# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000759944
**File Stem:** 0001193125-25-170524
**Filing Date:** 2025-7
**Character Count:** 229047
**Document Hash:** 133d56dd798367387d9db26561997c0b
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-25-170524.hdr.sgml**: 20250731

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-25-170524

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 16

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20250725

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Other Events

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250731

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250731

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC/RI
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000759944
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 050412693
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-36636
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251171759

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1 CITIZENS PLAZA
- **CITY:** PROVIDENCE
- **STATE:** RI
- **ZIP:** 02903
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 2039006715

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1 CITIZENS PLAZA
- **CITY:** PROVIDENCE
- **STATE:** RI
- **ZIP:** 02903

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? 8-K

### UNITED STATES

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

#### Washington, DC 20549

### FORM 8-K

#### CURRENT REPORT

#### Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

#### of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

#### Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 25, 2025

## CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

#### (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **001-36636** | **05-0412693** |
| **(State or other jurisdiction**<br> **of incorporation)** | **(Commission**<br> **File Number)** | **(I.R.S. Employer**<br> **Identification No.)** |

---

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **One Citizens Plaza**<br> **Providence, RI** | **02903** |
| **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

(203) 900-6715

#### (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

#### Not Applicable

#### (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Trading**<br> **symbol(s)** | **Name of each exchange**<br> **on which registered** |
| Common stock, $0.01 par value per share | CFG | New York Stock Exchange |
| Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 5.000% Fixed-Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E | CFG PrE | New York Stock Exchange |
| Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 7.375% Fixed-Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series H | CFG PrH | New York Stock Exchange |
| Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I | CFG PrI | New York Stock Exchange |

---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 3.03.** | **Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.**  |

---

Upon issuance of the 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the "Series I Preferred Stock") by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (the "Registrant") on July 31, 2025, the ability of the Registrant to declare or pay dividends on, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, shares of its common stock or any shares of other stock of the Registrant that rank junior to the Series I Preferred Stock will be subject to certain restrictions in the event that the Registrant does not declare and pay (or set aside) dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock for the last preceding dividend period, and the ability of the Registrant to declare full dividends on any preferred stock that ranks equally with the Series I Preferred Stock will be subject to certain limitations in the event the Registrant declares partial dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock. The terms of the Series I Preferred Stock, including such restrictions, are more fully described in, and this description is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Certificate of Designations (as defined in Item 5.03 below), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 5.03.** | **Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.**  |

---

On July 25, 2025, the Registrant filed a Certificate of Designations (the "Certificate of Designations") with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to establish the preferences, limitations and relative rights of the Series I Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Designations became effective upon filing, and a copy is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 8.01.** | **Other Events.**  |

---

On July 22, 2025, the Registrant entered into an underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters listed therein, relating to the public offering of 16,000,000 depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares"), each representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> interest in a share of the Series I Preferred Stock. The Underwriting Agreement contains various representations, warranties and agreements by the Registrant, conditions to closing, indemnification rights and obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The description of the Underwriting Agreement set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed for the purpose of filing Exhibit 1.1 as an exhibit to the Registrant's registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282511) (the "Registration Statement") and such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

The Depositary Shares were issued pursuant to a Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement"), dated July 31, 2025, among the Registrant, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting jointly as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts described therein. A copy of the Deposit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 and the form of Depositary Receipt is included as Exhibit A of the Deposit Agreement.

A copy of the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel for the Registrant, relating to the legality of the issuance and sale of the Depositary Shares is attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Exhibits 5.1 and 23.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K are hereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 9.01.** | **Financial Statements and Exhibits.**  |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Exhibits

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit**<br> **Number** | **Description** |
| 1.1 | [Underwriting Agreement, dated July 22, 2025, among Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto](d870391dex11.htm) |
| 3.1 | [Certificate of Designations of the Registrant with respect to the Series I Preferred Stock, dated July 25, 2025, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and effective July 25, 2025 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed July 30, 2025)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/759944/000119312525169192/d18558dex32.htm) |
| 4.1 | [Filed as Exhibit 3.1](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/759944/000119312525169192/d18558dex32.htm) |
| 4.2 | [Deposit Agreement, dated July 31, 2025, among Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting jointly as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts described therein](d870391dex42.htm) |
| 4.3 | [Form of Depositary Receipt (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2)](d870391dex42.htm) |
| 5.1 | [Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP](d870391dex51.htm) |
| 23.1 | [Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)](d870391dex51.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |

---

------

#### SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | Citizens Financial Group, Inc.<br> (Registrant) | Citizens Financial Group, Inc.<br> (Registrant) |
| Date: July 31, 2025 | By: | /s/ Robin S. Elkowitz | /s/ Robin S. Elkowitz |
|  |  | Name: | Robin S. Elkowitz |
|  |  | Title: | Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and<br> Corporate Secretary |

---

## Exhibit 1.1

**Exhibit 1.1** 

**NOTICE REGARDING UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT** 

The attached Underwriting Agreement is a contractual document that establishes and governs the legal relations among the parties with respect to the transactions described therein. The Underwriting Agreement is not intended to be a source for investors of factual, business, or operational information about the Company. The representations and warranties, covenants and agreements contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of the Underwriting Agreement, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Underwriting Agreement, and in some cases are subject to limitations agreed among those parties. Accordingly, investors and security holders should not rely on representations or warranties, covenants and agreements as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the Company.

**16,000,000 Depositary Shares** 

**Each Representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> Interest in a Share of** 

**6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock,** 

**Series I, Par Value $25.00 per Share of Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference $1,000 per Share of Preferred Stock (Equivalent to $25 per Depositary Share)** 

**CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.** 

**UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT** 

July 22, 2025

------

July 22, 2025

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

UBS Securities LLC

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Citizens JMP Securities, LLC

101 California Street, Suite 1700

San Francisco, California 94111

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (the "**Company**"), proposes to issue and sell to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, as representatives (the "**Representatives**") of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I hereto (the "**Underwriters**"), 16,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> interest in a share of 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, par value of $25.00 per share, liquidation preference $1,000 per share (the "**Preferred Shares**") of the Company (such number of depositary shares, the "**Securities**"). To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

------

The Preferred Shares represented by the Securities are to be deposited by the Company against delivery of depositary receipts evidencing the Securities (the "**Depositary Receipts**") that are to be issued by Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting jointly as depositary (jointly, the "**Depositary**"), under a Deposit Agreement, to be dated on or about July 31, 2025 (the "**Deposit Agreement**"), among the Company, the Depositary and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts issued thereunder. Shares of preferred stock, par value $25.00 per share, of the Company are hereinafter referred to as "**Preferred Stock**."

