08/05/2025
Don’t Try This Alone: Survey Finds Expert Advice Fuels Small Business Success
Citizens’ latest digital solutions free up time for owners to ‘double-click’ on insights
Providence, RI (August 5, 2025) – Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that prioritize financial insight are outperforming their peers, according to the fourth annual Citizens Business Survey. SMBs that focus on planning and consult with a business banker, accountant or attorney at least monthly report having the most positive outlook for their business. Nearly 70 percent of businesses that prioritize financial advice and data expect to grow in the next five years.
These insight-driven businesses also use digital tools on a weekly basis to review and manage financial decisions and reporting, with a prominent focus on cash flow planning.
By leveraging both digital tools and expert advice, successful business owners automate routine tasks and outsource more complex processes. This frees up time to focus on strategic planning and business growth.
Recognizing the increasing importance of digital tools, Citizens recently launched new payment capabilities for small business clients: mobile wires – enabling fast and easy money movement – and integrated credit card management and payments in online/mobile banking. Citizens also continued enhancements to the loan application process, simplifying the customer experience.
“We listened closely to our customers and enhanced our suite of capabilities to meet the real-world needs of small business owners,” said Mark Valentino, Head of Business Banking at Citizens. “Our in-house development team has been enhancing platforms and developing solutions to improve the experience for both customers and colleagues. These tools are built to give our clients more time and sharper reporting thereby instilling in them the confidence to make faster, smarter decisions so they can focus on what matters most: growing their business.”
Insight-driven SMBs are taking action: nearly half (48%) are adopting new financial management tools this year, and 47% say they are leaning more heavily on expert advice in 2025. These businesses are five times more likely to invest in tools that improve cash flow visibility and decision-making, reinforcing the value of pairing digital innovation with trusted guidance.
“In addition to our digital platform, which offers self-service tools for our small business clients, our business bankers are always here to provide support and advice. They work with thousands of businesses and have seen it all, so they can help our clients navigate changing circumstances,” Valentino added.
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $218.3 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. 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. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.
