RBS Citizens Financial Group Inc.
What: Commercial bank holding company with 12-state footprint; Charter One retail division
Corporate headquarters: Providence, R.I.
Michigan and Ohio President: Ken Marblestone
Local Market Leader: Joey Williams
Website: www.citizensbank.com
RBS Citizens Financial Group Inc. is looking to expand in southwest Ohio with the recent hire of Dayton banking leader Joey Williams.
Williams, a Dayton city commissioner, was previously Dayton city president and commercial banking manager for JPMorgan Chase & Co., the second largest bank operating in the Dayton metropolitan area.
In February, Williams was named to the post of market leader for RBS Citizens’ middle market banking group in central and southern Ohio. In the role he’s responsible for growing business with companies in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.
“I am going to grow our commercial business and that’s calling on companies with revenues of $25 million and greater,” Williams said. “My focus will be all three cities, obviously having a strong background in both Dayton and Cincinnati.”
RBS Citizens may not be well known to the average local person because the company doesn’t have any retail branch offices this part of the state. The bank’s retail division, Charter One, has 133 branches in Ohio, concentrated in the Cleveland and Toledo areas. It has a major mortgage operation in Mason.
Ohio is a key market for RBS Citizens. In south and central Ohio, “right now it really is a commercial banking strategy,” said Michigan and Ohio president Ken Marblestone. The bank’s research shows “about half the businesses in Ohio are located between Columbus and Cincinnati.”
JPMorgan Chase spokeswoman Emily Smith said if the need arises, Chase will consider naming a new Dayton president to be the bank’s face in the community.
Previously, Williams reported to Kevin Ward, president of Chase’s southwest Ohio market. Ward also manages the middle market business lending group for Dayton and Cincinnati.
“As of now, Kevin will just continue to cover that whole territory as before,” Smith said.
Also, Cliff Hemmert is in charge of retail for 140 Chase branches in Central Ohio, Dayton and part of Cincinnati.
Chase’s Dayton administrative offices are located in Kettering Tower downtown.
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