Bruce Van Saun, Chairman and CEO of Citizens Financial Group issued the following statement this morning:

“It is with deep sadness that I announce that Robert Matthews, Vice Chairman of Commercial Banking and a member of the Citizens Financial Group Board of Directors, died unexpectedly overnight of an apparent heart attack at his home. He was 51.

“Our entire Citizens Financial Group family of colleagues mourns this tragic loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Catherine, Robert’s wife, and his family. We share their grief and extend to them our deepest sympathies.”

“Robert was a great guy and an outstanding leader with incredible energy and a passion to succeed. He made an indelible mark on our company – the commercial bank that we have built under his leadership is a testament to Robert’s passion for serving customers and for building an organization that can extend that passion to each of the companies we serve.”

“One of Robert’s legacies is that he surrounded himself with great people. We have selected two of Robert's key team members, Steve Woods, currently head of Corporate Banking, and Bob Rubino, currently head of Corporate Finance and Capital Markets, to be interim co-heads of Commercial Banking. I have confidence that they will continue the same great client focus and service that Robert instilled in the organization."