04/05/2017

Citizens Bank Announces $25,000 in Contributions to Organizations in Western New York through the Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money Initiative

BUFFALO, NY – As part of its ongoing commitment to give consumers the confidence and tools they need to be fiscally healthy, Citizens Bank announced today that four nonprofit organizations in Western New York will receive $25,000 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 Paul Taffe, president, Citizens Bank, New York.  “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.” 

 

“We are so thankful for the continued support of Citizens Bank and their dedication to supporting Financial Education here in the Western New York community,” said Mike Riegel, president of Belmont Housing Resources for WNY.  “This grant will directly support our ‘Building Financial Capabilities Housing Counseling Program’ to help individuals and families achieve long-term financial goals and empower them to embark on the path to financial security.”

 

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 Western New York and how the money will be used:

  • Belmont Housing Resources for WNY – to assist low-income individuals in building financial capabilities and developing healthy financial behaviors.
  • Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Buffalo - to support VITA Free Tax Prep sites for 350 low-income individuals.
  • Buffalo Urban League – to support the Did You Know? program offering financial empowerment workshops and one-on-one counseling.
  • Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services - to support homeownership education and counseling for low-income, first-time homebuyers.

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.