Company: CFG-PE
Filing Date: 2025-03-10
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000759944-25-000044
Chunk: 1

Company: CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC/RI
Filing Date: 2025-03-10
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 1
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 and excellent capabilities, and we remain committed to supporting our customers with the advice, products and services they need to be successful. 
 Your vote matters                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 Your vote is important and, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to access electronic voting via the Internet or utilize the automated telephone voting feature as described on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card. Alternatively, you may sign, date and return the proxy card in the envelope provided. You may also vote at the meeting if you plan to attend.                                                                                                                                                        
 Finally, I would like to thank Wendy Watson for her service on our Board. Ms. Watson will retire after her current term expires at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. We appreciate the invaluable contributions she has made, including serving as the Chair of the Audit Committee for the last 14 years.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 We thank you for your support of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
 Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
 Bruce Van SaunChairman of the Board andChief Executive Officer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 March 10, 2025                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
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| “We are positioned well for the future, with sound enterprise strategies, a unique market position and excellent capabilities”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 –Bruce Van Saun                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |

#### Citizens Financial Group1

#### Letter from the Lead Independent Director

#### Dear Fellow Shareholder,
In my first year as Lead Independent Director, we celebrated our tenth year as a public company. Reaching such a milestone is a good reminder to reflect on achievements and Citizens has many to celebrate. While maintaining the same values that have always been at its core, the Company has reshaped itself over the past ten years into a strong super- regional bank that remains dedicated to its mission to help our customers, colleagues and communities reach their potential. I am pleased to serve as Lead Independent Director as the Board oversees the execution of the Company's strategy in pursuit of that mission.

#### Executive compensation
The Board understands the interest shareholders have in our executive compensation program. Last year, our say-on-pay proposal received 63% support, an outcome that the Compensation and Human Resources Committee (the "Compensation and HR Committee") and senior management want to improve. Maintaining open dialogue with shareholders has always been important to us and during 2024 we continued our long-standing annual shareholder outreach program, with a focus on understanding shareholder