Citizens and New Jersey Devils Open Applications for Jersey Shops, Awarding Four Small Businesses $10,000 Each

11/12/2026

Citizens and New Jersey Devils Open Applications for Jersey Shops, Awarding Four Small Businesses $10,000 Each

Up to 50 additional New Jersey businesses will receive promotional support and networking opportunities

NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 12, 2026 - Citizens and the New Jersey Devils today opened applications for Jersey Shops presented by Citizens, doubling the program's direct funding for New Jersey small businesses to $40,000 for the 2026-27 season. Four New Jersey small businesses will receive $10,000 each during the remainder of the 2026-27 season to support their growth. Applications will be accepted through February 7, 2027.

In addition to the $10,000 awards, selected businesses will receive promotional support from Citizens and the Devils designed to increase their exposure across New Jersey. Up to 50 additional businesses will receive dedicated listings on the Jersey Shops website, promotional materials and invitations to Devils networking events during the season.

Highlights

• Four New Jersey small businesses will each receive $10,000 from Citizens to support their growth, an increase to $40,000 in small business support from $20,000 in 2025.
• The four selected businesses will receive a custom video vignette produced by the Devils content team, with exposure through Devils and Citizens channels, including in-arena features, website content and social media.
• Up to 50 additional small businesses will receive a listing on the Jersey Shops website, a promotional kit with "Made in Jersey" window decals and merchandise, and invitations to networking events from Citizens and the Devils.
• Applications are open through February 7, 2027 with winners to be subsequently announced. Businesses can learn more and apply at the Jersey Shops website.

Supporting New Jersey Small Businesses

"Small businesses are essential to strong local economies, creating opportunity and helping communities across New Jersey grow," said Nuno Francisco, Business Banking Market Executive, New Jersey, Citizens. "Through Jersey Shops, we're pairing direct financial support with greater visibility and connections that can help business owners take their next step. It reflects how Citizens approaches business banking more broadly: understanding what business owners are working toward and helping connect them with the resources and support to move forward."

The expanded program builds on Citizens' focus on supporting small businesses through local relationships, practical financial guidance and connections that can help owners scale and grow their customer base.

The 2025-26 grand prize winners were Scratch Pies of Middletown, Denim Surgeon of Red Bank, Dinosaur Car Wash of Linden and Break the Mold Fitness of Lyndhurst.

About Jersey Shops presented by Citizens

Jersey Shops presented by Citizens provides New Jersey small businesses with funding, promotional support and networking opportunities through the partnership between Citizens and the New Jersey Devils. The program is part of the Devils' community initiatives supporting small businesses across New Jersey.

For the 2026-27 program, Citizens will provide four selected businesses with $10,000 each. Those businesses will also be featured through video and promotional content produced and distributed through Devils and Citizens channels. Up to 50 additional businesses will receive promotional and networking opportunities during the season.

"Small businesses are the heart of New Jersey communities, and we're proud to continue working with Citizens to help them grow," said Ned Luke, Vice President, Partnerships Activation & Solutions, New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center. "For the past five years, the Jersey Shops program provides entrepreneurs and local businesses with valuable resources and support to help them in their business growth. We're thankful for the continued support of Citizens to raise the bar each year and reach even more small businesses throughout New Jersey." Businesses can learn more and apply at newjerseydevils.com/jerseyshops.

Citizens' Commitment to New Jersey

Since expanding into the Tri-State metro area in 2022, through the acquisitions of HSBC's East Coast branches and New Jersey-based Investors Bank, Citizens has grown its presence in the state across its business lines. The bank has 174 branches in the Tri-State Metro area and has seen top-quartile household and deposit growth in the most competitive market in the country.

Citizens is committed to becoming part of the states' fabric and has established partnerships that expand economic opportunity, invest in workforce development, and celebrate the culture, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of New Jersey. As the official bank of Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils and New York Giants and through collaborations with community organizations like Junior Achievement New Jersey, LISC, and New Jersey Business & Industry Association, Citizens is dedicated to helping create a stronger, more vibrant future for New Jersey.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation's oldest and largest financial institutions, with $234.5 billion in assets as of September 30, 2026. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail, private banking, wealth management and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. Consumer Banking includes Citizens Private Bank & Private Wealth, which integrate banking services and wealth management solutions to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as investors, entrepreneurs and businesses. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.

About the New Jersey Devils:
The New Jersey Devils are part of the 32-team National Hockey League, with teams throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1982, they recently celebrated their 40th season in the Garden State. During that time, the team has won three Stanley Cup Championships: 1995, 2000 and 2003. Follow the Devils at NewJerseyDevils.com, on Facebook, X, and Instagram. The New Jersey Devils organization is a HBSE property.