Hoping to boost deposit market share, Huntington National Bank plans to open two branches in West Chester Township.

One branch will be at University Pointe at 7634 Cox Lane; the other at the northwest corner of Union Centre Boulevard and Allen Road. The branches will be about 4,000 square feet and open by mid-2003.

The bank is more aggressively expanding its consumer banking operations in the Tristate. The two additional offices will give Huntington 28 branches in Greater Cincinnati.

Pena to speak at Toyota forum

Federico Pena, former U.S. transportation and energy secretary, will be keynote speaker at Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America's Opportunity Exchange Nov. 13 in downtown Cincinnati.

Now in its 13th year, the exchange is a daylong forum for minority businesses to meet and develop relationships with Toyota's almost 200 primary suppliers. Mr. Pena, now managing partner at Vestar Capital Partners, served in the Clinton administration. This year, he was named to Toyota's North American Diversity Advisory Board.

Cummins falls with debt grade

Columbus, Ind.-based Cummins Inc. shares fell 14 percent, their biggest decline in four years, after Standard & Poor's cut its debt ratings for the largest maker of heavy-duty diesel engines to junk status.

The shares fell $3.60 to $21.98 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The percentage decline was the largest since September 1998. The stock has declined 43 percent this year.

S&P cited slowing sales growth for power generators and truck engines in lowering ratings on Cummins to BB+ from BBB- on Tuesday. The move affected about $925 million in debt securities.

From staff and wire reports