Citizens Bank Breaks Ground on Its First Newly Designed Branch in Oakland County.

ORION TWP., Mich. -- Citizens Bank (Nasdaq:CBCF) today announced construction is beginning in Orion Township on the first of its branches with distinctive new architecture. Thomas C. Shafer, Citizens Bank's regional president for Southeast Michigan, made the announcement.

Citizens Bank expects construction of the branch, which will be located across Interstate 75 from Great Lakes Crossing at the corner of Baldwin and Brown roads, to be completed in December, Shafer said, adding that the new branch is expected to employ eight people.

"We looked at several factors in making our decision to build in Orion Township, including client location, an abundant skilled workforce throughout the region, and the helpfulness of the local community -- all that made this location an easy choice," Shafer said.

Construction of the new branch is part of Citizens Bank's expansion throughout Oakland County. In February, Citizens Bank announced the opening of its first major hub facility in Oakland County, in Troy's Northfield Corporate Campus at 900 Tower Drive at Interstate 75 and Crooks Road. The 900 Tower Building now carries the Citizens Bank name and logo high atop the structure. In June, the bank opened its second major Oakland hub -- Novi Centre at Haggerty Centre II, 28001 Cabot Drive in Novi. "Our two hub offices house commercial banking, commercial real estate, wealth management, treasury management and mortgage professionals," Shafer said, explaining that new branches will be built around these defined hub locations. The 900 Tower Building also houses a Citizens Bank branch. Novi Centre houses a temporary branch with a new permanent branch to be built on adjacent property. The bank also opened a new branch in April at Springfield Town Square, 9749 Dixie Highway in Clarkston.

The branch at Baldwin and Brown roads will be the first of Citizens Bank's new branches constructed with distinctive new architecture. The exterior of the building will include a glass-enclosed atrium in which the company's newly updated "weather ball" logo can be seen. Visitors to the bank will see an airy, sleek building and interiors befitting a professional services firm. Unique features of the new branch will include: A Business X-Press teller area to accommodate commercial clients, an e-teller offering clients an alternative banking source, a web-based self-service banking area, and client information will be presented via state-of-the-art plasma screens.

Citizens Bank announced last November that its Oakland County expansion would include the two new hub offices and the opening of 10 to 14 new branches. The initiative, which has resulted in the hiring of 85 people in Oakland County over the past year, will continue to significantly add to the company's current Oakland County presence of 12 locations. The initiative gives Citizens' local bankers greater authority to broadly handle client needs and act quickly on loan applications and other decisions, and provides the marketplace with convenient access to bankers.

Citizens Banking Corporation is a diversified financial services company, providing a wide range of commercial, consumer, mortgage banking, trust investment and financial planning services to a broad client base. Citizens Banking Corporation serves markets through Citizens Bank offices in Michigan and suburban Chicago, Illinois, and through F&M Bank offices in Wisconsin and Iowa. Citizens Banking Corporation is the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Michigan, with assets of $7.748 billion as of June 30, 2004. More information about Citizens Banking Corporation is available at www.citizensonline.com.