04/06/2017

Citizens Bank Announces $225,000 in Contributions to Organizations in Greater Philadelphia through the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money Initiative

PHILADELPHIA -- As part of its ongoing commitment to give consumers the confidence and tools they need to be fiscally healthy, Citizens Bank announced today that 11 nonprofit organizations in Greater Philadelphia will receive $225,000 in contributions as part of the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money financial literacy initiative.

 

Leveraging the financial expertise of its bankers and its partnerships with local nonprofits focused on financial education, the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money program this year provides $1.4 million in donations to 80 nonprofits and volunteer outreach by more than 400 trained Citizens colleagues.

 

Throughout the year, Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money is expected to improve the financial acumen of more than 260,000 Americans seeking a better understanding of financial topics ranging from the basics of checking accounts to the intricacies of household budgeting and long-term financial planning.

 

Citizens has launched a new Financial Fundamentals hub on its website (www.content.citizensbank.com/financialfundamentals) to provide consumers with information on budgeting and saving, home ownership, protecting identity, and more. The bank is also inviting those interested in learning more about money management to join a “Make It Count” challenge on its Facebook page throughout the month of April to learn and share tips about topics such as goal-setting, saving, and managing credit.

 

“We are helping our customers bank better by improving their financial literacy. Learning how to manage money is the first step individuals can take in achieving their financial goals,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President, Citizens Bank, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  “With Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money, we are providing resources to give our fellow citizens the confidence and tools they need to budget, save, invest, and be fiscally healthy.”

 

 

"This contribution from Citizens Bank allows us to improve the financial acumen and financial security of the small business clients we support," said Della Clark, President of The Enterprise Center. "The Enterprise Center will use these funds to support our Stage Coaching System, which helps clients assess, track, and build on their financial acumen with the goal of becoming better financiers."

 

Nonprofit organizations from across the bank’s 11-state footprint were chosen in a competitive application process based on their track record of success providing financial education programs, clear and measurable goals for the program, and the ability to incorporate sustainability in their program plans.

 

The funding recipients in Greater Philadelphia and how the money will be used:

  • Clarifi - to deliver high-impact financial capability services, consisting of one-on-one counseling, group education workshops, and online education videos.
  • United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey – to offer financial stability programs that help low-income workers manage expenses, reduce debt and increase their savings.
  • The Enterprise Center – to provide financial literacy development to small business owners to meet the needs of disadvantaged minority entrepreneurs.
  • Urban Affairs Coalition – to support Financial Advancement Network (FAN) Clubs, combining traditional education with peer group support.
  • Entrepreneur Works Fund - to empower small business owners to start and grow microenterprises in Greater Philadelphia.
  • Finanta - to build, improve, and stabilize the financial well-being of individuals, families, and businesses through credit-building education, coaching, and group workshops.
  • West End Neighborhood House – to support the $tand By Me program, enabling individuals to achieve economic advancement and stability.
  • Nueva Esperanza – to support the Housing & Financial Literacy Project to strengthen low-income communities through bilingual housing counseling services and financial literacy.
  • Junior Achievement of New Jersey – to support the 2017 Citizens Bank JA Day to bring financial education to students annually.
  • Chester County Improvement Projects – to equip families with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve their financial skills and education.
  • Latin American Economic Development Association – to support the Entrepreneurial Development Training Program to empower individuals to create a business that will support them and their families.

Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money is part of the bank’s broader Citizens Helping Citizens program, which addresses four key areas: hunger, economic development, financial education and volunteerism. 

For additional information on Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money, visit Citizens’ website. 

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $149.5 billion in assets as of December 31, 2016. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens helps its retail customers “bank better” with mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,200 ATMs and approximately 1,200 Citizens Bank branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Citizens also provides wealth management, mortgage lending, auto lending, student lending and commercial banking services in select markets nationwide. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a full range of wholesale banking products and services including lending and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and interest hedging, leasing and asset finance, specialty finance and trade finance.

Citizens operates through its subsidiaries Citizens Bank, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania as Citizens Bank, Citizens Commercial Banking and Citizens One. Additional information about Citizens and its full line of products and services can be found at www.citizensbank.com.