Huntington ($HBAN) and Cadence ($CADE) get key regulatory green light, merger expected to close February 1, 2026

Welcome to Breaking News to Trading Moves, long and short trading ideas. Today we are covering a major regional bank M and A update: Huntington and Cadence just cleared a big regulatory hurdle, which typically reduces deal risk and can move both the acquirer and target, plus the wider regional bank space.

What happened

Huntington Bancshares ($HBAN) and Cadence Bank ($CADE) said the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved the proposed bank merger, and they now have all required regulatory approvals. The companies expect the transaction to close on February 1, 2026, assuming shareholder approvals and the remaining customary closing conditions are satisfied.

Why traders should care ...