Citizens Financial Group 10-K 2025-12-31

Filed 2026-02-12. 24 sections, 760K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON

What changed since the 2024-12-31 10-KNew, removed and reworded risk factor headings, then every item sentence by sentence.

Cover and table of contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission File Number 001-36636

image0a35.jpg

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware05-0412693
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

One Citizens Plaza, Providence, RI 02903

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(203) 900-6715

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Title of each classTrading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.01 par value per shareCFGNew 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 ECFG PrENew 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 HCFG PrHNew 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 ICFG PrINew York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☑ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ☐ Yes ☑ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☑ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☑ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer☑Accelerated filer☐
Non-accelerated filer☐Smaller reporting company☐
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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐ Yes ☑ No

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $19,237,809,260 (based on the June 30, 2025 closing price of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. common shares of $44.75 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange). There were 424,983,657 shares of the registrant’s common stock ($0.01 par value) outstanding on February 4, 2026.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with Citizens Financial Group, Inc.’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

Table of Contents
Page
Glossary of Acronyms and Terms2
Forward-Looking Statements5
Part I
Item 1. Business6
Item 1A. Risk Factors20
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments33
Item 1C. Cybersecurity33
Item 2. Properties34
Item 3. Legal Proceedings34
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures34
Part II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities35
Item 6. Reserved36
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations37
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk78
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data79
Consolidated Balance Sheets85
Consolidated Statements of Operations86
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income87
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity88
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows89
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements90
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure153
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures153
Item 9B. Other Information154
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections154
Part III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance154
Item 11. Executive Compensation154
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters155
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence155
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services155
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules155
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary159
Signatures160
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GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND TERMS

The following is a list of common acronyms and terms used regularly in our financial reporting:

ACLAllowance for Credit Losses: Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses plus Allowance for Unfunded Lending Commitments
AFSAvailable for Sale
ALLLAllowance for Loan and Lease Losses
ALMAsset and Liability Management
AOCIAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
ATMAutomated Teller Machine
Bank Holding Company ActThe Bank Holding Company Act of 1956
BHCBank Holding Company
Board or Board of DirectorsThe Board of Directors of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
bpsBasis Points
Capital Plan RuleFederal Reserve Regulation Y Capital Plan Rule
CBNACitizens Bank, National Association
CCARComprehensive Capital Analysis and Review
CCBCapital Conservation Buffer
CECLCurrent Expected Credit Losses
CET1Common Equity Tier 1
CEOChief Executive Officer
CET1 capital ratioCommon Equity Tier 1 capital divided by total risk-weighted assets as defined under the U.S. Basel III Standardized approach
CFPBConsumer Financial Protection Bureau
CFTCCommodity Futures Trading Commission
Citizens, CFG, the Company, we, us, or ourCitizens Financial Group, Inc. and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
CLTVCombined Loan-to-Value
CMEChicago Mercantile Exchange
CODMChief Operating Decision Maker
CRACommunity Reinvestment Act
CRECommercial Real Estate
DIFDeposit Insurance Fund
EADExposure at Default
Efficiency RatioNoninterest expense divided by total revenue, inclusive of net interest income and noninterest income
EPSEarnings Per Share
ESPPEmployee Stock Purchase Plan
EVEEconomic Value of Equity
Exchange ActThe Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Fannie Mae (FNMA)Federal National Mortgage Association
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
FDIAFederal Deposit Insurance Act
FDICFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDMFinancially Distressed Modification
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Federal Banking RegulatorsBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
FHAFederal Housing Administration
FHCFinancial Holding Company
FHLBFederal Home Loan Bank
FICOFair Isaac Corporation (credit rating)
FINRAFinancial Industry Regulation Authority
FRB or Federal ReserveBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and, as applicable, Federal Reserve Bank(s)
Freddie Mac (FHLMC)Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FTEFully Taxable Equivalent
FTPFunds Transfer Pricing
GAAPAccounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America
GDPGross Domestic Product
GLBAGramm Leach Bliley Act of 1999
Ginnie Mae (GNMA)Government National Mortgage Association
GSEGovernment Sponsored Enterprise
HTMHeld To Maturity
IDIInsured Depository Institution
InvestorsInvestors Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries
LHFSLoans Held for Sale
LGDLoss Given Default
LIHTCLow Income Housing Tax Credit
LTVLoan to Value
M&AMerger and Acquisition
MD&AManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Mid-AtlanticDistrict of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
MidwestIllinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio
MSRMortgage Servicing Right
New EnglandConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
NMNot meaningful
OCCOffice of the Comptroller of the Currency
OCIOther Comprehensive Income (Loss)
OFACU.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control
OTCOver the Counter
Parent CompanyCitizens Financial Group, Inc. (the Parent Company of Citizens Bank, National Association and other subsidiaries)
PCDPurchased Credit Deteriorated
PDProbability of Default
peers or peer regional banksComerica, Fifth Third, Huntington, KeyCorp, M&T, PNC, Regions, Truist, and U.S. Bancorp
ROTCEReturn on Average Tangible Common Equity
RPARisk Participation Agreement
RWARisk-Weighted Assets
SBAUnited States Small Business Administration
SCBStress Capital Buffer
SECUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission
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SOFRSecured Overnight Financing Rate
SPESpecial Purpose Entity
SVaRStressed Value at Risk
TBATo-Be-Announced Mortgage Security
Tier 1 capital ratioTier 1 capital, which includes Common Equity Tier 1 capital plus non-cumulative perpetual preferred equity that qualifies as additional Tier 1 capital, divided by total risk-weighted assets as defined under the U.S. Basel III Standardized approach
Tier 1 leverage ratioTier 1 capital, which includes Common Equity Tier 1 capital plus non-cumulative perpetual preferred equity that qualifies as additional Tier 1 capital, divided by quarterly adjusted average assets as defined under the U.S. Basel III Standardized approach
TOPTapping Our Potential
Total capital ratioTotal capital, which includes Common Equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital, and allowance for credit losses and qualifying subordinated debt that qualify as Tier 2 capital, divided by total risk-weighted assets as defined under the U.S. Basel III Standardized approach
USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture
VAUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
VaRValue at Risk
VIEVariable Interest Entity
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook,” “guidance” or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” and “could.”

Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management, and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the following, without limitation:

  • Negative economic, business, and political conditions, including as a result of the interest rate environment, supply chain disruptions, tariffs, inflationary pressures, and labor shortages that adversely affect the general economy, housing prices, the job market, consumer confidence, and spending habits;

  • The general state of the economy and employment, as well as general business and economic conditions, and changes in the competitive environment;

  • Our capital and liquidity requirements under regulatory standards and our ability to generate capital and liquidity on favorable terms;

  • The effect of changes in our credit ratings on our cost of funding, access to capital markets, ability to market our securities, and overall liquidity position;

  • The effect of changes in the level of commercial and consumer deposits on our funding costs and net interest margin;

  • Our ability to achieve our financial performance goals and execute on our strategic business initiatives, including the continued expansion of Private Bank and Private Wealth, and our aim to position us as a more innovative, modern, and customer-centric bank;

  • The effects of geopolitical instability, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, on economic and market conditions, inflationary pressures and the interest rate environment, commodity price and foreign exchange rate volatility, and heightened cybersecurity risks;

  • Our ability to comply with heightened supervisory requirements and expectations as well as new or amended regulations;

  • Liabilities and business restrictions resulting from litigation and regulatory investigations;

  • The effect of changes in interest rates on our net interest income, net interest margin, mortgage originations, mortgage servicing rights, and mortgages held for sale;

  • Changes in interest rates and market liquidity, as well as the magnitude of such changes, which may reduce interest margins, impact funding sources, and affect the ability to originate and distribute financial products in the primary and secondary markets;

  • Financial services reform and other current, pending, or future legislation or regulation that could have a negative effect on our revenue and businesses;

  • Environmental risks, such as physical or transition risks associated with climate change, and social and governance risks that could adversely affect our reputation, operations, business, and customers;

  • A failure in, or breach of, our compliance with laws, as well as operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyberattacks; and

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  • Management’s ability to identify and manage these and other risks.

In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the actual amounts and timing of any future common stock dividends or share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance, balance sheet growth, market conditions, and regulatory considerations, as well as any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares from, or pay any dividends to, holders of our common stock, or as to the amount of any such repurchases or dividends.

More information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under Item 1A “Risk Factors.”

PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. We offer a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations, and institutions. Our products and services are offered through more than 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia and 75 retail and commercial non-branch offices, though certain lines of business serve national markets.

At December 31, 2025, we had total assets of $226.4 billion, total deposits of $183.3 billion, and total stockholders’ equity of $26.3 billion. In addition, we had total client assets of $61.9 billion, including assets under management of $35.9 billion, representing assets for which continuous and regular supervisory or management services are provided, and transactional assets of $26.0 billion, representing assets for which execution, custody, recordkeeping, reporting, and other services are provided.

We are a BHC incorporated under Delaware state law in 1984, and our primary federal regulator is the FRB. CBNA is our banking subsidiary, whose primary federal regulator is the OCC.

Business Segments

We manage our business through two primary business segments: Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. Our activities outside these segments are classified as Other and primarily includes treasury and community development operations, along with other unallocated assets, liabilities, capital, revenues, provision (benefit) for credit losses, and expenses, including income tax expense (benefit). For additional information regarding our business segments see the “Business Segments” section of Item 7 and Note 24 in Item 8.

