Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) recently named Citizens Bank of West Virginia the 2023 nation’s No. 2 top lender in the consumer/mortgage category for banks $300M – $1B in assets. Recognition is based on the strength of the banking services and operational efficiencies throughout the previous year.
ICBA used FDIC data for 2022 and calculated a lender score out of 100 for each community bank. The score combines the average of the bank’s percentile rank for lending concentration and for loan growth over the past year in each lending category and adjusted for loan charge offs in each category at certain percentile thresholds.
“As a community bank in rural Appalachia, we feel especially proud that we are ranked second in the nation as the top consumer and mortgage lender,” stated Citizens Bank President & CEO Nathaniel S. Bonnell. “This achievement is a testament to the team of professionals focused on helping our customers throughout the entire financing process. Citizens is proud to help so
many people achieve the dream of homeownership, purchase a vehicle, or a camper for family vacations.”
In the past year, Citizens Bank provided financing of over $220 million to more than 4,000 clients to buy autos and RVs, first homes, second homes, investment properties or refinance existing homes. “Our team offers personal support from start-to-finish and closes loans as quickly and efficiently as possible,” further stated Bonnell. “We also take pride in continuing to service our customers and loans after the closing.”
This recognition is in addition to other recent acknowledgments Citizens Bank has received including being ranked 26th in the Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks Under $2 Billion of Assets in the Nation, Newsweek’s 2023 Best Small Bank in West Virginia, 2023 Small Business Administration (SBA) WV Community Lender of the Year, and The Inter-Mountain’s 2023
People’s Choice Best Bank. In 2022, Citizens was named a Best Bank to Work for by American Banker.
About Citizens Bank of West Virginia
Citizens Financial Corp. (OTC: CIWV) is the parent company of Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Inc. with assets of $600 million and headquartered in Elkins, WV. From six office locations in North Central and northern West Virginia, the bank provides integrated financial services including retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage services. For more information on Citizens Financial Corp. or Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Inc., visit us online at www.citizenswv.com.