AG Shapiro: Citizens Bank Joins ‘PA CARE Package’ Initiative, Offering Expanded Consumer Relief

April 6, 2020 | Topic: Consumers

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that Citizens Bank has agreed to join the ‘PA CARE Package’, Pennsylvania’s consumer relief initiative. By joining these efforts, Citizens Bank, along with the Office of Attorney General, will ensure Pennsylvania consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for additional economic relief.

Under the ‘PA CARE Package’ initiative, banks and financial institutions are working with the Office’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to both comply with the recently-passed CARES Act and offer additional important protections for consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pennsylvanians need financial protection during this emergency, which is why we launched PA CARE Package to provide relief right now. I thank Citizens Bank for joining this effort to help consumers. We can beat this crisis, but consumers and small businesses need to know their rights and use the resources available to them,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “This commitment will help Pennsylvanians who are facing lost wages, lost jobs, and lost income focus on what’s important — staying safe and healthy during this emergency.”

“Our most important commitment must be to workers and families as we make every effort to provide immediate relief to Americans in this crisis,” said Senator Bob Casey. I am pleased that Citizens Bank is joining PA CARE Package to provide expanded loan availability to our small and medium sized businesses and extend grace periods for mortgages and late fees. It is vitally important that we help Pennsylvanians access the resources they need and inform them of their rights as consumers. I will continue to work with Attorney General Shapiro and Pennsylvania financial institutions to support small businesses, workers and families.”

“From the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, Citizens has been working closely with customers and clients to provide relief for those who have been affected,” said Dan Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank Mid-Atlantic Region. “It is important for banks to step up and play a critical role in helping provide economic stability in this critical time and we look forward to continuing to support our customers.”

To commit to the ‘PA CARE Package’ initiative, financial institutions and banks must offer additional assistance to Pennsylvanians facing financial hardship due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Citizens joined the ‘PA CARE Package’ today, the bank has been providing these offers to customers and clients for several weeks.

  • Expansion of small and medium business loan availability
  • 90-day grace period for mortgages that are not covered by the CARES Act
  • 90-day grace period for other consumer loans such as auto loans
  • 90-day window for relief from fees and charges such as late, overdraft fees
  • Foreclosure, eviction, and motor vehicle repossession moratorium for 60 days
  • No adverse credit reporting for accessing relief on consumer loans

Additionally, Citizens has set up a resource hub on CitizensBank.com with information about additional offers and tips for consumers and small businesses during the pandemic.

For more information on the ‘PA CARE Package’ initiative, visit the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Coronavirus webpage at www.attorneygeneral.gov/COVID19.

# # #