Consumer Banking Segment

Consumer Banking serves consumer customers and small businesses, with products and services that include deposits, mortgage and home equity lending, credit cards, small business loans, and wealth management solutions largely across our 14-state traditional banking footprint. We also offer education and point-of-sale finance loans in addition to select digital deposit products nationwide. Citizens Private Bank and Private Wealth integrate banking services and wealth management solutions to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

Consumer Banking operates a multi-channel distribution network with a workforce of approximately 5,100 branch colleagues, 1,000 branches, including 117 in-store locations, and 3,100 ATMs. Our network includes approximately 1,500 specialists covering lending, savings, and wealth management needs as well as a broad range of small business products and services. We serve customers on a national basis through telephone service centers and our online and mobile platforms where we offer customers the convenience of depositing funds, paying bills, and transferring money between accounts and from person to person, as well as a host of other everyday transactions.

Commercial Banking Segment

Commercial Banking primarily serves companies and institutions and strives to be a trusted advisor to our clients and preferred provider for their banking needs. We offer a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities.

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Commercial Banking is organized around client segments and their banking needs. Middle Market & Midcorporate - Commercial & Industrial, Commercial Real Estate, Capital Markets and Advisory, and Treasury & Wholesale Payments work together to understand client needs and provide comprehensive solutions to meet those needs. We acquire new clients through a coordinated approach to the market, leveraging deep industry knowledge in specialized banking groups and a geographic coverage model.

Middle Market & Midcorporate - Commercial & Industrial serves commercial and industrial clients based in the United States. To better meet the unique needs of these client segments we offer a more dedicated and tailored approach and cover a group of targeted industry sectors.

Commercial Real Estate provides customized debt capital solutions for middle-market operators, institutional developers, investors, and real estate investment trusts. Commercial Real Estate provides financing for projects primarily in the multifamily, office, industrial, retail, healthcare, and hospitality sectors.

Capital Markets and Advisory serves clients through key product groups including Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, and Global Markets. Corporate Finance primarily provides advisory services to middle-market and mid-corporate clients, including mergers and acquisitions and capital structure advice. The team works closely with industry-sector specialists within capital markets to advise our clients. Corporate Finance also provides acquisition and follow-on financing for new and recapitalized portfolio companies of key sponsors, with services meeting the unique and time-sensitive needs of private equity firms, management companies, and funds, and underwriting and portfolio management expertise for leveraged transactions and relationships. Capital Markets originates, structures, and underwrites credit and equity facilities targeting middle-market, mid-corporate, and private equity sponsors. They focus on offering value-added ideas to optimize their capital structures, including advising on and facilitating mergers and acquisitions, valuations, tender offers, financial restructurings, bond and equity underwriting, asset sales, divestitures, and other corporate reorganizations and business combinations. Capital Markets also provides sales and trading across loan, fixed income, and equity products, as well as other brokerage services including equity research. Global Markets provides foreign exchange, interest rate, and commodities risk management services.

Treasury & Wholesale Payments supports Commercial Banking and certain small business clients with treasury management and payment solutions, including domestic and international products and services related to receivables, payables, information reporting, and liquidity management, as well as commercial credit cards and trade finance.

Business Strategy

Our vision is to be a top-performing regional bank distinguished by our customer centricity, mindset of continuous improvement, and excellent capabilities. Our strategy is grounded in a “three-legged stool” model consisting of a transformed Consumer Bank, best-positioned Commercial Bank, and premier Private Bank. To achieve our vision, we are executing against five strategic objectives:

Grow high-quality deposits and deepen customer relationships: We remain focused on growing high‑quality deposits and strengthening primary banking relationships by delivering a customer‑centric experience grounded in advice, tailored solutions, and our expanded capabilities. We aim to deepen engagement across key customer segments by offering a comprehensive suite of products designed to anticipate and exceed evolving customer needs, through frictionless digital and omni‑channel experiences that make banking easier, more seamless, and more personalized. Through disciplined execution and risk management, and continuous improvement in how we serve customers, we seek to build deeper trust and relationships and drive sustainable, relationship‑driven deposit growth.

Drive scale in growth markets, key industries, and high-opportunity businesses: We continue to strengthen our competitive position by expanding in growth markets, deepening our presence in priority industr

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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

We are subject to a number of risks potentially impacting our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. As a financial services organization, certain elements of risk are inherent in what we do and the decisions we make. Therefore, we encounter risk as part of the normal course of our business and design risk management processes to help manage these risks. See the “Risk Management” section in Item 7 for a discussion of our risk management framework and the primary risks we face.

You should carefully consider the following risk factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the risk factors described below are not the only ones we face and should not be considered a complete list of risks that we may encounter. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. See the “Forward-Looking Statements” section above for other factors that could affect us.

Risks Related to Our Business

We may not be able to successfully execute our business strategy.

Our future success and the value of our stock depends, in part, on our ability to effectively implement our business strategy and achieve our financial performance goals across our Consumer and Commercial businesses, including our Private Bank. Risks and uncertainties associated with each element of our strategy exist, many of which are not within our control. If we are not able to successfully execute our business strategy, we may not achieve our financial performance goals and any shortfall may be material. See the “Business Strategy” section in Item 1 for further information.

