New Ulm Parade of Lights

Community Involvement

2024 Race 2 Raise 5KRace 2 Raise logo

We hope you can join us for our annual Race 2 Raise 5K, taking place on Saturday, May 11, 2024! All proceeds from this event will once again be going to the American Cancer Society.  Packet pick-up starts at 6:45 AM, inside the back entrance of Citizens Bank Minnesota. Race begins at 7:45 AM and will use city streets, sidewalks and the Bike Trail system. Race ends at German Park.

This event is professionally chip-timed and medals are awarded to the top three male and female finishers in age groups. All paid participants will receive a t-shirt if registered by April 17, 2024. Included in race packet: 1 coupon for a FREE small dish or cone at MN Eis. Also, bring your paper bib number to the B&L Bar after the event to redeem for one FREE beverage (good race day only.)

Early registration fees: $30 for adults (18+), $22 for students (ages 6-17), children 5 and under are free. Same day registration fees: $35 for adults (18+), $30 for students (ages 6-17). Race day registration closes at 7:30 AM.  Registration forms and payment can be dropped off at any Citizens location.  Register online: www.tempotickets.com/Race2Raise
 


2023 Adopt-A-Family

Citizens Bank Minnesota and its employees were excited to help organizations and families in need this Holiday Season. Our Main Office in New Ulm partnered with Brown County Family Services through their “Adopt a Family” program to help area families by purchasing clothing, grocery gift cards and household items. New Ulm also purchased diapers for the Blessed Bottoms Diaper Assistance Program, providing diapers to children in need. Our Watkins, La Salle and Ormsby locations were able to purchase needed items to assist several families in their areas. Our Lafayette branch donated toys for a local toy drive, and our Lakeville branch donated items to 360 Communities.
Money was donated by employees, raised through a variety of internal fundraising events throughout our locations, and a bank match was given making it possible to donate over $3,200.00 in gifts and necessities for these families and organizations.
We were happy to help these organizations as well as families who would have had an otherwise difficult time purchasing the needed items themselves. It was also a great way to remember what the Holidays are truly all about!


Day of Caring - 2023

photos of staff doing raking, cleaning etc for Day of Caring
Citizens had multiple teams volunteering their time over two days to help rake leaves, wash windows, trim shrubs, mow lawns and more for the United Way of the Brown County Area annual "Day of Caring"!
We are proud of our staff and their family members that helped out, and the homeowners were extremely grateful as well! Volunteering is an act of service that not only benefits our favorite communities and causes — but also nurtures our own personal growth and connections with others. It’s about offering your time, energy, and skills selflessly — contributing towards making the world a better place.









Fostering Caring Communities

Items collected for foster children and families
Citizens Bank Minnesota collected needed supplies for area children and youth utilizing their county foster care programs and services. Each branch location received lists from their individual counties for specific items needed for the children and foster care families. Both our clients and our employees made generous donations like pajamas, baby formula, a mattress, socks, as well as monetary donations to provide them with some of the essentials needed to ensure their well-being.
This effort was in conjunction with the Minnesota Bankers Association’s Community Impact Month. Now in its eighth year, Community Impact Month brings together the collective efforts of Minnesota banks to showcase the vital role they play in improving the communities they serve. Across the state, 89 banks and 411 branches joined forces in September to serve several cities across Minnesota. Citizens and their employees were proud to be a part of this effort!



2023 Race 2 Raise 5K

2023 5K logoOur annual 5K fundraiser was Saturday, May 13, 2023. It was a rainy morning with scattered storms, so we watched the radar carefully, several times wondering if we should cancel the event.  But as we reached start time, the skies were clear from lightning and the event was on! 0ut of 151 registered participants, 86 braved the rain and completed the 5K.  Afterwards we were able to get out of the rain by having the awards ceremony under the grandstand at German Park. Medals were awarded to the top 3 male and top 3 female finishers in age group.  After the 5K many gathered at the B&L Bar to redeem their bib number for one free beverage. It was a nice way to celebrate their accomplishment, and dry off!
This year we were able to raise $3,328.85 for the American Cancer Society!
Save the date for next year: May 11, 2024! 