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "**Commission**") an "automatic shelf registration statement" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "**Securities Act**"), including a prospectus, on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282511), relating to securities (the "**Shelf Securities**"), including the Securities, to be issued, offered and sold from time to time by the Company or any selling securityholder. The registration statement as amended to the date of this Agreement, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "**Registration Statement**," and the related prospectus covering the Shelf Securities dated October 4, 2024 in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the "**Base Prospectus**." The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act), is hereinafter referred to as the "**Prospectus**," and the term "**preliminary prospectus**" means any preliminary form of the Prospectus. For purposes of this Agreement, "**free writing prospectus**" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, "**Time of Sale Prospectus**" means the preliminary prospectus dated July 22, 2025 together with the documents and pricing information set forth in Section A of Schedule II hereto, and "**broadly available road show**" means a "bona fide electronic road show" as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms "Registration Statement," "Base Prospectus," "preliminary prospectus," "Time of Sale Prospectus" and "Prospectus" shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms "**supplement**," "**amendment**," and "**amend**" as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or free writing prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "**Exchange Act**"), that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. *Representations and Warranties of the Company*. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Registration Statement is an "automatic shelf registration statement" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and initially became effective within three years prior to the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) (i) At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) under the Securities Act made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act, the Company was a "well known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) (i) Each document filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) the Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iv) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (v) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The Company is not an "ineligible issuer" in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) The Company and each of its significant subsidiaries as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (each a "**Significant Subsidiary**") (i) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing (to the extent that such concept is applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and (ii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing (to the extent that such concept is applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, management, stockholders' equity, prospects or results of operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "**Material Adverse Effect**").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) The Company has no Significant Subsidiaries other than those listed on Schedule III hereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) (i) The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "**Bank Holding Company Act**") and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "**Federal Reserve Board**") and has made an effective election to become a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act and the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation Y; and (ii) Citizens Bank, N.A. is validly existing as a national banking association under the laws of the United States of America.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; the shares of common stock outstanding have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; all of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (subject, in the case of Citizens Bank, N.A., to 12 U.S.C §55) and, in the case of Citizens Bank, N.A., are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) The certificate of designations creating the Preferred Shares (the "**Certificate of Designations**"), the proposed form of which has been furnished to the Underwriters, has been duly authorized by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Depositary, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and to general principles of equity.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) (i) The deposit of the Preferred Shares by the Company in accordance with the Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company, (ii) the Preferred Shares have been duly authorized and, when the Securities are issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and the Preferred Shares are issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Preferred Shares will be fully paid and nonassessable, and (iii) assuming due execution and delivery of the Depositary Receipts and the Deposit Agreement by the Depositary, each Security will be duly and validly issued and will entitle the holder thereof to the benefits provided therein and in the Deposit Agreement. The issuance of the Preferred Shares and the Securities will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m) The statements relating to the Securities, the Deposit Agreement, the Preferred Shares, legal matters, documents or proceedings, as applicable, included in (A) the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions "Description of the Series I Preferred Stock" and "Description of the Depositary Shares," (B) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 under the captions "Part I, Item 1—Business—Regulation and Supervision" and "Part I, Item 3—Legal Proceedings," and (C) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025 under the caption "Part II, Item 1 – Legal Proceedings," (except as disclosed elsewhere in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, as applicable), in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the terms of the Securities, the Deposit Agreement and the Preferred Shares or the legal matters, documents or proceedings, as applicable, referred to therein, fairly summarize in all material respects such terms, matters, documents or proceedings, and the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus under the heading "Material U.S. Federal Tax Consequences", insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain federal income tax laws of the United States, constitute a fair summary of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement will not contravene any provision of (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (ii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) any applicable law or judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(o) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, except for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the registration of the Preferred Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications as have been obtained or may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("**FINRA**") and applicable state securities laws and foreign securities laws in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(p) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(q) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings ("**Actions**") pending or threatened or, to the best knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or by others, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement; and (ii) there are no current or pending Actions or statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or filed with the Registration Statement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(r) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(s) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an "investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(t) The Company and its subsidiaries are not subject to any claim in connection with their respective businesses, operations or properties, alleging liability or responsibility for violation of any Federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, judgment, order, decree, permit, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement or governmental restriction relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems, except for claims which, if adversely determined, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(u) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Securities or Preferred Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates under the control of the Company ("**controlled affiliates**"), nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent or representative of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) taken any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign or domestic "government official" (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulations implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law, or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries and controlled affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and have instituted policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(w) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, commonly known as the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the "**Anti-Money Laundering Laws**"), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(x) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the Company's knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, controlled affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity ("**Person**") that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(A) the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("**OFAC**"), the U.S. Department of State (including, without limitation, through designation as a "specially designated national" or "blocked person"), the United Nations Security Council ("**UNSC**"), the European Union ("**EU**"), or His Majesty's Treasury ("**HMT**") (collectively, "**Sanctions**"), or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions (currently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, the so-called Luhansk People's Republic, the nongovernment-controlled regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, except to the extent authorized by OFAC or otherwise authorized under applicable law).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions (currently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, the so-called Luhansk People's Republic, the nongovernment-controlled regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, except to the extent authorized by OFAC or otherwise authorized under U.S. law); or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) For the past 10 years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or target of Sanctions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(y) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than purchases of its capital stock in accordance with its publicly disclosed share purchase program and ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(z) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(aa) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement, misappropriation or violation of the asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(bb) No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company's or any of the Company's subsidiaries' principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(cc) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws administrated by the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "**OCC**"), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "**FDIC**"), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the "**CFPB**") and any other federal, non-U.S. or state bank regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Company and its subsidiaries (together with the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC, the FDIC and the CFPB, "**Bank Regulatory Authorities**") and securities, commodities and other financial regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except to the extent that noncompliance would not have, and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The deposit accounts that are eligible for FDIC insurance of Citizens Bank, N.A. are insured to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the FDIC and there are no proceedings for the termination or revocation of such insurance pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise subject to any consent decree, memorandum of understanding, cease and desist order, order of prohibition or suspension, written commitment, supervisory agreement, or written agreement or other written statement as described under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u) (a "**Regulatory Order**") with any of the Bank Regulatory Authorities nor have the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) been advised in writing by any of the Bank Regulatory Authorities or (ii) to the knowledge of the Company been advised other than in writing by any of the Bank Regulatory Authorities that it is contemplating issuing or requesting any of the foregoing, in each case except as described in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus (provided that in the case of any Regulatory Order that the Company is prohibited from disclosing, such description in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus may be limited to the material effects of such Regulatory Order).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(dd) The Company and Citizens Bank, N.A. are "well capitalized," as defined under the applicable Federal Reserve Board, OCC and FDIC regulations. Citizens Bank, N.A. has a Community Reinvestment Act rating of at least "Satisfactory."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ee) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ff) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(gg) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, since the end of the Company's most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(hh) The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. Non-GAAP financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, complies with the requirements of Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus under the Securities Act or the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has audited the Company's consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent auditor with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act (and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(jj) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not have a material adverse effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has (nor does the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries and which would reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(kk) The Company has filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by Sections 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the period that it has been required to do so.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ll) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(mm) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 of the Exchange Act Regulations) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(nn) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in any of the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(oo) (A) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material security breach or other compromise relating to the Company's or its subsidiaries' information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, "**IT Systems and Data**"); (B) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have been notified of, and are not aware of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material security breach or other material compromise to their IT Systems and Data; and (C) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented reasonable controls, policies, procedures and technological safeguards designed to maintain and protect the integrity, availability, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and internal policies relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the reasonable protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. [Reserved.]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. *Agreements to Sell and Purchase*. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company at a price (the "**Purchase Price**") equal to (i) $24.2125 per share of the Securities with respect to shares sold to retail investors and (ii) $24.7500 per share of the Securities with respect to shares sold to institutional investors the number of shares of the Securities (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares of the Securities as you may determine) set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter.

The Company hereby agrees that it will not, for the 30-day period from the date of the Prospectus, without first obtaining the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer to contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any Preferred Stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible into Preferred Stock, except for the Securities sold to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. *Terms of Public Offering*. The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Securities as soon after the execution of this Agreement as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. *Payment and Delivery*. Payment for and delivery of the Securities shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on July 31, 2025, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as may be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the "**Closing Date.**"

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Payment for the Securities on the Closing Date shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("**DTC**"), for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global depositary receipts representing the Securities ("**Global Receipts**"). The Purchase Price payable by the Underwriters shall be reduced by any withholding required by law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. *Conditions to Obligations*. The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following conditions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, and the Company shall have complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change (other than a notice of a possible upgrading), in the rating accorded any of the securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6(c)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and letter of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, with respect to such matters and in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives. The opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP described in this Section 6(e) shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the Company or the Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company, with respect to such matters and in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, with respect to such matters and in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; *provided* that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier than the date hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) The Certificate of Designations shall have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware and with all other offices where such filing is required, on or before the Closing Date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) The Underwriters shall have received from the Depositary a copy of any Global Receipt evidencing the deposit of the Preferred Shares underlying the Securities delivered on the Closing Date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a certificate, dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, and signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company with respect to such matters and in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) The Underwriters shall have received such other documents as you may reasonably request with respect to other matters related to the sale of the Securities.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. *Covenants of the Company*. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) To furnish to you, at your request, without charge, 4 signed copies of the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 7(e) or 7(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to (i) make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus or (ii) use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus, in each case without your prior consent, provided that the prior consent of the Underwriters shall have been deemed to have been given in respect of any free writing prospectuses listed in Schedule II to this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if during such time any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which the Securities may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under state or foreign securities laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request, *provided* that in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and to you as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the Company's option, Rule 158 under the Securities Act).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) To prepare a final term sheet containing only a description of the Securities, in a form approved by the Underwriters and attached as Annex A hereto, and file such final term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such rule (such term sheet, the "**Final Term Sheet**").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) If the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement occurs before all the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters, prior to the third anniversary to file a new shelf registration statement and to take any other action necessary to permit the public offering of the Securities to continue without interruption; references herein to the Registration Statement shall include the new registration statement declared effective by the Commission;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) If, before all the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters , the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Underwriters, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iv) promptly notify the Underwriters of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) Not to take any action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act in connection with the distribution of the Securities contemplated hereby.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m) To use its best efforts to list the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange within the 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Securities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. [Reserved.]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9. *Expenses*. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Securities (within the time required by Rule 456(b) under the Securities Act, if applicable), all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or World Sky memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state or foreign jurisdictions' securities laws as provided in Section 7(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in an amount not to exceed $15,000, in the aggregate, in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or World Sky memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount (in the case of reimbursable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) not to exceed $35,000 in the aggregate, incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Securities by FINRA, (v) the fees and expenses of any rating agency rating the Securities, (vi) the cost of printing certificates, if any, representing the Securities and the Preferred Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary and their

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counsel, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, provided, however, that 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered or used in connection with the road show shall be paid by the Underwriters, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. In connection with the preceding sentence, the Underwriters agree to timely and properly pay the New York state stock transfer tax, and the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for associated carrying costs if such tax payment is not rebated on the day of payment and for any portion of such tax payment not rebated. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 11 entitled "Indemnity and Contribution" and the last paragraph of Section 13 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. The Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. *Covenants of the Underwriters*. Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use the Final Term Sheet without further consent of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. *Indemnity and Contribution*. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and directors, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any "road show" as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a "road show"), or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 11(a) or 11(b), such person (the "**indemnified party**") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "**indemnifying party**") in writing and the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in such proceeding and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, except as provided in the following sentence, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, (iii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iv) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any

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local counsel) for all Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons and affiliates of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. In the case of any such separate firm for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 11(a) or 11(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 11(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 11(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the

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offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 11 are several in proportion to the respective number of the Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by *pro rata* allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 11(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 11(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 11 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 11 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter, or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12. *Termination*. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been

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suspended on any national exchange, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets, or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the Representatives' judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13. *Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters*. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of the Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of the Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; *provided* that in no event shall the number of the Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 13 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of the Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Securities and the aggregate number of the Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case, either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement which, for the purposes of this Section 13, shall not include termination by the Underwriters under clauses (i), (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 12, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special
Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if
this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes
subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under
the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For the purposes of this Section 14:

"**BHC Act Affiliate**" has the meaning assigned to the term "affiliate" in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

"**Covered Entity**" means any of the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) a "covered entity" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §
252.82(b);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) a "covered bank" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §
47.3(b); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) a "covered FSI" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §
382.2(b).

