Providence, RI (July 14, 2005) - Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has won the 2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for the company's support of colleagues serving in the National Guard and Reserve and their families. Citizens Chairman, President & CEO Lawrence K. Fish joined Brig. Gen. John Enright, Assistant Adjutant General Army, and Gov. Donald L. Carcieri at a ceremony announcing the award at the guard's headquarters in Cranston, R.I.
The Department of Defense named Citizens one of 15 employers in the United States to receive the 2005 award from among 1,492 applicants. The Freedom Award, established in 1996, is the highest award a company can receive for its support of the National Guard and Reserve.
"The Freedom Award is terrific recognition of the support - beyond what's required by law - that we at Citizens and other employers across the United States provide to our colleagues who are activated to service in the National Guard and Reserves and their families," Fish said. "It is our colleagues and their families who are sacrificing for our country, and we are pleased to be honored for a military leave policy that supports them while they or their loved ones are serving."
Citizens' policy on military leave offers additional support and benefits to those called to active duty and their family. They include:
- For any colleagues for military service, Citizens pays the difference between their Citizens pay and military pay for the duration of active duty.
- Citizens offers the continuation of medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage.
- In addition, if a colleague's spouse, domestic partner or child(ren) are activated for military service, Citizens grants up to five consecutive days of paid leave to spend time with that serviceperson during their in-service leave. If travel is necessary, Citizens pays a portion of their travel expenses up to $500.
- Citizens also is committed to providing those returning from active duty with their own or a comparable job.
"The recognition of Citizens for this most cherished and prestigious award is the culmination of a nomination process that began in January with 1,492 employers nominated from across the nation, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and Europe," said Lt. Gen. Reginald A. Centracchio, Adjutant General of Rhode Island. "Saluting them is the right thing to do and I want to thank SSgt. Reed for recognizing his employer for their commitment to him, the state of Rhode Island and our national defense."
Ernest Almonte, state chairman of the Rhode Island Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, said "During this time of unprecedented deployments, it's the support provided by employers like Citizens Financial Group that lifts a worry from our troops' minds and makes it a little easier for them to focus on their mission. Citizens is truly a 5 Star Employer."
"I want to congratulate Citizens Bank on being one of only 15 employers throughout the nation to be awarded the Defense Department's Employer Support Freedom Award," Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said. "Citizens has long been dedicated to providing strong support for those who are devoted to serving our nation as well as their families."
"As we stand here today, hundreds of Rhode Islanders are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and throughout the world," Carcieri continued. "We must take the necessary measures to support these brave and dedicated men and women and effectively address their day-to-day concerns here at home. I want to thank Citizens and every Rhode Island employer for their commitment to those who are fighting to defend our freedom."
In announcing the full list of the 2005 winners, David Janes, the national chairman of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, said "The 15 recipients of the 2005 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, by the above and beyond support of their employees who serve in the Reserve and National Guard, set a high standard for all of America's private and public employers."
The 10th annual award ceremony for the 15 recipients will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Secretary of Defense William Perry instituted the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The award publicly recognizes employers, who were nominated by their employees who voluntarily serve in the National Guard and Reserve, for exceptional support above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.
In past years, the Rhode Island Committee for Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve has awarded Citizens Bank of Rhode Island its "Pro Patria" award, the highest such state award and the New Hampshire Committee for the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve has bestowed Citizens Bank New Hampshire with the "Seven Seals" Award.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is a $137 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,100 ATMs and more than 26,000 employees. It operates its 13-state branch network in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and has non-branch offices in more than 30 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).