2022 Adopt-A-Family


Gift donations for those in needCitizens Bank Minnesota and its employees were excited to help organizations and families in need this Holiday Season. Our Main Office in New Ulm partnered with Brown County Family Services through their “Adopt a Family” program to help an area family by purchasing clothing, hats and mittens, a grocery card and household items. Our Watkins, La Salle and Ormsby locations were able to purchase needed items to assist six families. Our Lafayette branch donated funds to Santa’s Closet and our Lakeville branch participated as a Toys for Tots drop-off site.

Money was donated by employees, raised through a variety of internal fundraising events throughout our locations, and a bank match was given making it possible to donate over $3800.00 in gifts and necessities for these families and organizations.

We were happy to help these organizations as well as families who would have had an otherwise difficult time purchasing the needed items themselves. It was also a great way to remember what the Holidays are truly all about!



2022 Citizens Race 2 Raise 5K

Citizens held their 7th annual Race 2 Raise 5K on Saturday, May 14, 2022. 164 people registered and the event brought in $3016.30 for the American Cancer Society!
We couldn't have asked for better weather, it was a beautiful morning to run and walk the city streets and bike trail in New Ulm. At the finish line, participants could enjoy the post-race amenities and watch the award ceremony where the top 3 male and female finishers in age groups received a medal. After the event everyone could redeem their paper bib number for a free beverage at the B&L after party. Congratulations to everyone that participated and we hope to see you all back at next years' 5K, which is being held on Saturday, May 13, 2023!

Starting line of the 2022 5K. Finish area of the 2022 5K



Citizens Partners With American Red Cross

Collage of bank employees giving blood

Citizens Bank Minnesota hosted an employee blood drive with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, in their New Ulm Training Room. Citizens employees collected 27 units of blood, exceeding their goal of 25!

Citizens is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations. This blood drive was a way to give our staff an opportunity to help save lives. 

Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative, and A negative. According to the Red Cross, type O negative is the universal blood type that can be safely transfused to anyone, and is often used to treat trauma patients. Simply go to redcrossblood.org to find a community blood drive near you!







2021 Adopt-A-Family

Citizens Bank Minnesota and its employees donated over $3800.00 worth of gifts to area families and organizations in need.

Citizens and its employees were excited to help organizations and families in need this Holiday Season. Our Main Office in New Ulm partnered with Brown County Family Services through their “Adopt a Family” program to help an area family by purchasing clothing, hats and mittens, a grocery card and household items. Our Watkins Branch was able to purchase toys, clothing, hats and gloves, plus a grocery card to help a family in their area. Our Lafayette Branch donated funds to the Lafayette Charter School along with the Sibley East Adopt A Family Program. Our La Salle Branch received the name of a family through Madelia school and was able to purchase gift cards and games. Our Lakeville Branch received the name of a family from a local church and partnered with their upstairs tenant, David Charlez Designs, to purchase gift cards for the family. Lastly, our Ormsby Branch adopted a family through Martin County West School District and they were able to purchase clothing, toys, mittens and hats.

Money was donated by employees, raised through a variety of internal fundraising events throughout our locations, and a bank match was given making it possible to donate over $3800.00 in gifts and necessities for these families and organizations.

We were happy to help these organizations as well as families who would have had an otherwise difficult time purchasing the needed items themselves. It was also a great way to remember what the Holidays are truly all about!


2021 Community Impact Month

Citizens Bank Minnesota employees spent the month of September carrying out several Random Acts of Kindness (RAK’s) in the communities they serve. Citizens donated $750 for 15 teams to spread kindness in a creative way! Many employees also contributed towards their RAK’s. 

Our teams worked together in so many ways by donating blood together, delivering snacks to local hospitals, gift card giveaways at local gas stations, grilling lunch for local law enforcement officers, delivering food for first responders, picking up trash at a park, unpacking and sorting snacks for Project Lunch Box, blessing families in need with freezer meals and delivering snacks in appreciation of our schools and bus drivers! 