"**Default Right**" has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

"**U.S. Special Resolution Regime**" means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15. *Entire Agreement*. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm's length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16. *Counterparts*. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of this Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law) or other transmission method, and the parties hereto agree that any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17. *Applicable Law*. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18. *Submission to Jurisdiction*. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York (each, a "**New York Court**") in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the offering of the Securities or any transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the offering of the Securities or any transactions contemplated hereby in a New York Court, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company and each Underwriter irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19. *USA PATRIOT Act.* In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20. *Headings*. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21. *Notices.* All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to you in care of (a) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division (Phone: 212-761-6691) (Fax: 212-507-8999); (b) BofA Securities, Inc., 114 W 47th Street, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal (Fax: 212-901-7881); (c) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Telephone: 212-834-4533, Facsimile: 212-834-6081, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk; (d) UBS Securities LLC, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019 Attention: Fixed Income Syndicate; (e) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Transaction Management, Email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com; and (f) Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, 101 California Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94111, and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to Law Department, 28 State Street, 28th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, Attention: General Counsel.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Very truly yours, | Very truly yours, | Very truly yours, |
| Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. |
| By: | /s/ Michael Soccio | /s/ Michael Soccio |
|  | Name: | Michael Soccio |
|  | Title: | Treasurer, EVP |

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*[Signature Page – CFG Underwriting Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Accepted as of the date hereof | Accepted as of the date hereof |
| By: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | By: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
| By: | /s/ Hector Vazquez |
|  | Name: Hector Vazquez |
|  | Title: Executive Director |
| By: | BofA Securities, Inc. |
| By: | /s/ Anthony Aceto |
|  | Name: Anthony Aceto |
|  | Title: Managing Director |
| By: | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
| By: | /s/ Stephen L. Sheiner |
|  | Name: Stephen L. Sheiner |
|  | Title: Executive Director |
| By: | UBS Securities LLC |
| By: | /s/ Jay Anderson |
|  | Name: Jay Anderson |
|  | Title: Managing Director |
| By: | /s/ Aaditya Niranjan |
|  | Name: Aaditya Niranjan |
|  | Title: Director |
| By: | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
| By: | /s/ Carolyn Hurley |
|  | Name: Carolyn Hurley |
|  | Title: Managing Director |

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*[Signature Page – CFG Underwriting Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| By: | Citizens JMP Securities, LLC |
| By: | /s/ Michele Goodenough |
|  | Name: Michele Goodenough |
|  | Title: Managing Director |

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*[Signature Page – CFG Underwriting Agreement]* 

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**SCHEDULE I** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Underwriter** | **Number of Securities To<br>Be Purchased** |
|  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | 2560000 |
|  BofA Securities, Inc. | 2560000 |
|  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | 2560000 |
|  UBS Securities LLC | 2560000 |
|  Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | 2560000 |
|  Citizens JMP Securities, LLC | 2560000 |
|  Drexel Hamilton, LLC | 160000 |
|  Mizuho Securities USA LLC | 160000 |
|  RBC Capital Markets, LLC | 160000 |
|  TD Securities (USA) LLC | 160000 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total: | 16000000 |

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**SCHEDULE II** 

**A. Time of Sale Prospectus** 

1. Preliminary Prospectus issued July 22, 2025

2. Final Term Sheet

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**SCHEDULE III** 

**Significant Subsidiaries** 

Citizens Bank, N.A.

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**ANNEX A** 

CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

**$400,000,000** 

16,000,000 Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> Interest in a Share of

6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I

Liquidation Preference $1,000 Per Share of Preferred Stock (equivalent to $25 Per Depositary Share)

Term Sheet

July 22, 2025

The following information relates only to Citizens Financial Group, Inc.'s offering (the "Offering") of Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> interest in a share of its 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I and should be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated July 22, 2025 relating to this Offering and the accompanying prospectus dated October 4, 2024 (collectively, the "Preliminary Prospectus"), including the documents incorporated by reference therein. This information supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus.

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|:---|:---|
| **Issuer:** | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (the "Issuer") |
| **Security:** | 16,000,000 Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> Interest in a Share of 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I ("Series I Preferred Stock") |
| **Size:** | $400,000,000 (16,000,000 Depositary Shares (the "Depositary Shares")) |
| **Expected Security Ratings\*:** | [RESERVED] |
| **Trade Date:** | July 22, 2025 |
| **Original Issue Date (Settlement):** | July 31, 2025 (T+7)\*\* |
| **Maturity:** | Perpetual |
| **Offering Price Per Depositary Share:** | $25 |
| **Aggregate Offering Price:** | $400000000 |
| **Liquidation Preference:** | $1,000 per share of Series I Preferred Stock (equivalent to $25 per Depositary Share) |
| **Dividend Rate (Non-Cumulative):** | From the original issue date to, but excluding, October 6, 2030 (the "first dividend reset date"), a fixed rate per annum equal to 6.500%, and from, and including, the first dividend reset date, for each dividend reset period (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus), a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus) as of the most recent reset dividend determination date (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus) plus 2.629%. The dividend rate will be reset on the first dividend reset date and on each date falling on the fifth anniversary of the preceding dividend reset date |
| **Dividend Payment Dates:** | If declared, January 6, April 6, July 6 and October 6 of each year, commencing on January 6, 2026 (long first dividend period) |

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Ex A-1

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|:---|:---|
| **Optional Redemption:** | The Series I Preferred Stock (and a proportionate number of Depositary Shares) may be redeemed at the Issuer's option, (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after October 6, 2030 or (ii) in whole but not in part at any time within 90 days following a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus), in each case at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share of Series I Preferred Stock (equivalent to $25 per Depositary Share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends |
| **Underwriters' Commission:** | 1.000% for Depositary Shares sold to institutional investors and 3.150% for Depositary Shares sold to retail investors |
| **Proceeds to Issuer (before expenses):** | $394420825 |
| **Listing:** | Application will be made to list the Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CFG PfI." |
| **CUSIP/ISIN:** | 174610 808 / US1746108083 |
| **Joint Book-Running Managers:** | Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC<br> BofA Securities, Inc.<br> J.P. Morgan Securities LLC<br> UBS Securities LLC<br> Wells Fargo Securities, LLC<br> Citizens JMP Securities, LLC |
| **Co-Managers:** | Drexel Hamilton, LLC<br> Mizuho Securities USA LLC<br> RBC Capital Markets, LLC<br> TD Securities (USA) LLC |

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***\**** ***A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.***

\*\* We expect that delivery of the Depositary Shares will be made against payment therefor on or about the original issue date specified in this Term Sheet, which will be the seventh business day following the date of this Term Sheet (this settlement cycle being referred to as "T+7"). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Depositary Shares prior to one business day before the Settlement Date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Depositary Shares initially will settle in T+7, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of Depositary Shares who wish to trade the Depositary Shares on the Trade Date hereof should consult their own advisors. 

**The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including the Preliminary Prospectus) with the SEC for the Offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Preliminary Prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and the Offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the Offering will arrange to send you the Preliminary Prospectus if you request it by contacting Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at (866) 718-1649, BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at (800) 294-1322, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC toll-free at (212) 834-4533, UBS Securities LLC toll-free at (833) 481-0269, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at (800) 645-3751, and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC toll-free at (203) 900-6763.** 

Ex A-2

## Exhibit 4.2

**Exhibit 4.2** 

**DEPOSIT AGREEMENT** 

**among** 

**CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.,** 

**as Issuer** 

**and** 

**COMPUTERSHARE INC. AND COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,** 

**jointly as Depositary** 

**and** 

**THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS** 

**DESCRIBED HEREIN** 

**Dated as of July 31, 2025** 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS | 1 |
| Section 1.1. | Definitions | 1 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE II FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF THE SERIES I PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE II FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF THE SERIES I PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS | 4 |
| Section 2.1. | Form and Transfer of Receipts | 4 |
| Section 2.2. | Deposit of the Series I Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof | 5 |
| Section 2.3. | Registration of Transfer of Receipts | 6 |
| Section 2.4. | Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of the Series I Preferred Stock | 6 |
| Section 2.5. | Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts | 8 |
| Section 2.6. | Lost Receipts, etc. | 8 |
| Section 2.7. | Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts | 8 |
| Section 2.8. | Redemption of the Series I Preferred Stock | 9 |
| Section 2.9. | Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form | 10 |
| Section 2.10. | No Pre-Release | 11 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION | 12 |
| Section 3.1. | Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information | 12 |
| Section 3.2. | Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges | 12 |
| Section 3.3. | Warranty as to the Series I Preferred Stock | 12 |
| Section 3.4. | Warranty as to Receipts | 12 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE IV THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE IV THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES | 13 |
| Section 4.1. | Cash Distributions | 13 |
| Section 4.2. | Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges | 14 |
| Section 4.3. | Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges | 15 |
| Section 4.4. | Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts | 16 |
| Section 4.5. | Voting Rights | 16 |
| Section 4.6. | Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc. | 17 |
| Section 4.7. | Delivery of Reports | 17 |
| Section 4.8. | Lists of Receipt Holders | 18 |
| Section 4.9. | Withholding | 18 |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE V THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE V THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION | 18 |
| Section 5.1. | Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar | 18 |
| Section 5.2. | Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation | 19 |
| Section 5.3. | Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar, Transfer Agent and the Corporation | 19 |
| Section 5.4. | Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary | 23 |
| Section 5.5. | Corporate Notices and Reports | 25 |
| Section 5.6. | Indemnification by the Corporation | 25 |
| Section 5.7. | Fees, Charges and Expenses | 25 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | 26 |
| Section 6.1. | Amendment | 26 |
| Section 6.2. | Termination | 26 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS | 27 |
| Section 7.1. | Counterparts | 27 |
| Section 7.2. | Exclusive Benefit of Parties | 28 |
| Section 7.3. | Invalidity of Provisions | 28 |
| Section 7.4. | Notices | 28 |
| Section 7.5. | Depositary's Agents | 29 |
| Section 7.6. | Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of the Series I Preferred Stock | 29 |
| Section 7.7. | Holders of Receipts are Parties | 30 |
| Section 7.8. | Governing Law | 30 |
| Section 7.9. | Inspection of Deposit Agreement | 30 |
| Section 7.10. | Headings | 30 |
| Section 7.11. | Confidentiality | 30 |
| Section 7.12. | Further Assurances | 30 |
| Exhibit A | Form of Receipt | A-1 |

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**DEPOSIT AGREEMENT** 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 31, 2025, among (i) CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation; (ii) COMPUTERSHARE INC., a Delaware corporation ("<u>Computershare</u>"), and its wholly owned subsidiary, COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association (the "<u>Trust Company</u>"), jointly as Depositary (as hereinafter defined); and (iii) the holders from time to time of the Receipts described herein.

