Citizens Bank announced a new $20 million commitment over the next three years to expand its workforce development programs, with a portion of the funding specifically allocated to New Jersey. This initiative builds on a successful prior investment and aims to address the evolving needs of the modern workforce, including the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Investing in the Garden State’s future
The new funding will support nonprofit organizations that work to enhance educational and career opportunities. This is a continuation of a $1.6 million grant from 2024 and 2025 that expanded the bank’s Community College Accelerator program with the Education Design Lab (EDL) to 10 schools across multiple states, including New Jersey. These programs focus on upskilling, reskilling, and creating new career pathways to strengthen economic mobility.
“Workforce development is central to how Citizens supports its customers, colleagues, and communities,” Bruce Van Saun, chairman & CEO of Citizens said. “With this new $20 million investment, we will build on the strong progress we’ve made in expanding access to training and career pathways and helping people gain the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing environment.”
The bank’s commitment is timely, as a recent Junior Achievement survey revealed that while most teens are optimistic about their future, over half believe AI will negatively impact their career prospects. This highlights a critical need for continuous learning and adaptability, which Citizens’ programs aim to address.
Local partnerships drive impact
Citizens’ workforce development efforts in New Jersey are part of a broader strategy to partner with both national and local nonprofits. The bank has a history of supporting New Jersey-based organizations through its Champions in Action program and other grants. Past and ongoing partnerships have included LISC Greater Newark, Urban League of Essex County, and others, with a focus on providing technical skills training, career counseling, and bridging the digital skills gap in underserved communities.
This new investment reaffirms the bank’s commitment to building a skilled and adaptable workforce in New Jersey.
