Citizens Bank of West Virginia, the wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Financial Corp. (OTCID: CIWV), has been named one of the 2026 Best Banks to Work For, marking the fifth consecutive year the bank has earned a place on the national list. American Banker partners with Best Companies Group each year to identify banks that excel at creating positive and supportive workplaces for their employees.

This year 100 banks earned a spot in the ranking of Best Banks to Work For, based largely on feedback from employees. Citizens ranked 31st nationally. The annual program recognizes banks that foster workplace cultures where employees feel supported, engaged and positioned to thrive.

“Being named one of the Best Banks to Work For for the fifth consecutive year is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the strong culture we continue to build at Citizens,” said President & CEO Nathaniel S. Bonnell. “Our employees are the foundation of our success, and we remain committed to creating a workplace where they feel valued, supported and empowered to make a difference for our customers and communities.”

"The banks recognized as Best Banks to Work For are institutions employees want to join and stay," said Chana Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of American Banker. "They understand how to give workers reasons to find purpose in their jobs."

Determining the Best Banks to Work For involved a two-step process. The first consisted of evaluating each participating bank’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second consisted of employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees with respect to their workplace. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the final ranking.

To be considered for participation, banks had to have at least 50 employees working in the U.S. and been in business for a minimum of one year. Best Companies Group managed the registration and survey process and also analyzed the data to determine the final ranking.

About Citizens Bank of West Virginia

Citizens Financial Corp. (OTCID: CIWV) is the parent company of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Citizens Bank of West Virginia, with $782 million in assets, provides integrated financial services including retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage services from eight financial centers in West Virginia, including Elkins, Bayard, Beverly, Buckhannon, New Martinsville, Parsons, Snowshoe and Thomas, as well as one location in Oakland, Maryland. Citizens Bank is 5-star rated and ranked among the strongest banks in the nation by Bauer Financial, the nation's leading independent bank rating firm. The bank ranked No. 19 on American Banker's list of Top-Performing Publicly Traded Community Banks Under $2 Billion in Assets and was the only West Virginia bank to earn a place on the list. Citizens Bank is also recognized among West Virginia's Top 10 Performing Banks by the Bank Performance Report. Citizens ranks No. 22 on American Banker's Best Banks to Work For list and has received numerous regional honors, including WV Living's Best Corporate Citizen; The Inter-Mountain's People's Choice Awards for Best Bank, Mortgage Lender, Customer Service, and Employer; and The Record Delta's Best Bank, Customer Service, Place to Work and Mortgage Provider. Additionally, Citizens Bank has been recognized by Newsweek's America's Best Banks list as the Best Small Bank in West Virginia, named SBA West Virginia Community Lender of the Year, and ranked No. 9 nationally by the Independent Community Bankers of America in the consumer/mortgage category for banks with $300 million to $1 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.citizenswv.com.

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“Being named one of the Best Banks to Work For for the fifth consecutive year is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the strong culture we continue to build at Citizens,” said President & CEO Nathaniel S. Bonnell.