WHEREAS, it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock of the Corporation (as defined herein) from time to time with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares in respect of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock so deposited; and

WHEREAS, the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:

**ARTICLE I** 

**DEFINED TERMS** 

***Section 1.1. Definitions***.

The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:

"<u>Affiliate</u>" shall mean, with respect to any person or entity, any person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such other person or entity. For the purpose of this definition, "controlling," "controlled by" or "under common control with" mean the ownership, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the operation or management and policies of a person or entity, whether through the ownership or control of voting interests, by contract or otherwise.

"<u>Board of Directors</u>" shall mean the board of directors of the Corporation.

"<u>Certificate of Designations</u>" shall mean the relevant Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware establishing the Series I Preferred Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Corporation.

"<u>Computershare</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

"<u>Corporation</u>" shall mean Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

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"<u>Deposit Agreement</u>" shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

"<u>Depositary</u>" shall mean Computershare and the Trust Company, acting jointly, and any successor as Depositary hereunder.

"<u>Depositary Shares</u>" shall mean the depositary shares, each representing a one-fortieth (1/40<sup>th</sup>) interest in one share of the Series I Preferred Stock, and evidenced by a Receipt.

"<u>Depositary's Agent</u>" shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 7.5.

"<u>Depositary's Office</u>" shall mean the office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered, which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is located at 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021.

"<u>Distribution Date</u>" shall mean the date on which Computershare, as distribution agent, is to distribute any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Series I Preferred Stock to Record Holders of Receipts in accordance with Section 4.1.1.

"<u>DTC</u>" shall mean The Depository Trust Company.

"<u>Exchange Event</u>" shall mean with respect to any Global Registered Receipt:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) (A) the Global Receipt Depository which is the Holder of such Global Registered Receipt notifies the Corporation that it is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities under any Letter of Representations or that it is no longer registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (B) the Corporation has not appointed a qualified successor Global Receipt Depository within ninety (90) calendar days after the Corporation received such notice, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) the Corporation in its sole discretion notifies the Depositary in writing that the Receipts or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts shall no longer be represented by such Global Registered Receipt.

"<u>Funds</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

"<u>Global Receipt Depository</u>" shall mean, with respect to any Receipt issued hereunder, DTC or such other entity designated as Global Receipt Depository by the Corporation in or pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, which entity must be, to the extent required by any applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

"<u>Global Registered Receipt</u>" shall mean a global registered Receipt registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. "<u>Letter of Representations</u>" shall mean any applicable agreement among the Corporation, the Depositary and a Global Receipt Depository with respect to such Global Receipt Depository's rights and obligations with respect to any Global Registered Receipt, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time and any successor agreement thereto.

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"<u>Late-Day Funding</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.2.

"<u>Person</u>" shall mean any natural person, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, unincorporated association, trust or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of the foregoing.

"<u>Receipt</u>" shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued hereunder, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto, whether in definitive or temporary form, and evidencing the number of Depositary Shares held of record by the Record Holder of such Depositary Shares.

"<u>Record Holder</u>" or "<u>Holder</u>" as applied to a Receipt shall mean the Person in whose name such Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.

"<u>Redemption Date</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

"<u>Registrar</u>" shall mean the Trust Company or such other successor bank or trust company which shall be appointed by the Corporation to register ownership and transfers of Receipts or the deposited shares of Series I Preferred Stock, as the case may be, as herein provided and if a successor Registrar shall be so appointed, references herein to "the books" of or maintained by the Depositary shall be deemed, as applicable, to refer as well to the register maintained by such Registrar for such purpose.

"<u>Securities Act</u>" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

"<u>Series I Preferred Stock</u>" shall mean the shares of the Corporation's 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, $1,000 liquidation preference per share, designated in the Certificate of Designations.

"<u>Signature Guarantee</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

"<u>Transfer Agent</u>" shall mean the Trust Company or such other successor bank or trust company which shall be appointed by the Corporation to transfer the Receipts or the deposited shares of Series I Preferred Stock, as the case may be, as herein provided.

"<u>Trust Company</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

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**ARTICLE II** 

**FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF THE SERIES** 

**I PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY,** 

**TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS** 

***Section 2.1. Form and Transfer of Receipts***.

The definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided (but which do not affect the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Depositary as set forth in this Deposit Agreement without the Depositary's consent). Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary, upon the written order of the Corporation, delivered in compliance with Section 2.2, shall be authorized and instructed to, and shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts which may be printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the definitive Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Corporation and the Depositary will cause definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at the Depositary's Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary is hereby authorized and instructed to, and shall execute and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts registered in the name (and only in the name) of the holder of the temporary Receipt(s); *provided* that, the Depositary has been provided with all necessary information that it may request in order to execute and deliver such definitive Receipts. Such exchange shall be made at the Corporation's expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Deposit Agreement, and with respect to the Series I Preferred Stock, as definitive Receipts.

Any Receipt to be executed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually or by the facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided.

Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares. All Receipts shall be dated the date of their issuance.

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Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, all as may be required by the Depositary and approved by the Corporation or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Series I Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipt is subject (but which do not affect the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Depositary as set forth in this Deposit Agreement without the Depositary's consent).

Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery of such Receipt with the same effect as if such Receipt were a negotiable instrument; *provided*, *however*, that until transfer of any particular Receipt shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.3, the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the Record Holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the Person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.

***Section 2.2. Deposit of the Series I Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof***.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation may from time to time deposit shares of Series I Preferred Stock under this Deposit Agreement by delivery to the Depositary, including via direct registration for shares of Series I Preferred Stock in uncertificated form, for such shares of Series I Preferred Stock to be deposited (or in such other manner as may be agreed to by the Corporation and the Depositary), properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, together with (i) all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement and (ii) an instruction letter from the Corporation authorizing the Depositary to register such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock in uncertificated form by direct registration, each in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and together with a written order of the Corporation directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the Person or Persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited shares of the Series I Preferred Stock.

The shares of the Series I Preferred Stock that are deposited shall be held by the Depositary at the Depositary's Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Depositary shall not lend any shares of the Series I Preferred Stock deposited hereunder.

Upon receipt by the Depositary of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon recordation of the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock on the books of the Corporation (or its duly appointed transfer agent) in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall

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execute and deliver to or upon the order of the Person or Persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section 2.2, a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such Person or Persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the Person requesting such delivery.

***Section 2.3. Registration of Transfer of Receipts***.

The Corporation hereby appoints Computershare and the Trust Company, collectively as the Depositary and as the Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Receipts and appoints Computershare as distribution agent for the Receipts, and each of Computershare and the Trust Company hereby accepts such appointment, subject to the express terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement (and no implied terms or conditions) and, as such, shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, including a guarantee of the signature thereon by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Transfer Agent (a "<u>Signature Guarantee</u>"), together with evidence of the payment of any taxes or charges as may be required by law. Thereupon, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Person entitled thereto. With respect to the appointment of the Depositary as Registrar and Transfer Agent in respect of the Receipts, the Depositary, in its respective capacities under such appointments, shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, immunities and benefits as the Depositary hereunder as if explicitly named in each such provision, and shall provide services as provided in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated September 29, 2014, between the Corporation and the Depositary (the "<u>Transfer Agency Agreement</u>"), in the performance of its duties in such respective capacities. Any references to the Depositary herein shall, to the extent applicable, mean the Depositary as the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

***Section 2.4. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of the Series I Preferred Stock***.

Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and the receipt by the Depositary of all other necessary information and documents, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered, and shall deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Holder of the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered.

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Any Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw the number of whole shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals; *provided*, *however*, that a Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may not withdraw such whole shares of Series I Preferred Stock (or money and other property, if any, represented thereby) which has previously been called for redemption. After such surrender and upon the receipt of written instructions from the Holder of such Receipt or Receipts, without unreasonable delay (provided the Corporation has provided the Depositary with all necessary documentation), the Depositary shall deliver to such Holder, or to the Person or Persons designated by such Holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered for withdrawal, but Holders of such whole shares of the Series I Preferred Stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock hereunder or to receive a Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares therefor. Delivery of such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and such money and other property being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate (or in such other manner as may be agreed to by the Corporation and the Depositary), which, if required by the Depositary, shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. If a Receipt delivered by the Holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of the Series I Preferred Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to such Holder, or subject to Section 2.3 upon such Holder's order, a new Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares.

In no event will fractional shares of the Series I Preferred Stock (or any cash payment in lieu thereof) be delivered by the Depositary. Delivery of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and money and other property, if any, being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate (or in such other manner as may be agreed to by the Corporation and the Depositary).

If shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, being withdrawn are to be delivered to a Person or Persons other than the Record Holder of the related Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock, such Holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such Holder for withdrawal of such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer in blank.

Delivery of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositary's Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the Holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the Holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated by such Holder.

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***Section 2.5. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts***.

As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the Corporation may require (i) payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Corporation shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges, taxes or expenses payable by the Holder of a Receipt pursuant to Section 5.7 (including any such tax or charge with respect to the shares of Series I Preferred Stock being deposited or withdrawn or any charges or expense pursuant to Section 3.2), (ii) the production of evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature (which evidence may include a Signature Guarantee), and (iii) any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Depositary, and may also require compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Corporation may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and/or applicable law.