Supervisory requirements and expectations on us as a financial holding company and a bank holding company and any regulator-imposed limits on our activities could adversely affect our ability to implement our strategic plan, expand our business, continue to improve our financial performance, and make capital distributions to our stockholders.

Our operations are subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the federal banking regulators, as well as the CFPB. As part of the supervisory and examination process, if we are unsuccessful in meeting the regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations that apply to us, regulatory agencies may from time to time take supervisory actions against us, including actions that may not be publicly disclosed. Such actions may include restrictions on our activities or the activities of our subsidiaries, informal (nonpublic) or formal (public) supervisory actions, or public enforcement actions, including the payment of civil money penalties, which could increase our costs and limit our ability to implement our strategic plans and expand our business and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. See the “Regulation and Supervision” section in Item 1 for further information.

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Inflationary pressures could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, and results of operations.

Volatility and uncertainty related to inflation and its associated effects may enhance or contribute to certain risks that we face by negatively impacting our funding costs and expenses, including increasing funding costs and expenses related to talent acquisition and retention. Inflation may also negatively impact consumer demand and client purchasing power for our products and services, as well as the ability of our borrowers to repay their obligations. These inflationary pressures would likely have an adverse impact on our business, financial position, and results of operations.

Our ability to meet our obligations, and the cost of funds to do so, depend on our ability to access identified sources of liquidity at a reasonable cost.

Liquidity risk is the risk arising from the inability to meet our obligations when they come due. We must maintain adequate funding to meet current and future obligations, including customer loan requests, deposit maturities and withdrawals, debt service, leases, and other cash commitments, under both normal operating conditions and periods of company-specific and/or market stress.

We rely on customer deposits to be our primary stable and low-cost source of funding. Our other funding sources are dependent on our ability to securitize loans in secondary markets, raise funds in the debt and equity capital markets, pledge loans and/or securities for borrowing from the FHLB, pledge securities as collateral for borrowing under repurchase agreements, and sell AFS securities.

Our ability to meet our obligations and support our operations could be materially affected by a variety of conditions, including market-wide illiquidity or disruption, a general loss of market or customer confidence in the financial services industry or in the Company specifically, or reductions in one or more of our credit ratings. These conditions could limit our ability to retain deposits, securitize or sell assets, access debt and equity capital markets, or otherwise borrow money at a reasonable cost. If these conditions, among others, are severe enough they could also create unanticipated material outflows of cash due to, among other factors, draws on unfunded commitments or deposit attrition, which could have a significant adverse impact on our liquidity. In addition, changes to the FHLB’s or the FRB’s underwriting guidelines for wholesale borrowings or lending policies may limit or restrict our ability to borrow and could have a significant adverse impact on our liquidity as a result.

Changes in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our liquidity and profitability.

Changes in interest rates can have a material impact on the value of our securities portfolio, the primary objective of which is to provide a readily available source of liquidity. An increase in rates could lower the collateral value of these securities, reducing the amount we could borrow and leading to losses in the event of their sale.

Since our earning assets are primarily in the form of loans and debt securities, changes in interest rates can have a material impact on our net interest income, net interest margin, fee income, and credit costs. Our asset yields and funding costs may not rise or fall in parallel in response to changes in interest rates, causing our net interest income to increase or decrease and our net interest margin to expand or contract. If our funding costs rise faster than our asset yields, or if our asset yields fall faster than our funding costs, our net interest income could decrease and our net interest margin could contract.

An increase in interest rates could weaken demand for loans by customers, reducing our net interest income due to lower loan balances and origination-related fee income due to lower production volume. An increase in rates could also have an adverse impact on our credit costs, as borrowers may have difficulty in making higher interest payments, as well as on our AFS securities portfolio, which could trigger the recognition of losses in the event the securities need to be sold.

Similarly, a decrease in interest rates could reduce our net interest income, net interest margin, and fee income. A prolonged period of low interest rates may result in us holding lower yielding loans and securities should rates rise rapidly after such a period.

Changes in the spread between short-term and long-term interest rates (i.e., the yield curve) can also have a material impact on our net interest income and net interest margin. The yield curve, typically upward sloping with short-term rates lower than long-term rates, could cause our net interest income and net interest margin to dec

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Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY

Risk Management and Strategy

The Company’s Cybersecurity Program (“CSP”) drives an end-to-end, continuous process that protects our customers, colleagues, assets, premises, systems, and information (electronic and non-electronic), and is designed to ensure compliance with current and emerging federal and state laws and regulations. The CSP is designed to ensure the effective implementation of the Corporate Security and Resilience Operating Model across all business lines of the Company and is under the supervision of the Chief Security Officer (“CSO”).

