Citizens Bank/Phillies sponsorship reaches Phever Pitch

Long-term partnership hits grand slam for Citizens Bank, the Philadelphia Phillies and the community

PHILADELPHIA       (October 20, 2008) - Citizens Bank announced today the results of its successful long-term partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies – including its naming rights deal – which features record-setting attendance, growth in community programs, benefits to the city of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia region from increased visitors and fan support.

With the Phillies headed into the World Series for the first time since 1993, Citizens Bank Park is expected to host record crowds. During the 2008 regular season, the Phillies set an all-time attendance record of 3.4 million, shattering the 3.2 million record set in the inaugural 2004 season. Since the ballpark’s opening, more than 15 million people have attended Phillies games.

And Citizens Bank Park has been honored numerous times, having been voted one of the “Best Ballparks in Baseball” and the nation’s “Best New Ballpark.”
 
"This is a very exciting time for the Phillies, Citizens Bank and the city of Philadelphia,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, Citizens Bank’s President and CEO for Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “Our partnership with the Phillies has been a grand slam on and off the baseball field and we look forward to continuing it for years to come.”

In June 2003, Citizens Bank and the Phillies announced a 25-year partnership that included naming rights to the team’s new, world-class ballpark and a broad-based, innovative media package. When the $95 million agreement was announced, both Citizens Bank and the Phillies highlighted their passionate commitment to the communities and neighborhoods that make up the Philadelphia region, stating that an important aspect of the partnership was Citizens Bank’s absolute commitment to expanding an already strong community outreach program.

During the ensuing five years, Citizens Bank has worked with the Phillies to expand and enhance community outreach, including increased support for the Phillies Rookie League program, fundraising campaigns for Philabundance and the Philadelphia Fire Department, and complimentary programs for Phillies fans.

Those programs have:

• Raised more than $4,000 for the Philadelphia Fire Department to buy smoke alarms.
• Raised $14,650 from Phillies fans for Philabundance.
• Cleaned up baseball fields in North Philadelphia and Camden where Rookie League teams play.
• Donated more than 3,500 baseball gloves to the Phillies Rookie League, which reaches 5,500 inner city children in 70 locations throughout the region.
• Distributed 7,500 game tickets to community groups throughout greater Philadelphia.
• Helped more than 250,000 fans of all ages play the Citizens Bank Games of Baseball, which Citizens Bank created and operates for free in Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park.
• Provided courtesy golf cart rides from the parking lots to the ballpark gates for more than 80,000 fans via Citizens Ballpark Bankers.
• Distributed 144,000 free lollipops to those who visited the Citizens Bank Kiosk in Ashburn Alley.

The ballpark has also made a significant impact in name recognition for Citizens Bank – one of the city’s largest banks. Surveys show that people who were aware that Citizens Bank named the ballpark are 71 percent more likely to switch to Citizens Bank than those who weren’t aware.

“The Phillies sponsorship has been a home run for Citizens because of the significant brand awareness, name recognition and commitment it gave us to the region,” said Theresa McLaughlin, Group Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Citizens Financial Group. “It very quickly and drastically heightened the Citizens Bank profile in one of Citizens Financial Group’s largest markets.”

The benefits to the Philadelphia region are also substantial. The city expects to break economic records to the tune of $19.5 million as visitors come to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, and possibly Game 5. The World Series would bring an additional 7,000 visitors generating 12,000 hotel room nights. In addition, more than 550 local, national and international media credentials are expected to be issued for the games.

“We are delighted to welcome visitors to Philadelphia who will enjoy the city’s hotels and attractions and gather at restaurants to watch the game,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter.  “Hosting a World Series will give fans an opportunity to see Philadelphia and all it has to offer.”

About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania

Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has approximately 400 branches and more than 660 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 15 retail branches and 32 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 Financial Group, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,600 branches, 3,500 ATMs and 24,000 employees. CFG’s two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 13-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. It is one of the 10 largest commercial banking companies in the United States ranked by assets and deposits. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).