The deposit of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against shares of the Series I Preferred Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Corporation is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the Corporation at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement.

***Section 2.6. Lost Receipts, etc.***

In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary in its discretion may, absent notice to the Depositary that such Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, only upon (i) the filing by the Holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof; and (ii) the Holder thereof furnishing the Depositary with an open penalty surety bond satisfactory to the Depositary, holding the Depositary and the Corporation harmless, absent notice to the Depositary that such Receipts have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser. Such Holder shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as the Depositary may prescribe and as required by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York.

***Section 2.7. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts***.

All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary's Agent shall be cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized and directed to destroy all Receipts so cancelled.

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***Section 2.8. Redemption of the Series I Preferred Stock***.

Whenever the Corporation shall be permitted and shall elect to redeem shares of the Series I Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations, it shall (unless otherwise agreed to in writing with the Depositary) give or cause to be given to the Depositary, not less than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date (as defined below), notice of the date of such proposed redemption of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and of the number of such shares held by the Depositary to be so redeemed and the applicable redemption price, which notice shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Corporation stating that such redemption of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock is in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations. On the date of such redemption, *provided* that the Corporation shall then have paid or caused to be paid in full to Computershare the redemption price of $1,000 per share of the Series I Preferred Stock to be redeemed, plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, thereon to the date fixed for redemption to be redeemed, in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, the Depositary shall redeem the number of Depositary Shares representing such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock. The Depositary shall, if requested in writing and provided with all necessary information, mail the notice of the Corporation's redemption of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and the proposed simultaneous redemption of the number of Depositary Shares representing such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock to be redeemed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at the respective last addresses as they appear on the records of the Depositary, or transmit in accordance with the applicable procedures of any Global Receipt Depositary or by such other method approved by the Depositary, in its reasonable discretion, in either case not less than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption of such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (the "<u>Redemption Date</u>"), to the Record Holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed at the addresses of such Holders as they appear on the records of the Depositary; but neither failure to mail or transmit any such notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders nor any defect in any notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption as to the other Holders. Each such notice shall be prepared by the Corporation and shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of Depositary Shares to be redeemed and, if less than all the Depositary Shares held by any such Holder are to be redeemed, the number of such Depositary Shares held by such Holder to be so redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the Series I Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Redemption Date. In case less than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot. In any such case, the Depositary Shares shall only be redeemed in increments of 40 shares and any integral multiple thereof.

Notice having been mailed or transmitted by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Corporation shall have failed to provide the funds necessary to redeem shares of the Series I Preferred Stock evidenced by the Depositary Shares called for redemption) (i) all dividends on the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease to accrue from and after such date; (ii) the Depositary Shares being

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redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding; (iii) all rights of the Holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate; and (iv) upon surrender in accordance with such redemption notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary Shares called for redemption (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary or applicable law shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a redemption price per Depositary Share equal to one-fortieth (1/40<sup>th</sup>) of the redemption price per share of the Series I Preferred Stock so redeemed plus all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts paid by the Corporation in respect of dividends which on the Redemption Date have been declared on the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock to be so redeemed and have not theretofore been paid (it being understood that, in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a Redemption Date that occurs subsequent to the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 for a dividend period shall not be paid to the Holder of a Receipt entitled to receive the redemption price on the Redemption Date, but rather shall be paid to the Holder of such Receipt on such record date).

If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the Holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption.

***Section 2.9. Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form.***

If the Corporation shall determine in a writing delivered to the Depositary that the Receipts are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts, then the Depositary shall, if instructed and provided with all necessary information, in accordance with the other provisions of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver one or more Global Registered Receipts evidencing the Receipts of such series, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by, the Receipts to be represented by such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts and (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Global Receipt Depository therefor or its nominee.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise provided in the Global Registered Receipt, a Global Registered Receipt may only be transferred in whole and only by the applicable Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt to a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository to such Global Receipt Depository or another nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by such Global Receipt Depository or any such nominee to a successor Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt selected or approved by the Corporation or to a nominee of such successor Global Receipt Depository. Except as provided below, owners solely of beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Receipts represented by such Global Registered Receipt or to have such Receipts, or the Depositary Shares represented by those Receipts, registered in their names. Neither any such beneficial owner nor any direct or indirect participant of a Global Receipt Depository shall have any rights or obligations under this Deposit Agreement with respect to any Global Registered Receipt held on their behalf by a Global

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Receipt Depository and such Global Receipt Depository may be treated by the Corporation, the Depositary and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or the Depositary as the Holder of such Global Registered Receipt for all purposes whatsoever. Unless and until definitive Receipts are delivered to the owners of the beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt, (1) the applicable Global Receipt Depository will make book-entry transfers among its participants and receive and transmit all payments and distributions in respect of the Global Registered Receipts to such participants, in each case, in accordance with its applicable procedures and arrangements, and (2) whenever any notice, payment or other communication to the holders of Global Registered Receipts is required under this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation and the Depositary shall give all such notices, payments and communications specified herein to be given to such holders to the applicable Global Receipt Depository.

If an Exchange Event has occurred with respect to any Global Registered Receipt, then, in any such event, the Depositary shall, upon receipt of a written order from the Corporation authorizing and directing the Depositary to execute and deliver the individual definitive registered Receipts in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt, execute and deliver individual definitive registered Receipts, in authorized denominations and of like terms, in an aggregate number of Depositary Shares equal to the aggregate number of Depositary Shares represented by the Global Registered Receipt being delivered in exchange for such Receipts. The Depositary shall have no duties, obligations or liability under this paragraph unless and until such written order have been received by the Depositary.

Definitive registered Receipts issued in exchange for a Global Registered Receipt pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt, pursuant to instructions from its participants, shall instruct the Depositary in writing. The Depositary shall deliver such Receipts to the Persons in whose names such Receipts are so registered.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, should the Corporation determine that the Receipts should be issued as a Global Registered Receipt, the parties hereto shall comply with the terms of each Letter of Representations.

***Section 2.10. No Pre-Release.***

The Depositary shall not deliver any deposited Series I Preferred Stock evidenced by Receipts prior to the receipt and cancellation of such Receipts or other similar method used with respect to Receipts held by DTC. The Depositary shall not issue any Receipts prior to the receipt by the Depositary of the corresponding Series I Preferred Stock evidenced by such Receipts. At no time will any Receipts be outstanding if such Receipts do not represent Series I Preferred Stock deposited with the Depositary.

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**ARTICLE III** 

**CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF** 

**RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION** 

***Section 3.1. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information***.

Any Holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file such proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Corporation may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Corporation may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration of transfer or redemption, of any Receipt or the withdrawal of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares and evidenced by a Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.

***Section 3.2. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges***.

Holders of Receipts shall be obligated to make payments to the Depositary of certain charges and expenses, as provided in Section 5.7. Registration of transfer of any Receipt or any withdrawal of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and all money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused until any such payment due is made, and any dividends, interest payments or other distributions may be withheld or any part of or all shares of the Series I Preferred Stock or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt and not theretofore sold may be sold for the account of the Holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such Holder prior to such sale), and such dividends, interest payments or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such charges or expenses, the Holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.

***Section 3.3. Warranty as to the Series I Preferred Stock***.

The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that shares of the Series I Preferred Stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and the issuance of the related Receipts.

***Section 3.4. Warranty as to Receipts***.

The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Receipts, when issued, will represent legal and valid interests in shares of the Series I Preferred Stock. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Receipts.

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**ARTICLE IV** 

**THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES** 

***Section 4.1. Cash Distributions***.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1.1 Whenever Computershare, as distribution agent, shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Series I Preferred Stock, Computershare shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 and, if received, in accordance with written instructions from the Corporation, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such Holders; *provided*, *however*, that in case the Corporation or Computershare shall be required to withhold and shall withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Series I Preferred Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly. Computershare, as distribution agent, shall distribute or make available for distribution, as the case may be and, if received, in accordance with the Corporation's written instructions, only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder of Receipts a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributable shall be held by Computershare (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and be treated as part of the next sum received by Computershare for distribution to Record Holders of Receipts then outstanding. Each Holder of a Receipt shall provide the Depositary with its certified tax identification number on a properly completed Form W-8 or W-9 or other appropriate form, as may be applicable. Each Holder of a Receipt acknowledges that, in the event of non-compliance with the preceding sentence, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may require withholding by the Depositary of a portion of any of the distributions to be made to such Holder hereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1.2 All funds received by Computershare pursuant to this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by Computershare in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the "<u>Funds</u>") shall be delivered to Computershare by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and in no event later than 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Distribution Date. If Funds are delivered after 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time but at or before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Distribution Date, the Depositary shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effectuate the distribution or application of such Funds on the Distribution Date; *provided*, that the Corporation acknowledges that funding after 9:00 a.m. but at or before 12:00 p.m. on the Distribution Date may cause delays in payments such that payments may be made on the business day following the Distribution Date. The Corporation also acknowledges that delivery of Funds to Computershare on any day after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time ("<u>Late-Day Funding</u>") may cause delays in payments such that payments may be made on the business day following the Distribution Date, and such payments will be subject to the terms of Section 4.1.5 below. Once received by Computershare, Funds shall be held by Computershare as agent for the Corporation. Until paid or distributed in accordance with this Agreement, the Funds shall be deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by Computershare in its name as agent for the Corporation. Until paid pursuant to this Agreement, Computershare may hold or invest the Funds through such accounts in: (i) bank accounts, short term certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements, and disbursement accounts with commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody's (Long Term Rating) and

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Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.), (ii) money market funds that comply with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (iii) funds backed by obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America, municipal securities, or (iv) debt or commercial paper obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("<u>S&P</u>") or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("<u>Moody's</u>"), respectively.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1.3 Computershare will only draw upon the Funds in such account as required from time to time in order to make the payments to Record Holders of Receipts and any applicable tax withholding payments. The Corporation shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit or investment made by Computershare in accordance with this Section 4, except for any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party. Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. Computershare shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Corporation, any Record Holder or any other party.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1.4 Computershare is acting as agent hereunder and is not a debtor of the Corporation in respect of the Funds.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1.5 In the case of Late-Day Funding, Federal Deposit Insurance or other bank liquidity charges may apply in connection with the overnight deposit of Funds with commercial banks. The parties agree that any such charges assessed as a result of Late-Day Funding will be charged to the Corporation and the Corporation hereby agrees to pay such charges.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1.6 On the date of this Agreement, Computershare shall provide the Corporation with the account information for the account to which the Corporation shall deliver the cash dividends and other cash distributions on the Series I Preferred Stock referred to in Section 4.1.1. Computershare may update such account information from time to time by notice to the Corporation provided in accordance with Section 7.4.

