Citizens Launches Ninth Annual Small Business Community Champion Award Contest

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Small businesses across the country will continue to have the opportunity to access critical funding and professional support as Citizens announced today the opening of its ninth annual Small Business Community Champion Award Contest. The program is designed to recognize and empower the business owners whose work strengthens neighborhoods and drives economic growth.

This year, 20 small businesses across the Citizens footprint will each receive $10,000, along with one year of professional support and networking through Luminary® valued at $2,500—providing winners with both financial resources and strategic connections to help accelerate their growth. Eligible businesses must be Citizens Business Banking customers in good standing prior to the close of the contest, which is at 5 p.m. ET on February 10, 2026.

“Small businesses choose Citizens because we understand their challenges, help them reach their potential and appreciate the impact they deliver every day,” said Mark Valentino, Head of Business Banking at Citizens. “Through the Small Business Community Champion Award, we’re helping business owners turn momentum into measurable growth. Our goal is to provide not only financial support, but also the guidance and connections that help small businesses strengthen their foundations, expand their vision and continue making a difference in the communities they call home.”

Now entering its ninth year, Citizens’ Small Business Community Champion Award program has awarded nearly $2 million to 192 small businesses, empowering winners to further expand operations, offer valuable products and services to customers and support continued community growth.

What: The Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award Contest: Eligible for‑profit small businesses can enter for a chance to receive $10,000 in funding, and one year of Luminary® membership (valued at $2,500), offering leadership development, strategic connections and community-based support for entrepreneurs.

To enter, business owners must answer the following questions:

• How would you use the Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award to strengthen and sustain your business? (100‑word maximum)
• How would you use the Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award to support your community’s growth and evolving needs and behaviors? (150‑word maximum)

Official rules, including eligibility, entry and submission requirements, and additional instructions are provided on the contest website.

When: The contest opens for submissions at 10 a.m. ET on January 20, 2026, and closes at 5 p.m. ET on February 10, 2026.

Winners will be announced in May to celebrate the honorees during Small Business Month.

Where: Eligible businesses can apply by visiting this link.

Who: Applicants must be for‑profit small businesses with up to $5 million in annual revenue that have been in business for at least two years and maintain a minimum of three full- or part-time employees for no less than 51% of any calendar year. Businesses must be a Citizens Bank, N.A. business banking account holder in good standing prior to February 10, 2026. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. Additional restrictions apply.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $222.7 billion in assets as of September 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 3,100 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.