11/02/2012

Citizens Bank announces additional support for customers and communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Following up on fee rebates announced earlier this week, Citizens will offer emergency lending products as its holding company prepares to donate $150,000 to relief efforts

Providence, RI (November 2, 2012) - Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. today announced a $150,000 pledge to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, and a new suite of emergency lending products and other services designed to expedite Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts for individuals, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The pledge to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts will include $100,000 to local nonprofits responding to critical community needs and $50,000 to the American Red Cross. Starting today, Citizens Bank will begin offering low-interest loans, introductory no-interest credit cards and other recovery financing options to help customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Relief-effort support will also be provided in Ohio, where RBSCFG operates as Charter One.

"The effects of Hurricane Sandy are widespread across the communities where we live and work, and we are committed to helping people get back on their feet,” said Ellen Alemany, Chairman and CEO of RBS Citizens Financial Group. “The American Red Cross and our local nonprofit partners have an incredibly difficult task in front of them, and we hope our efforts will make a positive difference for that effort and also for our customers as they recover from the storm."

To help Consumers, Citizens Bank will offer the following products:

  • $10,000 Unsecured Emergency Loan: Qualified borrowers can apply for unsecured emergency loans of $1,000 to $10,000 at a rate of 5.00 percent APR. There is no prepayment penalty. To qualify, applicants must meet credit eligibility standards.
  • 0% Interest Credit Card for Six Months: Individuals can apply for a new card with zero percent interest on new purchases and balance transfers for six months.
  • Early CD Withdrawal: Customers may also withdraw CDs without any early withdrawal penalty to gain access to these funds, as necessary.

To help Small Businesses, Citizens Bank will offer the following products:

  • Business Banking Emergency Flex Loan: Citizens Bank is proud to offer small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy a special emergency Business Flex Loan (loans up to $100,000 and terms up to 60 months) that provides the convenience of a line of credit for the first six months, and the stability of a term loan thereafter. Businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy, can apply for a line of credit at a 1% rate for the first six months, followed by a ½ percent reduction on the term rate.
  • 0% Interest Credit Card for Six Months: Small business customers can apply for a new card with zero percent interest on new purchases for six months. Citizens will expedite the processing and delivery of the card so customers will receive it the next business day after it has been approved.

Customers can apply for these products/special offers by visiting a Citizens Bank branch, or by calling 1-877-949-7503 (consumers) or 1-888-610-7555 (small businesses) between November 2, 2012 and November 30, 2012. Loans are subject to credit eligibility.

Citizens Bank rebates fees
Earlier this week, Citizens Bank announced that it is rebating a variety of overdraft, ATM and credit card fees incurred by customers during the height and immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The following types of fees will be rebated upon request for the bank’s Consumer Banking and Business Banking customers in the same states where emergency lending products are now being offered:

  • Overdraft fees, including sustained overdraft fees
  • Overdraft protection line of credit transfer fees
  • Credit card late fees
  • Foreign ATM fees (charged by Citizens Bank; other banks’ fees not included)

The rebates will be applied to fees for transactions posted to the account on October 29, 2012 and October 30, 2012. Additionally, the bank announced today that it will be automatically waiving late fees for home equity and mortgage loans in states and counties that are declared federal disaster areas between October 29, 2012 and November 30, 2012. Additionally, late fees will be waived between October 29, 2012 and November 8, 2012 for auto loans in Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Vermont.

Customers are invited to contact a Citizens Bank representative through our 24/7 Contact Center at 1-877-949-7503, or to visit a convenient branch location for assistance with a rebate.

The severity of Hurricane Sandy forced the closure of Citizens Bank branches in several states this week, following evacuation orders and the storm's impacts on roads and public transportation systems. Throughout the storm, the bank has continued supporting its customers via online banking at citizensbank.com and through its 24/7 Customer Contact Center.

About Citizens Bank
Citizens Bank is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., operating its seven-state branch network in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. RBS Citizens, N.A., is a subsidiary of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $129 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and through its subsidiaries has more than 1,400 branches, approximately 3,700 ATMs and approximately 18,940 colleagues. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. RBSCFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. RBSCFG is owned by RBS (the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.

Consumer Credit Card - 0% Intro fixed APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers will remain in effect for the first 6 billing cycles, as long as your Account remains in good standing. No Balance Transfer Fees for the first 6 billing cycles, thereafter a Balance Transfer Fee of 4% or the amount of $10 will apply, whichever is greater. After the Introductory Period, for the Platinum Credit Card your variable APR will be 13.99%, 16.99% or 18.99% (as of 11/1/12) and for the CashBank Credit Card your variable APR will be 14.99%, 17.99% or 19.99% (as of 11/1/12) based on a review of your credit. The 0% APR does not apply to Cash Advances. Higher rates apply in the event of default up to 29.99%. Minimum Periodic Interest Charge: $1.50. Transaction Fee for Cash Advances: 3% of the transaction but not less than $10; the greater of $20 or 5% of the transaction for Cash Equivalent Transactions. Foreign Transaction Fee: The greater of $1.50 or 3% of the transaction amount. Credit card is issued by RBS Citizens, N.A. MasterCard® and is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.

Business Platinum Credit Card: New Business Credit Card customers receive an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for first six months. On the first day of the 7th billing cycle, APR will be set to either 8.99%, 14.99%, 17.99%, or 19.99% (as of 11/1/12) based on a review of your credit.

Everyday Points Business Credit Card: New Business Credit Card customers receive an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for first six months. On the first day of the 7th billing cycle, APR will be set to either 11.99%, 16.99%, 19.99%, or 21.99% (as of 11/1/12) based on a review of your credit. Business Owner is awarded 3,500 bonus points upon first purchase within 90 days of account opening. Bonus points will be posted to your account within 2 billing cycles.

See Terms and Conditions for details. Credit card is issued by RBS Citizens, N.A. MasterCard® and is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.