***Section 4.2. Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges***.

Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon the Series I Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts held by such Holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such Record Holders or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Corporation or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or charges), the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Corporation, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, in a commercially reasonable manner. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may

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be, by Computershare to Record Holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Corporation shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Depositary and the Depositary shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Holders of Receipts unless the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel stating that such securities or property have been registered under the Securities Act or do not need to be registered in connection with such distributions.

***Section 4.3. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges***.

If the Corporation shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the Persons in whose names shares of the Series I Preferred Stock is recorded on the books of the Corporation any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance be communicated to the Depositary and made available by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts in such manner as the Corporation shall direct and the Depositary shall agree, either by the issue to such Record Holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or privileges or by such other method as may be approved by the Corporation in its discretion with the acknowledgement of the Depositary; *provided*, *however*, that (i) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights, preferences or privileges the Corporation determines that it is not lawful or (after consultation with the Depositary) not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available to Holders of Receipts by the issue of warrants or otherwise, or (ii) if and to the extent so instructed by Holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges, then the Corporation, in its discretion (with acknowledgement of the Depositary, in any case where the Corporation has determined that it is not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available), may, if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges permit such transfer, sell such rights, preferences or privileges at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall be delivered to Computershare and, if received, in accordance with the written instructions of the Corporation and, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, be distributed by Computershare to the Record Holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash.

The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in order for Holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which such rights, preferences or privileges relate, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that it will file promptly a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the Holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become effective, or the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel to the effect that (i) the offering and sale of such securities to the Holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act, and (ii) such securities are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

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The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to Holders of Receipts, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that the Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.

***Section 4.4. Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts***.

Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or if rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Series I Preferred Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of the Series I Preferred Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of the Series I Preferred Stock are entitled to notice, or whenever the Depositary and the Corporation shall decide it is appropriate, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Corporation with respect to or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Series I Preferred Stock) for the determination of the Holders of Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to notice of such meeting or for any other appropriate reasons.

***Section 4.5. Voting Rights***.

Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, upon receipt of notice from the Corporation of any meeting at which the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, if requested in writing and provided with all necessary information and documents, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail or transmit by such other method approved by the Depositary, in its reasonable discretion, to the Record Holders of Receipts, as determined on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4, a notice prepared by the Corporation which shall contain (i) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (ii) a statement that the Holders of Receipts at the close of business on a specified record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 may, subject to any applicable restrictions, instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares (including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a Person designated by the Corporation), and (iii) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the Holders of Receipts on the relevant record date, the Depositary shall to the extent possible vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of whole shares of the Series I Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by all Receipts as to which any particular voting instructions are received. The Corporation hereby agrees to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such shares of the Series I Preferred Stock or cause such shares to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from Holders of Receipts, the Depositary will vote all shares of the Series I Preferred Stock held by it proportionately with instructions received.

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***Section 4.6. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.***

Upon any change in liquidation preference, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Series I Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation affecting the Corporation or to which it is a party, the Depositary shall, upon the written instructions of the Corporation setting forth any adjustment, (i) make such adjustments as are certified by the Corporation in (a) the fraction of an interest represented by one Depositary Share in one share of the Series I Preferred Stock and (b) the ratio of the redemption price per Depositary Share to the redemption price per share of the Series I Preferred Stock, in each case as stated in such instructions and (ii) treat any securities or property (including cash) which shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of the Series I Preferred Stock as new deposited property so received in exchange for or upon conversion or in respect of such Series I Preferred Stock. In any such case, the Depositary shall, upon receipt of written instructions of the Corporation, execute and deliver additional Receipts or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited property. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, Holders of Receipts shall have the right from and after the effective date of any such change in liquidation preference, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Series I Preferred Stock or any such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation to surrender such Receipts to the Depositary with instructions to convert, exchange or surrender the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock represented thereby only into or for, as the case may be, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property and cash into which the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock represented by such Receipts might have been converted or for which such shares might have been exchanged or surrendered immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction; *provided*, that the Depositary shall not have any obligations under this sentence unless and until it has received written instructions from the Corporation.

***Section 4.7. Delivery of Reports***.

The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders of Receipts at the Depositary's Office and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable during normal business hours any reports and communications received from the Corporation that are both received by the Depositary as the holder of the deposited shares and which the Corporation is required to furnish to the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock. In addition, the Depositary shall transmit, upon written request by the Corporation, certain notices and reports to the Holders of Receipts as provided in Section 5.5.

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***Section 4.8. Lists of Receipt Holders.***

Promptly upon request from time to time by the Corporation, the Registrar shall furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all registered Holders of Receipts.

***Section 4.9. Withholding.***

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, in the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property is subject to any tax or other charge that the Depositary is obligated by law to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of, by public or private sale, all or a portion of such property in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Holders of Receipts entitled thereto in proportion to the number of Depositary Shares held by them, respectively; *provided*, *however*, that in the event the Depositary determines that such distribution of property is subject to withholding tax only with respect to some but not all Holders of Receipts, the Depositary will use its best efforts (i) to sell only that portion of such property distributable to such holders that is required to generate sufficient proceeds to pay such withholding tax and (ii) to effect any such sale in such a manner so as to avoid affecting the rights of any other Holders of Receipts to receive such distribution in property.

**ARTICLE V** 

**THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S** 

**AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION** 

***Section 5.1. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar***.

Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositary's Office, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration and registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, and at the offices of the Depositary's Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, all in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

The Depositary shall keep books at the Depositary's Office for the registration and registration of transfer of Receipts. Upon direction by the Corporation and with reasonable notice to the Depositary, the Registrar shall open its books for inspection by the Record Holders of Receipts as directed by the Corporation; *provided* that any record Holder shall be granted such right by the Corporation only after certifying that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such Person's interest as an owner of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.

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The Depositary or Registrar may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, the Registrar, any Depositary's Agent or the Corporation because of any requirement of law or of any government, governmental body or commission, stock exchange or any applicable self-regulatory body.

If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the Depositary may, with the written approval of the Corporation, appoint a Registrar (reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) for registration of the Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of any such exchange) may be removed and a substitute Registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the written request or with the written approval of the Corporation. If the Receipts, such Depositary Shares or the Series I Preferred Stock are listed on one or more other securities exchanges, the Depositary will, at the written request and expense of the Corporation, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of such Receipts, such Depositary Shares or the Series I Preferred Stock as may be required by law or applicable securities exchange regulation.

***Section 5.2. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation***.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall incur any liability to any Holder of Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent or the Registrar, as the case may be, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including the Certificate of Designations) or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar or the Corporation, as the case may be, incur liability to any Holder of a Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement shall provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except as otherwise explicitly set forth in this Deposit Agreement.

***Section 5.3. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar, Transfer Agent and the Corporation***.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar, any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Holders of Receipts or to any other Person other than for its gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or fraud (each as finally determined by a non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, an arbitral award or an agreement with the Corporation). Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, neither the Depositary, nor the Depositary's Agent nor

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any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be liable in any event for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if they have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. Any liability of the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent or the Registrar or Transfer Agent, as the case may be, under this Deposit Agreement will be limited in the aggregate to an amount equal to the annual fees paid by the Corporation to such Person, but not including reimbursable expenses; *provided*, *however*, that in the event that such liability arises as a result of bad faith, willful misconduct or fraud by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents (except for such Depositary's Agents which are not employees of the Depositary), any Registrar or any Transfer Agent, as the case may be, through fraud or willful misconduct on the part of such Person (as determined by a non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, an arbitral award or an agreement with the Corporation), such limit shall not apply and such liability hereunder shall be instead limited to the amount of such misappropriated funds or the liability resulting from such fraud or willful misconduct.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Series I Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any Person presenting the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock for deposit, any Holder of a Receipt or any other Person believed by it to be competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent and the Corporation, as the case may be, may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon or omitting to act upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is not taken in bad faith, fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence (each as finally determined by a non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, an arbitral award or an agreement with the Corporation). The Depositary undertakes, and any Depositary's Agent, Registrar and any Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall be required to undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Deposit Agreement against the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, Registrar or any Transfer Agent.

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The Depositary, its parent, Affiliates, or subsidiaries, any Depositary's Agents, and any Transfer Agent and any Registrar, as the case may be, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Corporation and its Affiliates and in Receipts or Depositary Shares or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Corporation or its Affiliates may be interested or contract with or lend money to or otherwise act as fully or as freely as if it were not the Depositary, the parent, Affiliate or subsidiary of the Depositary or the Depositary's Agent or Transfer Agent or Registrar hereunder. The Depositary may also act as transfer agent, trustee or registrar of any of the securities of the Corporation and its Affiliates or act in any other capacity for the Corporation or its Affiliates.

