Citizens names new Rhode Island bank president

PROVIDENCE – Citizens Financial Group Inc. on Friday named Keith Kelly the new Citizens Bank Rhode Island president.

Kelly, a 21-year banking veteran, replaces Marc Paulhus, who is relocating to Chicago. Paulhus, who took over as president in 2014, will continue to serve as head of the bank’s national asset finance business.

Kelly, a Barrington resident, has headed the Providence-based bank’s corporate banking team for the last four years, according to a press release. He joined Citizens in 2011.

“We are pleased to have a banker of Keith’s caliber to head up our Rhode Island leadership team,” said Donald H. McCree, vice chairman of commercial banking, in a statement.

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In his new role as state president, Kelly joins Barbara Cottam, head of corporate affairs and Rhode Island market executive, to lead the bank’s civic, business and community engagement efforts.

Kelly currently serves as the board chairman of HopeHealth, a hospice and palliative care nonprofit. He also serves on the boards of United Way of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Bankers Association.

“I am honored by this opportunity to help our local team continue to provide great solutions for our Rhode Island customers,” Kelly said.

Prior to working at Citizens, with $150.3 billion in assets, Kelly was a vice president at Westerly-based Washington Trust Bancorp Inc., according to his LinkedIn page. He also served 12 years as an executive vice president at UPS Capital. The new president earned a degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MBA from the University of Miami.

“Keith’s considerable banking experience and leadership skills will benefit both our Rhode Island customers and the broader Rhode Island community as he takes on this new role,” McCree said. “I’d also like to thank Marc Paulhus for his outstanding leadership and the many contributions he made to Rhode Island in his role as state president.”

Paulhus in 2014 succeeded Edward O. “Ned” Handy III, who left to become president and chief operating officer at Washington Trust, where he continues to work today.

Eli Sherman is a PBN staff writer.