May 1, 2007

Citizens Bank announces new campaign and $50,000 donation to “Carve Out Hunger”
Partners with Philabundance and the Phillies to provide food for children during summer months

PHILADELPHIA – Citizens Bank announced today it is partnering with Philabundance and the Philadelphia Phillies to launch a month-long campaign aimed at raising awareness and collecting money and food donations to help feed hungry children. As part of the program called “Carving Out Hunger,” the Citizens Bank Foundation is donating $50,000 to Philabundance to provide meals during the critical summer months. During a news conference, Citizens Bank announced “Carving Out Hunger” begins May 1, 2007 and will continue through June 5, 2007, which is National Hunger Awareness Day. The public is invited to participate by making donations at Citizens Bank branches and on two designated dates at Citizens Bank Park.

“We are pleased to announce a $50,000 donation to Philabundance, greater Philadelphia’s largest food bank. We know it will be used in an effective and efficient manner to help feed hungry children during the critical summer months,” said Stephen D. Steinour, President and CEO of Citizens Financial Group. “Our goal is to help Philabundance in its mission to raise awareness about childhood hunger, and that is why we are inviting the public to make donations of food and money at our branches and have partnered with the Phillies on two food collections at Citizens Bank Park.”

Summer is a critical time of year for children because many do not receive breakfast and lunch, which are provided through a subsidized program during the school year. Approximately 600,000 residents in the region are living at or below the federal poverty line and approximately 200,000 of them are children, according to the 2003 U.S. Census data. In 2006, 198,000 children in the Philadelphia public school system were eligible to receive lunches through the National School Lunch Program. There are 12 million children in the United States who live in households without enough food, and 40 percent of all emergency shelter food recipients are children. 

“Many children go hungry during the summer and we are grateful to partner with Citizens Bank and the Phillies to make a difference this summer,” said Philabundance President and Executive Director Bill Clark. “Philabundance is able to make a meal for less than $.25 from the donated food we receive. The generous donation from the Citizens Bank Foundation will translate into 200,000 meals for children in need.”

In addition to the grant, all Citizens Bank branches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware will accept monetary donations and non-perishable food items as part of the program. The donations will begin May 1, 2007 and continue until June 5, 2007. Those who donate food or money at a Citizens Bank branch will receive a special lapel button to indicate they helped feed hungry children. On June 5, Citizens Bank and Philabundance will announce how much money and food was collected as part of the program. 

Carving Out Hunger
The Philadelphia Phillies will also play a key role in “Carving Out Hunger” at the Citizens Bank Businesspersons’ Specials on May 17 and June 4 at Citizens Bank Park. Baseball fans entering Citizens Bank Park can donate money or non-perishable foods like high-fiber, low-sugar cereal, canned fruit, juice, peanut butter, grape jelly, and canned goods. 

“The Phillies are proud to work with Citizens Bank and Philabundance to collect food and money to help feed children in greater Philadelphia who would otherwise go hungry this summer,” said Scott Palmer, Director, Public Affairs for the Philadelphia Phillies. “Philabundance is an incredible organization that helps approximately 100,000 people per week, yet they only touch 10% of the need. Our community can unite to raise donations for these children and assist Philabundance in its tremendous work.”

For the first time, Philabundance will provide children with small hot meals this summer, as well as large snacks and drinks. During the summer months, Philabundance supplies food to groups with 30 or less children because these groups do not receive government subsidies due to their small size. Philabundance works to fill the gap and provide for those children in need.  Philabundance moved 17 million pounds of food in 2006. The organization delivers 500,000 meals per year and 50,000 meals per month. 

About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a $34 billion state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has approximately 400 branches, more than 660 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 13 retail branches and 26 ATMs in southern New Jersey and a commercial loan office in Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $161 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. Citizens has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,100 ATMs and more than 25,000 employees. It has a13-state retail branch network plus non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits and ninth in assets as of September 30, 2006. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). Citizens’ Web site is citizensbank.com.  

About Philabundance
Philabundance is a non-profit organization fighting hunger and malnutrition in the Delaware Valley.  It was founded in 1984 as a food rescue organization to help ensure that perishable food that otherwise would have gone to waste was instead provided to people in need. Today’s Philabundance is a result of the 2005 integration with the Philadelphia Food Bank. Philadelphia Food Bank was founded in 1980 to be a bridge between those with extra non-perishable food and those without enough. Today, Philabundance provides a full plate of services to more than 600 member agencies and the people they serve. Visit www.philabundance.org for more information.