Citizens Bank's Van Saun Named Banker of the Year in U.S.

Citizens Bank's Van Saun Named Banker of the Year in U.S.

Citizen’s Bank’s Bruce Van Saun has been named Banker of the Year by American Banker.

“For his leadership in positioning Citizens as a regional bank with staying power, Van Saun is American Banker’s Banker of the Year for 2019,” writes American Banker.

This comes as Citizens’ total assets have reached nearly $165 billion as of September 30, according to American Banker.

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In 2018, the bank opened a $285 million campus in Johnston, RI. 

American Banker cites Van Saun's ability to turnaround the bank's fortunes, "While its competitors were ramping up lending, pursuing new revenue sources and investing in technology aimed at improving service and efficiency, Citizens was going in reverse. Total assets had shrunk by 25% from pre-crisis levels and the bank unit was losing deposit share in several of its key markets, including Boston and Philadelphia."

"A lot has changed in six years. Under Van Saun and his management team — and thanks in no small part to its well-timed spinoff from RBS — Citizens today is a thoroughly transformed company. Its commercial loan portfolio is growing faster than the industry average as the bank has moved into new markets, invested in new business lines and added a host of new fee-based services that have helped it attract larger, more sophisticated corporate clients," writes American Banker.

About Van Saun

Van Saun, 62, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Financial Group, Inc (CFG). 

Van Saun joined CFG in October of 2013 – after serving as Group Finance Director and as an executive director of the RBS Board from 2009 to 2013 – and led Citizens to a successful initial public offering in September 2014, and full independence from RBS in October of 2015.  

He has more than 30 years of financial services experience.

From 1997 to 2008, Van Saun held a number of senior positions with Bank of New York and later Bank of New York Mellon, including Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. 

Earlier in his career, he held senior positions with Deutsche Bank, Wasserstein Perella Group and Kidder Peabody & Co.

Van Saun has served on a number of boards in both the U.S. and the U.K. 

He is currently a director of Moody’s Corporation, sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston board, and is a board member for the Bank Policy Institute. 

He is also a board member of the Partnership for Rhode Island and Jobs for Massachusetts.

 

PHOTO: Citizens Bank