CLEVELAND (January 4, 2005) - Charter One Bank today announced that Edward O. “Ned” Handy III, Regional President of Citizens Bank of Connecticut, has been appointed President and CEO of its banking operation in Ohio. As President and CEO of Charter One Bank in Ohio, Handy will oversee all aspects of Charter One's retail, commercial and business banking operations in the state of Ohio. Handy, 43, assumes the job effective immediately.
Since 1999, Handy has served as Regional President of Citizens Bank of Connecticut with responsibility for all commercial lending activity, including commercial lending, commercial real estate lending and community banking. Prior to joining Citizens in 1995, Handy spent 10 years at Fleet Financial Group, where he held positions in commercial real estate lending and in the managed asset division.
“Ned has been a tremendous leader at Citizens Bank in Connecticut,” said Tom Hollister, CEO of Charter One Bank's Midwest region. “Cleveland will benefit from Ned's vast experience at Citizens, his leadership style and his deep commitment to supporting the community.”
With his appointment, Charter One Bank of Ohio is adopting the successful local leadership business model of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Within each market, local bank presidents are responsible for all local business, community and charitable giving decisions. As president, Handy will oversee the day-to-day operations of Ohio's 174 branches and work closely with Hollister who oversees operations and growth opportunities throughout Charter One Bank's Midwest footprint which includes Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.
“I am pleased to put my experience to work in Ohio” Handy said. “With the backing of Citizens Financial Group, there is great opportunity for Charter One to grow in Ohio and throughout the Midwest. I look forward to working with the many outstanding employees at Charter One and getting deeply involved in the communities where we do business.”
Handy is a graduate of Brown University with a bachelor's degree in Urban Studies. He has been very active with Read to Grow, providing books to children, a program that Citizens Bank of Connecticut helped found. He is president of the board of The Garde Arts Center in New London, CT, is active in school issues and coaches his children's soccer and hockey teams.
Ned, his wife Polly and three children will be relocating to Cleveland in the Spring.
About Charter One Bank, N.A.
After its August 31, 2004 acquisition by Citizens Financial Group, Inc., Charter One Bank, N.A., is a $49 billion bank operating in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York and Vermont. It has more than 700 offices and 1,030 ATMs. Charter One is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $131 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. Citizens has more than 1,580 offices, approximately 2,800 ATMs and approximately 24,000 employees in 13 states.