Citizens Launches Nationwide Volunteer Initiative and Releases 2025 Sustainability & Impact Report
Citizens has announced a nationwide volunteer initiative to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, while also releasing its 2025 Sustainability & Impact Report, highlighting the bank’s continued investments in community development, workforce readiness, financial empowerment, small business growth, and environmental sustainability. Together, the two announcements underscore the financial institution’s ongoing commitment to supporting individuals, businesses, and communities through both volunteer service and strategic investments that promote long-term economic opportunity.
As part of the anniversary celebration, Citizens plans to mobilize employees across its operating footprint through more than 250 volunteer opportunities leading up to Veterans Day. The initiative will bring together colleagues, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to participate in projects designed to strengthen neighborhoods, expand access to financial education, support workforce development, and promote environmental stewardship.
At the same time, the company’s newly released Sustainability & Impact Report provides a comprehensive overview of the progress Citizens made during 2025 across several key areas, including affordable housing finance, community development, philanthropic giving, sustainable finance, and employee engagement.
Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary Through Community Service
The nationwide volunteer initiative represents Citizens’ contribution to the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, a historic milestone that offers organizations across the country an opportunity to recognize the nation’s history while investing in its future.
Rather than focusing solely on ceremonial observances, Citizens has chosen to commemorate the anniversary through direct community engagement.
The bank intends to organize more than 250 volunteer activities before Veterans Day, encouraging employees to contribute their time and expertise in ways that create measurable benefits for local communities.
The volunteer projects are expected to address a wide range of community priorities, including:
- Financial literacy education
- Workforce readiness programs
- Neighborhood revitalization efforts
- Environmental conservation initiatives
- Community beautification projects
- Support for nonprofit organizations
By engaging employees in hands-on volunteer work, Citizens seeks to reinforce its longstanding commitment to community involvement while encouraging collaboration among colleagues, nonprofit partners, and local residents.
Partnering with Community Organizations
To implement the volunteer initiative effectively, Citizens is collaborating with several well-established nonprofit organizations that possess deep local knowledge and extensive volunteer coordination experience.
Among the participating organizations are:
- New York Cares
- Boston Cares
- Philadelphia 250
- Jersey Cares
- Pittsburgh Cares
Each organization plays a significant role in connecting volunteers with meaningful service opportunities tailored to local community needs.
Working through these partnerships enables Citizens employees to participate in organized projects that produce tangible community benefits while supporting organizations already engaged in long-term neighborhood improvement efforts.
The collaboration also allows the bank to leverage existing nonprofit networks to maximize volunteer participation and community impact.
Leadership Emphasizes Long-Term Community Commitment
Bruce Van Saun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens, said the initiative reflects the bank’s enduring role in supporting the communities where it operates.
According to Van Saun, the company’s Sustainability & Impact Report demonstrates how sustained investment, combined with employee engagement and community partnerships, can generate meaningful social and economic outcomes.
He emphasized that Citizens’ efforts remain guided by the organization’s corporate values, often referred to as its Credo, which focuses on helping customers, employees, shareholders, and communities realize their full potential.
His comments reinforce the company’s broader philosophy that corporate success and community prosperity are closely connected.
Sustainability Report Highlights Continued Progress
Alongside the volunteer initiative, Citizens released its 2025 Sustainability & Impact Report, documenting achievements across several strategic priorities.
The report illustrates how the bank continued expanding investments that promote:
- Community development
- Affordable housing
- Workforce development
- Financial inclusion
- Economic mobility
- Small business growth
- Environmental sustainability
Rather than concentrating solely on financial performance, the report examines the broader impact of Citizens’ lending, philanthropic investments, employee programs, and sustainability initiatives.
It also outlines measurable progress toward several long-term corporate commitments established in previous years.
More Than $2 Billion Invested in Community Development
One of the report’s most significant achievements involves Citizens’ continued support for community development financing.
During 2025, the bank invested more than $2 billion in community development projects designed to strengthen neighborhoods and expand access to affordable housing.
These investments contributed to the construction or revitalization of more than 8,000 affordable housing units, helping address housing affordability challenges facing many communities.
Affordable housing continues to represent one of the most significant economic issues across numerous regions of the United States.
Community development financing plays an important role in supporting projects that might otherwise face difficulties securing sufficient capital through traditional financing sources.
By directing substantial resources toward affordable housing initiatives, Citizens aims to improve housing accessibility while contributing to neighborhood stability and long-term community growth.
Supporting Small Business Growth
The Sustainability & Impact Report also highlights Citizens’ continued investment in small business lending.
Throughout 2025, the bank provided more than $300 million in financing to local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Small businesses remain vital contributors to economic development, employment creation, and local innovation.
Access to capital enables entrepreneurs to:
- Launch new businesses
- Expand existing operations
- Hire additional employees
- Purchase equipment
- Invest in technology
- Increase production capacity
By extending financing to small business owners, Citizens seeks to support local economies while fostering entrepreneurship across the communities it serves.