Operational Risk Management coordinates the development, maintenance, and day-to-day oversight of the Company’s Enterprise Risk Management Governance Framework (“the Framework”), which defines an integrated enterprise-wide approach to risk management. This centrally managed program is designed to ensure that all business lines play a role in the successful implementation of the CSP. The CSP aligns with the Framework, enabling the CSO to provide risk oversight to and drive accountability from the business lines.

The CSP is designed to assess and mitigate threats and risks to the Company. New and emerging threats are assessed through an intelligence lifecycle, which includes threat modeling. In addition, risk assessment processes drive risk identification and measurement related to security. Once risks are identified and measured, the Framework is leveraged to track and mitigate them. Control testing is utilized to demonstrate that risks are managed effectively, identify gaps in expected control operation, and develop appropriate remediation plans, in order to manage risk to the Company within tolerable limits.

As part of the Company’s Third Party Risk Management Program and in support of the CSP, reviews for cybersecurity, business continuity, fraud, and other policy-related topics are performed for the onboarding of new vendors and ongoing monitoring of existing vendors. Ratings assigned to a vendor determine review frequency and scope. Results are reported to key stakeholders and identified issues are tracked and monitored.

The Company regularly reviews the nature of its business activities and modifies the CSP as appropriate. Many of the elements of the CSP are related to cyber defense and are in place to reduce our risk to a wide range of potential cyber threats that may target our assets and information daily. The effectiveness of the CSP is assessed and measured periodically by various lines of defense within the Company and is conducted primarily through risk assessments, assurance testing, and an independent audit. External organizations are also routinely engaged to assess our CSP and test our perimeter defenses. The effectiveness of the CSP is reported periodically to the appropriate governance committees.

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Governance

Under the guidance of our CSO, we maintain a comprehensive CSP designed to protect our employees, customers, assets, premises, systems, and information against unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, or destruction that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to our customers, and loss or reputational damage. The CSP incorporates all of our security policies and covers the core elements of access control, infrastructure security, cybersecurity event and incident management, data protection, third-party vendor cyber risk oversight, and training and awareness. Independent assessment and benchmarking of the CSP are regularly completed, and the CSP is reviewed and assessed by federal regulators. While we look to numerous frameworks to ensure the CSP is maintained in line with regulatory expectations and industry best practices, the National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity framework is the primary standard against which we benchmark ourselves.

Both the Risk and Audit Committees of our Board have oversight of the management of our cybersecurity risk. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the CSP under its risk oversight responsibilities as it relates to financial controls. The Risk Committee is responsible for oversight of the management of cybersecurity risk consistent with the Framework.

The CSP is presented by the CSO to the Risk Committee annually for approval in conjunction with an annual cybersecurity briefing. This briefing provides an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the CSP and an outlook for the upcoming year. In addition to the annual cybersecurity briefing, the CSO provides updates on cybersecurity to the Risk Committee at each of its meetings. The Audit Committee and Board also receive regular cybersecurity updates as part of the reporting provided by the Technology/Cyber Oversight Committee, a management committee chaired by the CEO which provides executive oversight, guidance, and transparency to key transformative initiatives designed to enhance our technology stability, cyber defenses, and risk management capabilities. Further, to ensure the Board maintains the appropriate knowledge for providing effective oversight, it is provided with relevant cybersecurity training on an annual basis, with any additional training provided as requested.

Item 2. PROPERTIES

We lease five operations centers in Boston, Medford, and Westwood, Massachusetts; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Glen Allen, Virginia. We own two principal operations centers in Johnston and East Providence, Rhode Island. At December 31, 2025, our subsidiaries owned and operated a total of 59 facilities and leased an additional 1,032 facilities. We believe our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs. See Note 5 and Note 7 in Item 8 for more information regarding our premises and equipment, and leases, respectively.

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information required by this item is presented in Note 17 in Item 8 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 34

PART II

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CFG.” As of February 4, 2026, our common stock was owned by 6,410 holders of record (including Cede & Co.) and approximately 723,000 beneficial shareholders whose shares were held in “street name” through a broker or bank. Information relating to compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance is presented in Item 12.

The following graph shows the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock during the five-year period ended December 31, 2025 compared to (i) the Standard & Poor’s 500® index; (ii) the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index (“BKX”), composed of 24 banking stocks representing large U.S. national money centers, regional banks and thrift institutions; and (iii) a group of other regional banks that constitute our peers. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100 at the closing price on December 31, 2020 and that all dividends were reinvested. The points on the graph represent the cumulative total return on the last trading day of the fiscal year indicated.

This graph shall not be deemed soliciting material or be filed with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

1530

December 31,
202020212022202320242025
CFG$100$137$119$106$146$202
S&P 500 Index100129105133166196
KBW BKX Index100138109108148196
Peer Regional Bank Average100134112111141163
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 35

Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities

Details of the repurchases of the Company’s common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2025 are included below:

PeriodTotal Number of Shares Repurchased**(1)**Average Price Paid Per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs**(2)**Maximum Dollar Amount of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs**(2)**
October 1, 2025 - October 31, 20251,980,441$53.361,980,429$1,319,316,968
November 1, 2025 - November 30, 2025—$——$1,319,316,968
December 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025361,987$53.36361,987$1,300,000,000

(1) Includes shares repurchased to satisfy applicable tax withholding obligations in connection with an employee share-based compensation plan and the forfeiture of unvested restricted stock awards.

