RBS 2006 Annual Report Download - page 30

■In 2006 Citizens Financial Group expanded its
community initiatives for job creation and affordable housing.
Two different programmes offered over $120 million in loans
at low interest rates to companies that agreed to create an
estimated 4,000 jobs. The Citizens Housing Bank and
Charter One Housing Bank offered US$82 million in low-
interest funds to non-profit housing developers to create
1,070 affordable housing units.
■Since it began in 2002, Citizens’ Community Champions
in Action programme has assisted 94 small, non-profit
agencies dedicated to significant social service issues.
■Charter One is making available US$150 million in loans
over three years for economic and community development
in and around Cleveland’s University Circle in Ohio.
■Our Home Buyer Assistance Programme has helped
more than 3,000 Citizens colleagues purchase their homes
– often their first.
■More than 140 colleagues have benefited from our
military leave policy, which was extended above and
beyond legal requirements, to bridge pay and benefits
to cover the duration of military leave.
Selected awards
Export Lender of the Year
US Small Business Administration
Innovator of the Year – large company category
Boston Business Journal’s Corporate
Philanthropy Summit 2006
Business of the Year
Northeastern Economic Development Association
Standard of Excellence award for community website
Web Marketing Association
Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award
Citizens Bank, Delaware
Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Service
RBS Group • Annual Report and Accounts 2006 29
Chicago Music Exchange Citizens has maintained
its No 1 Small Business Administration rating in all its
local markets. Charter One provides business banking
for Chicago Music Exchange, which supplies guitars
for world-renowned performers.