Applications available for 2008 Champions in Action® awards
Deadline: October 17
Citizens Bank New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have announced youth programming, housing, financial literacy, and hunger as the 2009 categories for the Champions in Action program.

Youth programming is the focus for the first quarter of 2009. A non-profit organization that provides support to youth will be selected in January. A non-profit organization focused on housing will be chosen for the second quarter and announced in April. The application deadline for both categories is Friday, October 17, 2008 at 5 p.m.

Applications can be obtained online at www.citizensbank.com. Completed applications should be sent to: Citizens Bank, Public Affairs Department, Attn: Champions in Action program, 875 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101. All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 17.

Champions in Action is a joint initiative of Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV that is designed to recognize and support nonprofit organizations for their contributions to New Hampshire communities. A new Champion in Action is selected each quarter among a range of social service areas.

The Champion receives:

• A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation.
• Media coverage from WMUR-TV, including public service announcements and television profiles.
• Volunteer support from Citizens and WMUR-TV employees.
  
• Extensive public relations support.
• Promotional support, highlighting the Champion in Action in all Citizens Bank branches and on its ATMs.
• Exposure on both Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV Web sites.
  

For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com or www.WMUR.com.

About Citizens Bank
Citizens Bank is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., operating its seven-state branch network in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. It has 78 branches and 160 ATMs in New Hampshire.

RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $160 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. 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). CFG’s Web site is citizensbank.com.  

About WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV (Ch. 9) is an ABC-TV affiliate headquartered in Manchester, N.H., and is owned and managed by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., one of the nation's largest television station groups. WMUR-TV is New Hampshire's largest commercial TV station, reaching more than a million people. Founded in 1954, the station's news, feature and sports coverage has won numerous awards for professional and journalistic excellence. WMUR-TV is considered the broadcast news source of record for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary election. WMUR-TV provides online news and information at www.WMUR.com