(2) On June 13, 2025, the Company announced that its Board of Directors increased the capacity under its common share repurchase program to $1.5 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion above the $300 million of capacity remaining under the prior June 2024 authorization.

Common stock share repurchases may be executed in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including under Rule 10b5-1 plans and accelerated share repurchase and other structured transactions. The timing and exact amount of future share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including the Company’s capital position, financial performance, balance sheet growth, market conditions, and regulatory considerations.

Item 6. RESERVED

Not applicable.

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Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Page
Introduction38
Executive Summary38
Consolidated Statement of Operations Analysis - 2025 compared with 202440
Consolidated Statement of Operations Analysis - 2024 compared with 202344
Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis45
Business Segments48
Risk Management50
Credit Risk51
Market Risk61
Liquidity Risk67
Operational Risk70
Compliance Risk70
Capital70
Critical Accounting Estimates73
Accounting and Reporting Developments76
Non-GAAP Financial Measures77
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 37

INTRODUCTION

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $226.4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, we offer a broad range of retail, private banking, wealth management, and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations, and institutions. We help our customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas, and solutions. In Consumer Banking, we provide an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center, and the convenience of approximately 3,100 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management, and small business offerings. Consumer Banking includes Citizens Private Bank and Private Wealth, which integrates banking services and wealth management solutions to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses. In Commercial Banking, we offer a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities.

The following MD&A is intended to assist readers in their analysis of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and supplemental financial information. It should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, as well as other information contained in this document.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This summary highlights select financial information of the Company as well as information regarding certain significant events and transactions occurring during the year ended December 31, 2025. This summary should be read in conjunction with this entire document for a more complete understanding of trends, events, commitments, uncertainties, liquidity, capital resources, and critical accounting policies and estimates. Each of these items, taken individually or collectively, could have an impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. For additional information regarding our financial performance and condition, see “Consolidated Statement of Operations Analysis – 2025 compared with 2024” and “Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis.”

Key Financial Highlights

  • Net income of $1.8 billion increased $322 million, with earnings per diluted common share up $0.83 to $3.86 compared to 2024.

  • Net interest income of $5.9 billion increased $220 million and net interest margin of 2.97% increased 13 basis points compared to 2024. The increase in net interest income is driven by higher net interest margin which reflects lower funding costs, including the reduction of higher-cost funding given the auto loan portfolio runoff and education loan sale, lower terminated swap impacts, and fixed-rate asset repricing benefits, partially offset by lower asset yields.

  • Noninterest income of $2.4 billion increased $218 million compared to 2024, reflecting growth across a number of fee categories, primarily wealth and capital markets fees.

  • Noninterest expense of $5.3 billion increased $77 million compared to 2024, driven by salaries and employee benefits reflecting hiring related to the Private Bank and Private Wealth build-out, strong capital markets fee performance, and increased medical benefit costs, partially offset by a decline in other operating expense primarily driven by lower FDIC deposit insurance costs.

  • Provision expense of $608 million decreased $79 million compared to 2024, reflecting improving loan mix and reduced CRE.

  • The efficiency ratio of 64.40% compared to 67.03% in 2024.

  • ROTCE of 11.20% compared to 9.81% in 2024.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 38
  • Tangible book value per common share of $38.07 increased 18% from 2024, driven by a decrease in common shares outstanding of eleven million and a net increase in tangible common equity of $2.1 billion. The increase in tangible common equity is primarily attributable to increases in AOCI of $1.6 billion and retained earnings of $933 million, including net income of $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025.

See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information regarding the ROTCE and tangible book value per common share non-GAAP financial measures presented herein.

Sale of Education Loans

During the first quarter of 2025, we entered into an agreement to sell $1.9 billion of education loans and subsequently reclassified these loans to LHFS. Upon reclassification to LHFS, a charge-off of $25 million was recognized, which was covered by existing reserves. This transaction settled ratably each quarter throughout 2025.