The Depositary shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement or of the Receipts, the Depositary Shares or the Series I Preferred Stock nor shall it be obligated to segregate such monies from other monies held by it, except as required by law. The Depositary shall not be responsible for advancing funds on behalf of the Corporation and shall have no duty or obligation to make any payments if it has not timely received sufficient funds to make timely payments.

In the event the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar hereunder, or in the administration of any of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, omitting or suffering to take any action hereunder, the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar may, in its sole discretion upon providing written notice to the Corporation, refrain from taking any action and the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Corporation, any Holders of Receipts or any other Person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar receives written instructions or a certificate of the Corporation which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar or which proves or establishes the applicable matter to the satisfaction of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar. Such written instructions shall be full and complete authorization to the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar, as the case may be, and the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Transfer Agent or Registrar shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Deposit Agreement in reliance upon such written instructions.

In the event the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any Holders of Receipts, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from the Corporation, and shall incur no liability and shall be entitled to the full indemnification set forth in Section 5.6 hereof in connection with any action so taken.

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It is intended that the Depositary shall not be deemed to be an "issuer" of the securities under the federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws, it being expressly understood and agreed that the Depositary is acting only in a ministerial capacity as Depositary for the deposited Series I Preferred Stock. The Depositary will not be under any duty or responsibility to ensure compliance with any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange of the Receipts, the shares of Series I Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.

Neither the Depositary (or its officers, directors, employees or agents), any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar or any Transfer Agent makes any representation or has any responsibility as to the validity of any registration statement pursuant to which the Depositary Shares may be registered under the Securities Act, the deposited Series I Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Receipts (except its countersignature thereon) or any instruments referred to therein or herein, or as to the correctness of any statement made in any such registration statement or herein.

The Depositary assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the description that appears in the Receipts. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Receipts, the Depositary makes no warranties or representations as to the validity or genuineness of any shares of Series I Preferred Stock at any time deposited with the Depositary hereunder or of the Depositary Shares, as to the validity or sufficiency of this Deposit Agreement, as to the value of the Depositary Shares or as to any right, title or interest of the record holders of Receipts in and to the Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Corporation of the Depositary Shares or the Receipts or the proceeds thereof.

The Depositary, Depositary's Agent, any Registrar, and any Transfer Agent hereunder:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth herein (and no implied duties or obligations), or as may subsequently be agreed to in writing by the parties;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) shall have no obligation to make payment hereunder unless the Corporation shall have provided the necessary federal or other immediately available funds or securities or property, as the case may be, to pay in full amounts due and payable with respect thereto;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) shall not be obligated to prosecute or defend any litigation or other proceeding hereunder; if, however, the Depositary determines to prosecute or defend any litigation or other proceeding hereunder, and, where the taking of such action might in the Depositary's judgment subject or expose it to any expense or liability, the Depositary shall not be required to act unless it shall have been furnished with an indemnity satisfactory to it;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or other document or security delivered to the Depositary and believed by the Depositary to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon the written, telephonic, electronic and oral instructions, with respect to any matter relating to the Depositary's actions as Depositary covered by this Deposit Agreement (or supplementing or qualifying any such actions) of officers of the Corporation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vi) may consult counsel satisfactory to it, and the written advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Depositary hereunder in accordance with the advice of such counsel;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vii) except as specifically set forth herein, shall not be called upon at any time to advise any Person with respect to the shares of Series I Preferred Stock or Receipts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(viii) shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity, authority or rights of the parties (other than with respect to the Depositary) executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver this Deposit Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called for under this Deposit Agreement; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ix) shall not be liable for any failures, delays or losses, arising directly or indirectly out of conditions beyond their reasonable control, including, but not limited to, (i) work stoppages or labor disputes, electrical or mechanical failure or computer hardware or software failure, in each case other than of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, or (ii) acts of government, exchange or market ruling, suspension of trading, civil disobedience, riots, rebellions, communications facilities failures including telephone failure, war, terrorism, insurrection, fires, earthquakes, storms, floods, acts of God or similar occurrences.

The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.3 shall survive the replacement, removal or resignation of the Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent or Depositary's Agent or termination of this Deposit Agreement.

***Section 5.4. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary***.

The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by delivering notice of its election to do so to the Corporation, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Corporation by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary hereunder and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

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In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Corporation shall, within sixty (60) days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be (i) a Person having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus, along with its Affiliates, of at least $50,000,000 or (ii) an Affiliate of any such Person. In the event of such removal or resignation, the Corporation will appoint a successor depositary and inform the Depositary of the name and address of any successor depositary so appointed; *provided* that the Corporation shall use its best efforts to ensure that there is at all relevant times when the Series I Preferred Stock is outstanding, a person or entity appointed and serving as the Depositary; *provided, further,* that no failure by the Corporation to appoint such a successor depositary shall affect the termination of this Deposit Agreement or the discharge of the Corporation and the Depositary as depositary hereunder. Upon payment of all outstanding fees and expenses hereunder, the Depositary shall promptly forward to the successor depositary or its designee any shares of stock held by it and any certificates, letters, notices and other document that the Depositary may receive after its appointment has so terminated.

If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within sixty (60) days after delivery of such notice, any Record Holder of Receipts hereunder or the Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Corporation, shall promptly execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and any moneys or property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Record Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such records, books and other information in its possession relating thereto. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail or transmit by such other method approved by such successor Depositary, in its reasonable discretion, notice of its appointment to the Record Holders of Receipts.

Any Person into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted, or any Person to which all or a substantial part of the assets of the Depositary may be transferred or which succeeds to the shareholder services business of the Depositary shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or its own name as successor Depositary.

The removal or resignation of the Depositary shall automatically be deemed to be a removal of the Depositary as Registrar and Transfer Agent herein without any further act or deed.

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***Section 5.5. Corporate Notices and Reports***.

The Corporation agrees that it will deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary will, promptly after receipt of all necessary information and documents, transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts, in each case at the addresses recorded in the Depositary's or Registrar's books, copies of all notices, reports and communications from the Corporation (including without limitation financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Series I Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including the Certificate of Designations), to be furnished to the Record Holders of Receipts. Such transmission will be at the Corporation's expense and the Corporation will provide the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporation's expense such other documents as may be requested in writing by the Corporation.

***Section 5.6. Indemnification by the Corporation***.

Notwithstanding Section 5.3 to the contrary, the Corporation shall indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent (including each of their officers, directors, agents and employees) against, and hold each of them harmless from and against, any fee, loss, damage, cost, penalty, fine, judgment, liability or expense (including the reasonable costs and expenses of its legal counsel) which may arise out of acts performed, taken or omitted to be taken in connection with its acting as Depositary, Depositary's Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent, respectively, under this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, the enforcement by the Depositary, Depositary's Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent, as the case may be, of this Deposit Agreement) and the Receipts by the Depositary, any Registrar or any of their respective agents (including any Depositary's Agent) and any transactions or documents contemplated hereby, except for any liability arising out of negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or fraud (each as finally determined by a non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, an arbitral award or an agreement with the Corporation) on the respective parts of any such Person or Persons. The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.6 shall survive any succession of any Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent or Depositary's Agent or termination of this Deposit Agreement.

***Section 5.7. Fees, Charges and Expenses***.

The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Depositary the compensation, as agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Depositary, Depositary's Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar hereunder and to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Depositary, Depositary's Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar without gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or fraud on its part (each as finally determined by a non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, an arbitral award or an agreement with the Corporation) in connection with the services rendered by it (or any agent of the Depositary) hereunder. The Corporation shall pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and the initial issuance of the Depositary Shares, all withdrawals of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock by owners of

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Depositary Shares, and any redemption or exchange of shares of the Series I Preferred Stock at the option of the Corporation. The Corporation shall pay all transfer and other taxes and charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. All other transfer and other taxes and charges shall be at the expense of Holders of Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts. If, at the request of a Holder of Receipts, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which the Corporation is not otherwise liable hereunder, such Holder will be liable for such charges and expenses; *provided*, *however*, that the Depositary may, at its sole option, require a Holder of a Receipt to prepay the Depositary any charge or expense the Depositary has been asked to incur at the request of such Holder of Receipts. The Depositary shall present its statement for charges and expenses to the Corporation at such intervals as the Corporation and the Depositary may agree.

**ARTICLE VI** 

**AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION** 

***Section 6.1. Amendment***.

The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Corporation and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable; *provided*, *however*, that no such amendment (other than any change in the fees of any Depositary, Registrar or Transfer Agent) which shall materially and adversely alter the rights of the Holders of Receipts shall be effective against the Holders of Receipts unless such amendment shall have been approved by the Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate at least two-thirds of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. Every Holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.5 and 2.6 and Article III, of any owner of Depositary Shares to surrender any Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares to the Depositary with instructions to deliver to the Holder the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law or the rules and regulations of any governmental body, agency or commission, or applicable securities exchange. As a condition precedent to the Depositary's execution of any amendment, the Corporation shall deliver to the Depositary a certificate that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 6.1.

***Section 6.2. Termination***.

This Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation at any time upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Depositary, in which case, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination, the Depositary will mail notice of such termination to the record Holders of all Receipts then outstanding. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the transfer of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders of the Receipts thereof and shall not give any further notices (other than notice of such termination) or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to the Series I

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Preferred Stock, and shall continue to deliver the Series I Preferred Stock and any money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts upon surrender thereof by the Holders of Receipts thereof. At any time after the expiration of two years from the date of termination, as may be instructed by the Corporation in writing, the Depositary shall (i) sell the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock then held hereunder at public or private sale, at such places and upon such terms as it deems proper and may thereafter hold the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any money and other property held by it hereunder, without liability for interest, for the benefit, pro rata in accordance with their holdings, of the Holders of Receipts that have not theretofore been surrendered, or (ii) return such shares of Series I Preferred Stock to the Corporation. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except to account for such net proceeds and money and other property. The Depositary shall continue to receive its fees and expenses after termination of this Deposit Agreement so long as the Depositary continues to provide services in connection with this Deposit Agreement.

