Setting up a bank commodity desk from scratch is an impressive feat at the best of times. To do it against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny over banks' commodities businesses and regulation such as the US Dodd-Frank Act is even tougher. But since launching its commodity hedging and risk management desk in January 2013, Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington Bank has seen its trading volumes soar. It can also boast a clutch of enthusiastic commodity hedging clients.

During 2014, the desk's trading