Share Repurchases

On June 13, 2025, we announced that our Board of Directors increased the capacity of our common share repurchase program to $1.5 bi

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Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are presented in the “Market Risk” section of Part II, Item 7 and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Page
Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting80
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements (PCAOB ID No. 34)81
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting84
Consolidated Balance Sheets85
Consolidated Statements of Operations86
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income87
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity88
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows89
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements90
Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies90
Note 2 - Securities91
Note 3 - Loans and Leases95
Note 4 - Credit Quality and the Allowance for Credit Losses97
Note 5 - Premises, Equipment and Software111
Note 6 - Mortgage Banking and Other Serviced Loans112
Note 7 - Leases114
Note 8 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets115
Note 9 - Variable Interest Entities117
Note 10 - Deposits120
Note 11 - Borrowed Funds121
Note 12 - Derivatives123
Note 13 - Employee Benefit Plans126
Note 14 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)128
Note 15 - Stockholders’ Equity129
Note 16 - Share-Based Compensation131
Note 17 - Commitments and Contingencies132
Note 18 - Fair Value Measurements134
Note 19 - Noninterest Income140
Note 20 - Other Operating Expense143
Note 21 - Income Taxes143
Note 22 - Earnings Per Share146
Note 23 - Regulatory Matters146
Note 24 - Business Segments148
Note 25 - Parent Company Financials151
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REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is designed, under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 based on the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013). Based on that assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2025, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their accompanying report appearing on page 84, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Providence, Rhode Island

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years

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Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures 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 SEC rules and forms. The design of disclosure controls and procedures is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, were effective to provide reasonable assurance 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 SEC 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.

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There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in management's evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting are included in Item 8.

Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

Not applicable.

PART III

In Part III of this Report we refer to relevant sections of our 2026 Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the close of our 2025 fiscal year. Portions of our 2026 Proxy Statement, including the sections we refer to in this Report, are incorporated by reference into this Report.

Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information required by this item is presented under the captions “Corporate Governance Matters” – “Director Nominees” and “Executive Officers”, “Board Structure and Board Oversight Responsibilities” – “Corporate Governance Guidelines”, “Committees of the Board”, and “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics”, “Compensation Matters - Compensation Governance” – “Insider Trading Policies and Procedures”, and “Other Items” – “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” of our 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.

Insider Trading Policy

The Company maintains an insider trading policy that governs the purchase, sale, and other disposition of its securities by directors, officers, employees, and consultants, including related individuals, as well as the Company itself. The Company believes that the Insider Trading Policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules, and regulations, as well as New York Stock Exchange listing standards. A copy of the Insider Trading Policy is filed as Exhibit 19 to this Form 10-K.

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information required by this item is presented under the captions “Compensation Matters” – “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Compensation and HR Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”, “Compensation and HR Committee Report”, “Executive Compensation Tables”, “Termination of Employment and Change of Control”, “Role of Risk Management in Compensation”, “Compensation Governance” - “Process for Approval of Equity Grants”, and “Dodd–Frank Compensation Disclosure” – “CEO Pay Ratio” and “Pay Versus Performance”, and “Corporate Governance Matters” - “Director Compensation” of our 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.

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Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this item regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is presented under the caption “Other Items” - “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.

Information regarding our compensation plans under which CFG equity securities are authorized for issuance is included in the table below, with additional information regarding these plans included in Note 16 in Item 8.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

At December 31, 2025

Plan CategoryNumber of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (#)****(2)Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($)****(3)Number of securities remaining available (excluding securities reflected in first column) (#)****(4)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders6,798,487—17,572,911
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders———
Total(1)6,798,487—17,572,911

(1) Excludes securities subject to the Investors Bancorp, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“Investors Plan”). Although equity-based awards granted under the Investors Plan were converted into CFG awards and assumed in connection with the Investors acquisition in 2022, CFG does not intend to grant any awards under the Investors Plan. As of December 31, 2025, 700 restricted shares were outstanding under the Investors Plan.

(2) Represents the number of shares of common stock associated with outstanding time-based and performance-based restricted stock units.

(3) CFG has no outstanding options.

(4) Represents the number of shares remaining available for future issuance under the Amended & Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (9,822,330 shares), the Amended & Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (7,125,729 shares), and the Amended & Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan (624,852 shares).

Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information required by this item is set forth under the captions “Corporate Governance Matters” – “Director Nominees” - “Director Independence” and “Related Person Transactions” of our 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.

Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information required by this item is presented under the captions “Audit Matters” – “Pre-approval of Independent Auditor Services” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees” of our 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.

PART IV

Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1) Financial Statements

The following report of our independent registered public accounting firm and the consolidated financial statements of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. are included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K:

  • Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements;

  • Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024;

  • Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023;

  • Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023;

  • Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023;

  • Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023; and

  • Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

All required financial statement schedules for the Registrant are included in the audited Consolidated Financial Statements or related footnotes in Item 8.