Subject to the first paragraph of this Section 6.2, this Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares have been redeemed pursuant to Section 2.8; (ii) there shall have been made a final distribution in respect of the Series I Preferred Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and such distribution shall have been distributed to the Holders of Receipts representing Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, as applicable; or (iii) upon the consent of Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds of the Depositary Shares outstanding.

Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent and any Registrar under Sections 5.6 and 5.7; *provided further* that Sections 5.3 and 5.6 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement.

**ARTICLE VII** 

**MISCELLANEOUS** 

***Section 7.1. Counterparts***.

This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Deposit Agreement by facsimile or pdf shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Deposit Agreement.

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***Section 7.2. Exclusive Benefit of Parties***.

This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other Person whatsoever.

***Section 7.3. Invalidity of Provisions***.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

***Section 7.4. Notices***.

Any and all notices to be given to the Corporation hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Corporation at:

Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

One Citizens Way

Johnston, RI 02919

Telephone: (401) 260-2225

Attention: Rose Sousa

or at any other addresses of which the Corporation shall have notified the Depositary in writing.

Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at the Depositary's Office at:

Computershare Inc.

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

150 Royall Street

Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Attention: Relationship Manager

Facsimile: 781-575-4647

with a copy to:

Computershare Inc.

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

150 Royall Street Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Attention: Legal Department

Facsimile: (781) 575-4210

or at any other address of which the Depositary shall have notified the Corporation in writing.

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Any and all notices to be given to any Record Holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, recognized next day courier services, facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to such Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary; or if such Holder shall have timely filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request; or in the case of any Global Receipt Depository, in accordance with its applicable procedures and arrangements for notices.

Delivery of a notice sent by mail or as provided in this Section 7.4 shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a facsimile transmission or electronic mail) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box; *provided*, that notice to a Global Receipt Depository shall be deemed to be effected at the time such notice is delivered or made as provided in this Section 7.4; *provided*, *further*, that the Depositary or the Corporation may, however, act upon any facsimile transmission or electronic mail received by it from the other or from any Holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such facsimile transmission or electronic mail shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter or as aforesaid.

***Section 7.5. Depositary's Agents***.

The Depositary may from time to time appoint Depositary's Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and may at any time appoint additional Depositary's Agents and vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositary's Agents. The Depositary will promptly notify the Corporation of any such action.

***Section 7.6. Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of the Series I Preferred Stock***.

The Corporation hereby appoints the Trust Company as Registrar and Transfer Agent and Computershare as dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent in respect of the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock deposited with the Depositary hereunder, and the Trust Company and Computershare hereby accept such respective appointments, subject to the express terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement (and no implied terms or conditions) and, as such, will reflect changes in the number of shares of deposited Series I Preferred Stock held by it by notation, book-entry or other appropriate method. With respect to the appointment of the Trust Company as Registrar and Transfer Agent and Computershare as dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent in respect of the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock, the Trust Company and Computershare, in their respective capacities under such appointments, shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, immunities and benefits as the Depositary hereunder as if explicitly named in each such provision, and shall provide as provided in the Transfer Agency Agreement, in the performance of its duties in such respective capacities.

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***Section 7.7. Holders of Receipts are Parties.***

The Holders of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance of delivery thereof.

***Section 7.8. Governing Law***.

This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to applicable conflicts of law principles.

***Section 7.9. Inspection of Deposit Agreement***.

Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary's Agents and shall be made available for inspection during business hours upon reasonable notice to the Depositary by any Holder of a Receipt.

***Section 7.10. Headings***.

The headings of articles and sections in this Deposit Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.

***Section 7.11. Confidentiality.***

The Depositary and the Corporation agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including, *inter alia*, personal, non-public Holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Deposit Agreement, shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other Person, except as may be required by law or legal process.

***Section 7.12. Further Assurances***.

The Corporation shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Depositary for the carrying out or performing by the Depositary of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.*]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Depositary have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth, and all Holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, Inc.** | **CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, Inc.** |
|  By: | /s/ Michael Soccio |
|  Name: | Michael Soccio |
|  Title: | Executive Vice President and Treasurer |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **COMPUTERSHARE INC., as Depositary** | **COMPUTERSHARE INC., as Depositary** |
| By: | /s/ Shirley Nessralla |
|  Name: | Shirley Nessralla |
|  Title: | Vice President |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY,** | **COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY,** |
| **N.A., as Depositary and as Transfer Agent and Registrar for the shares of the Corporation's Series I Preferred Stock** | **N.A., as Depositary and as Transfer Agent and Registrar for the shares of the Corporation's Series I Preferred Stock** |
|  By: | /s/ Shirley Nessralla |
|  Name: | Shirley Nessralla |
|  Title: | Vice President |

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[*Signature Page to Deposit Agreement*]

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**EXHIBIT A:** 

**FORM OF RECEIPT** 

[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]

Unless this receipt is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("<u>DTC</u>"), to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES, EACH

REPRESENTING A 1/40TH INTEREST IN ONE SHARE OF

SERIES I NONCUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK

OF

CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

CUSIP 174610 808

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as Depositary (the "<u>Depositary</u>"), hereby certify that Cede & Co. is the registered owner of DEPOSITARY SHARES ("<u>Depositary Shares</u>"), each Depositary Share representing a 1/40<sup>th</sup> interest in one share of Series I Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $25.00 per share, liquidation preference $1,000 per share (the "<u>Series I Preferred Stock</u>"), of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "<u>Corporation</u>"), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of July 31, 2025 (the "<u>Deposit Agreement</u>"), among the Corporation, the Depositary and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts. By accepting this Depositary Receipt, the holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer and, if a Registrar for this Depositary Receipt (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of such Registrar.

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Dated: ___________________, 20

Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Depositary

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **COMPUTERSHARE INC., as Depositary** | **COMPUTERSHARE INC., as Depositary** |
|  By: |  |
|  | Name: |
|  | Title: |
| **COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Depositary and Registrar** | **COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Depositary and Registrar** |
|  By: |  |
|  | Name: |
|  | Title: |

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]

CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH RECEIPT HOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A COPY OR SUMMARY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF 6.500% FIXED-RATE RESET NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES I OF CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPOSITARY NAMED ON THE FACE OF THIS RECEIPT.

The Corporation will furnish without charge to each receipt holder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such request may be made to the Corporation or to the Transfer Agent.

EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations when used in the form of ownership on the face of this certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations. Abbreviations in addition to those appearing below may be used.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Abbreviation** | **Equivalent Phrase** | **Abbreviation** | **Equivalent Phrase** |
| JT TEN | As joint tenants, with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | TEN BY ENT | As tenants by the entireties |
| TEN IN COM | As tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | Uniform Gifts to Minors Act |

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Abbreviation** | **Equivalent Word** | **Abbreviation** | **Equivalent Word** | **Abbreviation** | **Equivalent Word** |
| ADM | Administrator(s), Administratrix | EX | Executor(s), Executrix | PAR | Paragraph |
| AGMT | Agreement | FBO | For the benefit of | PL | Public Law |
| ART | Article | FDN | Foundation | TR | (As) trustee(s), for, of |
| CH | Chapter | GDN | Guardian(s) | U | Under |
| CUST | Custodian for | GDNSHP | Guardianship | UA | Under agreement |
| DEC | Declaration | MIN | Minor(s) | UW | Under will of, Of will of, Under last will & testament |
| EST | Estate, of Estate of |  |  |  |  |

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For value received, _______________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

Depositary Shares represented by the within Receipt, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said Depositary Shares on the books of the within named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: _____________________________

NOTICE: The signature to the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED

NOTICE: The signature(s) should be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Corporation's transfer agent. Guarantees by a notary public are not acceptable.

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1** 

[Letterhead of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

July 31, 2025

Citizens Financial Group, Inc.,

One Citizens Plaza,

Providence, RI 02903.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration by Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") of 16,000,000 depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares"), each representing a 1/40th interest in one share of the Company's 6.500% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), evidenced by depositary receipts (the "Depositary Receipts"), issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, dated July 31, 2025 (the "Deposit Agreement"), among the Company, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. jointly as depositary (jointly, the "Depositary"), and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts, we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. Upon the basis of such examination, it is our opinion that the Preferred Shares have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares have been validity issued and entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Depositary Receipts and the Depositary Agreement, in each case subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

In rendering the foregoing opinion, we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in any registration statement or any related prospectus or other offering material relating to the offer and sale of the Depositary Shares.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

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Citizens Financial Group, Inc. -2-

We have relied as to certain matters on factual information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have assumed that the Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Depositary, that the Depositary Receipts have been duly issued against deposit of the Preferred Shares with the Depositary in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, that the certificate evidencing the Depositary Receipts conforms to the specimen thereof examined by us, that the Depositary Receipts have been duly executed and delivered by one of the Depositary's authorized officers and have been duly countersigned by the registrar for the Depositary Receipts, that the Preferred Shares have been duly recorded by a transfer agent and duly registered by a registrar thereof in the direct registration system of the Company, that the notice required by Section 151(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware will be given to the holders of Preferred Shares within a reasonable time following the issuance of the Preferred Shares, and that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, assumptions which we have not independently verified.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company on the date hereof and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement relating to the Depositary Shares (File No. 333-282511) and to the reference to us under the caption "Validity of Shares" in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Depositary Shares and the Preferred Shares, dated July 22, 2025, which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

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| |
|:---|
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Sullivan & Cromwell LLP |

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