Citizens Financial Group today opened submissions for its ninth annual Small Business Community Champion Award, offering twenty small business winners $10,000 each plus a year of Luminary® membership valued at $2,500. Eligible entrants must be for-profit businesses with up to $5 million in annual revenue, have operated for at least two years, maintain a minimum of three employees for over half of any calendar year and hold a Citizens Bank Business Banking account in good standing. The contest runs from January 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET through February 10, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET. Winners will be announced in May during Small Business Month, continuing a program that has awarded nearly $2 million to 192 small businesses since its inception.

Citizens Financial Group is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2025 earnings on January 21. Consensus estimates project year-over-year growth in both revenues and earnings, driven by an anticipated increase in net interest income as loan balances expand and deposit costs stabilize. Analysts expect fee income from commercial banking services, including treasury management and foreign exchange, to contribute positively, partially offsetting higher operating expenses related to branch network enhancements and technology investments. Commentary on credit quality trends and margin outlook will be closely watched by investors assessing the bank’s ability to sustain profitability in a competitive rate environment.