(a)(3) Exhibits

3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as in effect on the date hereof, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and effective October 6, 2025 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed October 6, 2025)

3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (as amended and restated on February 16, 2023) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2023)

4.1 Senior Debt Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon dated as of October 28, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed October 29, 2015)

4.2 Subordinated Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon dated as of September 28, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed July 28, 2015)

4.3 Form of Certificate representing the Series B Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 24, 2018)

4.4 Form of Deposit Agreement, by and among the Company, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed October 25, 2019)

4.5 Form of Depositary Receipt (incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 29, 2019)

4.6 Description of the Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Act of 1934*

4.7 Agreement to furnish to the SEC upon request a copy of instruments defining the rights of holders of certain long-term debt of the registrant and consolidated subsidiaries*

10.1 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 14, 2014)†

10.2 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan as of June 23, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 5, 2016)†

10.3 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan as of June 20, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 6, 2019)†

10.4 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, amended and restated effective as of April 25, 2024 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2024)†

10.5 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 13, 2025)†

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10.6 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Bruce Van Saun Relating to Annual Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2017)†

10.7 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement†*

10.8 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement for Bruce Van Saun Relating to Annual Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2017)†

10.9 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed September 26, 2014)†

10.10 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, amended and restated as of July 1, 2024 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2024)†

10.11 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, amended and effective April 25, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 6, 2019)†

10.12 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, amended and effective April 22, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2021)†

10.13 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, amended and effective April 28, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2022)†

10.14 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, amended and effective April 27, 2023 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 8, 2023)†

10.15 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, amended and effective April 25, 2024 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2024)†

10.16 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, amended and effective as of April 24, 2025 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 4, 2025)†

10.17 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed September 26, 2014)†

10.18 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan as of June 23, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 5, 2016)†

10.19 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan, amended and restated effective April 25, 2024 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2024)†

10.20 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 26, 2016)†

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10.21 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017)†

10.22 Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed August 15, 2014)†

10.23 Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed September 8, 2014)†

10.24 Amended and Restated CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009 and amended and restated on September 1, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 3, 2015)†

10.25 First Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated March 1, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2020)†

10.26 Second Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated December 9, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.27 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2020)†

10.27 Third Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated March 4, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.27 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 23, 2021)†

10.28 Fourth Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated January 1, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 23, 2022)†

10.29 Fifth Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated January 1, 2024 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 16, 2024)†

10.30 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed August 15, 2014)†

10.31 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Form of Deferred Cash Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 16, 2024)†

10.32 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Executive Severance Practice (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed August 15, 2014)†

10.33 Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 5, 2016, between the Registrant and Bruce Van Saun (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 9, 2016)†

10.34 Addendum to Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2021 between the Registrant and Bruce Van Saun (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2021)†

10.35 Executive Employment Agreement, dated March 23, 2015, between the Registrant and Donald H. McCree III and subsequent addendum dated August 2, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017)†

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10.36 Executive Employment Agreement, dated December 13, 2016, between the Registrant and John F. Woods and subsequent addendum dated August 2, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017)†

10.37 Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated December 20, 2021, between the Registrant and Brendan Coughlin (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 23, 2022)†

10.38 Executive Employment Agreement, dated August 6, 2025, between the Registrant and Aunoy Banerjee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 3, 2025)†

10.39 Executive Employment Agreement, dated November 3, 2025, between the Registrant and Ted Swimmer†*

10.40 Form of Restricted Cash Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 6, 2024)†

10.41 Form of Executive Letter Agreement for Stock Ownership Guidelines (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 6, 2024)†

19.1 Insider Trading Policy*

21.1 Subsidiaries of Registrant*

23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*

24.1 Power of Attorney (contained herein on signature pages)

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

97.1 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Clawback Policy, effective December 1, 2023 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 97.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 16, 2024)

101 The following materials from the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements*

104 Cover page interactive data file in inline XBRL format, included in Exhibit 101 to this report*

† Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

  • Filed herewith.

Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

Not applicable.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 159

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on February 12, 2026.

CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)
By:/s/ Bruce Van Saun
Name: Bruce Van Saun
Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 160

SIGNATURES

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being a director or officer of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints Bruce Van Saun, Aunoy Banerjee, Michelle Moosally, and Christopher J. Schnirel, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Annual Reports for the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 on Form 10-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other form as any such attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or desirable, any amendments thereto, and all additional amendments thereto, each in such form as they or any one of them may approve, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done so that such Annual Report shall comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the applicable Rules and Regulations adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their substitute or resubstitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

SignatureTitleDate
/s/ Bruce Van Saun
Bruce Van SaunChairman of the Board and Chief Executive OfficerFebruary 12, 2026
(Principal Executive Officer and Director)
/s/ Aunoy Banerjee
Aunoy BanerjeeExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerFebruary 12, 2026
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Christopher J. Schnirel
Christopher J. SchnirelExecutive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and ControllerFebruary 12, 2026
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Lee Alexander
Lee AlexanderDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Tracy A. Atkinson
Tracy A. AtkinsonDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Christine M. Cumming
Christine M. CummingDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Kevin Cummings
Kevin CummingsDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ William P. Hankowsky
William P. HankowskyDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Edward J. Kelly III
Edward J. Kelly IIIDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Robert G. Leary
Robert G. LearyDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Terrance J. Lillis
Terrance J. LillisDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Michele N. Siekerka
Michele N. SiekerkaDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Christopher J. Swift
Christopher J. SwiftDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Claude E. Wade
Claude E. WadeDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
/s/ Marita Zuraitis
Marita ZuraitisDirectorFebruary 12, 2026
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 161