financial discussions by the company and Huntington (Huntington investor presentation as of 04/2022).

Interest rate conditions set by the Federal Reserve have a significant impact on this type of business. Periods of rising rates can support higher asset yields, but they also tend to increase competition for deposits, pressuring funding costs. In the years shortly after the acquisition, U.S. regional banks generally had to adjust to rapid rate hikes and heightened scrutiny of balance sheet risk, as seen in industry commentary and regulatory filings during 2023 and 2024. For the former Level One franchise inside Huntington, this environment likely influenced loan growth strategies, pricing and deposit retention efforts.

Credit quality is another important revenue and risk factor. Before becoming part of Huntington, Level One targeted borrowers within Michigan’s diversified economy, including manufacturing, services, real estate and healthcare. The performance of these sectors, and specifically the Detroit metropolitan area’s cyclical industries, can affect loan losses and provisioning needs. Huntington has stated in various filings that it continually evaluates credit trends by region and portfolio, which would include the loans inherited from Level One (Huntington financial information as of 02/2024).

Fee income from areas such as mortgage banking and treasury management tends to fluctuate with client activity and economic conditions. For instance, periods of strong housing demand or refinancing can support mortgage?related revenue, while slower deal activity or higher rates may weigh on volumes. The integration into Huntington gives the former Level One customer base access to a larger range of fee?generating services, which in turn broadens potential revenue per client for the combined group.

Industry trends and competitive position

The acquisition of Level One occurred against a backdrop of consolidation across the U.S. regional banking sector, as institutions sought greater scale, improved technology capabilities and diversified funding. Huntington has repeatedly described Michigan as a strategic market within its Midwest network, and the Level One deal expanded its reach in suburban Detroit communities, according to its 2022 merger commentary (Huntington newsroom as of 06/2022).

Competition in Michigan remains intense, with large national players, other regional banks and credit unions all vying for deposits and lending relationships. The former Level One branches bring established local relationships and a community banking reputation that can be valuable in defending market share. At the same time, Huntington’s broader product platform and digital infrastructure may enhance the competitiveness of the integrated franchise, especially in areas such as mobile banking, wealth management and specialized commercial lending.

From a regulatory standpoint, U.S. regional banks have faced heightened oversight since the stress events in parts of the sector in 2023. Supervisors have focused on interest rate risk, liquidity buffers and concentration in certain types of loans or deposits. For investors monitoring Huntington as the publicly traded entity, understanding how the legacy Level One loan and deposit base fits into the group’s overall risk profile can be relevant when reviewing disclosures about credit quality, capital ratios and funding sources in quarterly and annual reports.

Why Level One Bancorp matters for US investors

For investors in the United States, Level One Bancorp is now relevant mainly through Huntington Bancshares, which is listed on Nasdaq and included in various U.S. banking indices. The Michigan franchise obtained in the Level One transaction contributes to Huntington’s loan growth potential, deposit base and regional diversification, factors that can influence the group’s earnings trajectory and risk profile, as discussed in Huntington’s periodic filings (Huntington financial information as of 10/2024).

For U.S. retail investors evaluating regional bank stocks, understanding past acquisitions such as Level One can help explain current branch density, local market share and the mix of commercial versus consumer lending within the portfolio. In Michigan, the former Level One network provides Huntington with additional exposure to small and mid?sized businesses, which can be sensitive to economic cycles but also offer opportunities for cross?selling treasury services, equipment finance or wealth products.

Because Level One no longer trades separately, any market reaction to developments in its legacy markets is reflected in Huntington’s share price and valuation metrics. Investors often look at factors such as Huntington’s price?to?book ratio, net interest margin trends and credit costs to assess how well the combined bank is managing its expanded franchise. In this context, the success of the Level One integration becomes part of a broader narrative about Huntington’s strategy in the U.S. regional banking landscape.

Conclusion

Level One Bancorp is no longer a standalone listing, but its legacy as a Michigan?focused community bank continues within Huntington Bancshares’ broader regional network. The acquisition expanded Huntington’s footprint in key suburban Detroit markets and added a portfolio of commercial and consumer relationships that complement its Midwestern strategy. For U.S. investors following regional banks, the impact of the Level One franchise now shows up in Huntington’s financial results, risk disclosures and strategic updates rather than in a separate LEVL share price. As with any bank investment, assessing balance sheet strength, credit trends and regional economic conditions remains essential, while keeping in mind how past acquisitions such as Level One shape the combined group’s long?term prospects.

Disclaimer: This article does not constitute investment advice. Stocks are volatile financial instruments.