Citizens Financial Group to Cease Originating Indirect Auto Loans

Rhea-AI Summary

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG) will no longer originate indirect auto loans starting July 1, 2023, as part of its strategy to optimize its balance sheet and focus on relationship-based lending. The company will continue to service existing auto loans, which totaled $11.5 billion as of March 31, 2023. This decision allows Citizens to lend in areas with better risk-adjusted returns and deepen customer relationships.

Positive

• Citizens Financial Group will optimize its balance sheet and focus on relationship-based lending, which could lead to better risk-adjusted returns and improved opportunities to deepen customer relationships.

Negative

• Citizens Financial Group will no longer originate indirect auto loans, which may impact revenue from auto loan origination.

Servicing of Existing Auto Portfolio to Continue; Advances Strategy to Invest in Businesses Aligned with Deepening Relationships with Customers

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG or “Citizens”) today announced that it will no longer originate indirect auto loans, effective July 1, 2023, as part of its strategy to optimize its balance sheet and emphasize relationship-based lending. Citizens will retain and continue to service existing auto loans on its balance sheet.

“As Citizens continues to optimize its balance sheet, this decision further enables us to lend in areas that provide better risk adjusted returns and improved opportunities to deepen relationships with our customers,” said Eric J. Schuppenhauer, Head of Consumer Lending. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to have been the lender of choice for thousands of dealership partners over the years and are thankful for the dedicated team of colleagues that have delivered exceptional service.”

In third quarter 2022, Citizens began to reduce the number of active dealer relationships and de-emphasize its auto loan origination volume. At March 31, 2023, Citizens had $11.5 billion of auto loans outstanding, down 6.5% from December 31, 2022 and down 20.1% from March 31, 2022. The centralized servicing operations will continue to provide excellent service to our auto loan customers.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $222.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2023. 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 3,400 ATMs and approximately 1,100 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 Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook,” “hopeful,” “guidance” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could.” Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management, and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. More information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230607005266/en/

Michelle King Savio

michelle.l.kingsavio@citizensbank.com

Source: Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

FAQ

What is Citizens Financial Group's strategy for its auto loan portfolio?

Citizens Financial Group is optimizing its balance sheet and emphasizing relationship-based lending, leading to the decision to no longer originate indirect auto loans.

What is the impact on the existing auto loan portfolio?

Citizens Financial Group will continue to service existing auto loans, which totaled $11.5 billion as of March 31, 2023.

How has the auto loan volume changed over time?

The auto loan volume has decreased by 6.5% from December 31, 2022, and by 20.1% from March 31, 2022.

What is the expected outcome of this decision?

The decision allows Citizens Financial Group to focus on areas with better risk-adjusted returns and deepen customer relationships.