Send a message.
Reach out to any or all of these corporate leaders to urge them to end their relationships with private prison and detention companies. Voice your concern on Citizens Bank's social media channels with comments there.
Email Template
Subject: End financing of CoreCivic and The GEO Group.
To the Citizens Bank Leadership Team,
I am calling on Citizens Bank to immediately end its financial relationships with CoreCivic and The GEO Group (GEO) and commit publicly to never financing private immigration detention or prison companies again.
Your team says you “engage with companies that conduct their business in a lawful manner.” Not only have CoreCivic and GEO faced extensive allegations of human rights abuses, they are central to the expansion of a system that is threatening the very principle of due process. A system that has imprisoned thousands of children—including hundreds for longer than the court-prescribed limit.
Until Citizens Bank ends its financial relationships with CoreCivic and The GEO Group, I will not do business with your institution and will encourage my community, elected leaders, universities, and local organizations to do the same.
Citizens cannot honor its commitment to fostering strong communities while profiting from companies that are instrumental in inflicting these harms. The choice is yours: align your actions with your stated values or or continue down a path that will permanently link your brand to harmful detention practices.
[Your Name]
[Your City, State]
Call Script
I’m calling as a concerned member of the public to ask that Citizens Bank immediately end its financial relationships with CoreCivic and The GEO Group and commit not to finance private immigration detention or prison companies in the future.
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Continuing to do business with these companies supports a detention system linked to serious human rights concerns—including prolonged detention of children—and contradicts your stated commitment to strengthening communities.
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Until Citizens ends these harmful relationships, I will reconsider my relationship with your bank and encourage others to do the same.
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Please pass my message to company leadership. Thank you.
Citizens' Socials
Letter Template
Write your own letter urging Citizens' executives to end their relationships with detention companies, or customize one of these:
ADDRESS MAIL TO
Bruce Van Saun
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
One Citizens Plaza
Providence, RI 02903
Move your money.
Switching banks can be a hassle, but the good news is that there are some great options.
We recommend considering:
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Mutual Banks – Mutual banks are owned by customers, and focus on mutual benefit, community service, and reinvesting profits bank into the local economy.
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Credit Unions - Credit unions are also owned by customers. Membership is required, usually based on employer, location, or organization.
To get started, check out "How to pick a bank that works for you"
from NPR Life Kit and getabetterbank.org.
When you're ready to switch, make sure to let your local branch manager and bank leadership know why you're leaving—and tell other people, too!
Whether you post about it on social media, mention it in a group chat, or write about it in a letter to the editor, telling others about your choice can be a powerful motivator for them to do the same.
Spread the word.
Sharing the facts and getting others involved is key, and there are lots of ways you can help—whatever your skill set and availability.
Join or host an event.
There are dozens of events planned for our next multi-state day of peaceful action on Saturday, March 7. If you would like to organize one of your own, this guide will help you get started.
Don't want to wait for March 7? Host an event anytime! Many of our member groups hold regular independent standouts at their local Citizens Bank branches. Reach out to us with questions at De.ICE.CitizensBank@gmail.com
Write a letter to the editor.
Letters to the editor are among the most-read sections of newspapers, and a great way to raise awareness of Citizens Bank's involvement in financing ICE detention operators.
Community Toolbox has a helpful guide with tips to get you started.
These are some of the letters that have been published so far:
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​"Citizens Bank must stop funding cruelty" (Brattleboro Reformer)
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"Why are we protesting Citizens Bank?" (Lexington Observer)
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"Know what your bank does with your money" (Addison County Independent)​
Follow, like, and share.
Stay connected and share what you've learned. Follow us on social media for updates on upcoming actions, media coverage, and ways to get involved. Like and share our posts to spread the word and hold Citizens Bank accountable for financing inhumane ICE detention centers.