These lending activities align with broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth and strengthen regional business ecosystems.
Philanthropic Investments Exceed $20 Million
Beyond lending activities, Citizens continued making substantial philanthropic contributions during the year.
According to the report, the company invested more than $20 million in philanthropic initiatives supporting:
- Workforce development
- Financial empowerment
- Economic mobility
- Community organizations
These investments provide nonprofit organizations with resources needed to deliver educational programs, career development services, financial literacy initiatives, and other community-based programs designed to improve long-term economic outcomes.
Strategic philanthropy remains an important component of Citizens’ broader corporate responsibility strategy, complementing its lending and banking activities.
Investing in Workforce Development
Workforce development continues to represent one of Citizens’ primary areas of focus.
The company recognizes that expanding access to education, job training, and career opportunities contributes not only to individual success but also to stronger local economies.
The Sustainability & Impact Report outlines Citizens’ long-term commitment to building stronger talent pipelines while helping individuals develop skills needed in today’s evolving labor market.
These initiatives seek to improve economic mobility by connecting individuals with meaningful employment opportunities and professional development resources.
Two Decades of Partnership with Year Up United
Among Citizens’ most established workforce initiatives is its partnership with Year Up United, an organization dedicated to preparing young adults for professional careers.
The relationship between Citizens and Year Up United has continued for more than 20 years, demonstrating a sustained commitment to supporting early-career professionals.
Through the partnership, participants receive opportunities to:
- Develop professional skills
- Gain practical work experience
- Participate in internships
- Build career readiness
- Expand professional networks
Susan Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Year Up United, highlighted the impact of the long-standing collaboration.
According to Murray, Citizens’ philanthropic support and willingness to host interns have helped hundreds of young adults develop the skills, confidence, and experience necessary to pursue successful careers.
She noted that investments in early-career talent create benefits for both participants and employers by expanding economic opportunity while strengthening the future workforce.
Expanding Financial Empowerment Programs
Financial education remains another central component of Citizens’ community investment strategy.
The report indicates that the bank provided more than $3.3 million to over 130 nonprofit organizations supporting financial empowerment initiatives during 2025.
This achievement exceeded the company’s previously established goal of $2.6 million.
Financial empowerment programs supported by these investments often include:
- Budgeting education
- Savings strategies
- Credit management
- Homeownership preparation
- Banking access
- Consumer financial education
These initiatives help individuals develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions and improve long-term financial stability.
Expanding Workforce Development Commitments
Building on earlier investments, Citizens also expanded its workforce development commitment during the year.
After completing an initial $10 million workforce development commitment, the company announced an expanded $20 million, three-year initiative designed to further strengthen employment opportunities and career preparation programs.
The expanded commitment reflects Citizens’ belief that sustained investment in workforce readiness contributes to broader economic resilience while helping individuals adapt to changing labor market demands.
Advancing Sustainable Finance Goals
The Sustainability & Impact Report also documents continued progress toward Citizens’ long-term $50 billion sustainable finance target.
Sustainable finance encompasses lending and investment activities that support projects contributing to environmental sustainability, renewable energy development, climate resilience, and other environmentally beneficial initiatives.
Although the report does not specify individual transactions, ongoing progress toward the target demonstrates Citizens’ commitment to integrating sustainability considerations into its broader financial activities.
Such initiatives increasingly play an important role as financial institutions seek to support the transition toward lower-carbon economic development while responding to growing investor and stakeholder expectations.
Renewable Energy Supports Operations
Citizens also reported continued progress in reducing the environmental impact of its own operations.
According to the report, 100% of the company’s electricity consumption during 2025 was matched through renewable energy credits obtained via a virtual power purchase agreement.
Virtual power purchase agreements have become increasingly common mechanisms through which organizations support renewable energy generation while helping offset electricity-related emissions.
Matching electricity consumption with renewable energy credits contributes to corporate sustainability objectives and reflects ongoing efforts to reduce operational environmental impacts.
The combination of Citizens’ nationwide volunteer initiative and its 2025 Sustainability & Impact Report highlights a comprehensive approach to corporate responsibility that extends beyond traditional banking services. By investing billions of dollars in community development, expanding affordable housing financing, increasing support for small businesses, strengthening workforce development programs, promoting financial empowerment, and advancing environmental sustainability initiatives, the bank continues to align its business operations with broader social and economic priorities.
The volunteer campaign honoring America’s 250th anniversary further reinforces that commitment by encouraging employees to actively participate in community service alongside nonprofit partners across the country. As Citizens moves forward, the organization appears focused on combining financial resources, employee engagement, and strategic partnerships to create lasting value for customers, communities, businesses, and stakeholders while supporting long-term economic opportunity and sustainable growth.
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