This effort was in conjunction with the Minnesota Bankers Association’s Community Impact Month. Across the state, 88 banks and over 342 branches joined forces in September to serve 243 distinct cities. Launched by the Minnesota Bankers Association, the Community Impact Month creates an opportunity for banks to highlight the many volunteer opportunities available to help build stronger local communities. Citizens and their employees were proud to be a part of this effort! #BanksBuildMN 

Random Acts of Kindness done by Citizens Bank Minnesota employees

 

Citizens Bank Minnesota Employees Donate over $7,000.00 to Area Nonprofits

Citizens Bank Minnesota donationsCitizens Bank Minnesota employees recently donated $7,074.74 to area nonprofits. Each year the employees choose who will receive the funds for that particular year. The funds are raised through Citizens Jeans for Change where employees can pay $5.00 every Friday to wear jeans to work, as well as various employee fundraisers throughout the year including the Race to Raise 5K, which had 139 registered participants and raised $2,641.74 for the American Cancer Society. Other proceeds were split and given to B the Light, Adaptive Recreational Services (ARS), Compassionate Friends, the Sertoma Club, the Jaycees, and the Nicholas P. Koenig HERO (Help & Encouragement on Rough Oceans) Foundation. The foundation provides a shining light of hope on families affected by pediatric cancer, with support of health-related research, education, and care.
 


 
 

2021 Race 2 Raise 5K 

The 6th annual Citizens Bank Minnesota Race 2 Raise 5K was held on Saturday, May 15, 2021. We couldn't have asked for a better day, the temps were perfect for a morning run/walk!  It was great to be able to host an in-person event again, and we think our participants all agreed. 139 people registered for the event with 121 participating that morning.  Our 5K was professionally chip-timed with awards going to the top 3 males and top 3 females in different age groups.
With all proceeds from the event going to the American Cancer Society, we were able to raise $2,641.74! 
Thank you to all that participated, our volunteers and sponsors. We look forward to hosting this event again next year, Saturday, May 14, 2022! 
 
5K start line and participants

5K finish line


 

Citizens Bank Minnesota and its employees

donate $3,000.00 worth of gifts to area families in need

Lakeville employees with donated gifts  Gifts bought at our New Ulm main office  Lafayette donations to nursing home

Citizens Bank Minnesota and its employees were excited to help organizations and families in need this Holiday Season. Our Main Office in New Ulm partnered with Brown County Family Services through their “Adopt a Family” program to help an area family in need by purchasing gifts and other items they needed. 

Our Watkins Branch was able to help purchase gifts to help a family in their area.  Our Lafayette Branch was able to purchase gift cards for teachers at the Lafayette Charter School as well as donate snacks to the workers at the Good Samaritan Center and The Lodge in Winthrop.  Our La Salle Branch was able to purchase gift cards for 5 elderly individuals in need. Our Lakeville Branch partnered with their upstairs tenant, David Charlez Design to raise money for 360 Communities.

Money was donated by employees, raised through a variety of internal fundraising events throughout our locations, and a bank match was given making it possible to donate $3000.00 in gifts for these families and organizations.

We were happy to help these organizations as well as families who would have had an otherwise difficult time purchasing the needed items themselves. It was also a great way to remember what the Holidays are truly all about!


Citizens Participates in Community Impact Month

2020 Community Impact Month photo collageCitizens Bank Minnesota collected PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as well as accepted monetary donations to purchase PPE for area schools in an effort to “Stop the Spread” of Covid-19 and help keep teachers, students and school staff safe this school year. Citizens raised $1178 along with donated items including cloth masks for both adults and children, face shields, paper towels, hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes.

This effort was in conjunction with the Minnesota Bankers Association's Community Impact Month. Across the state, 91 banks and over 498 branches joined forces in September to serve their local communities. Launched by the Minnesota Bankers Association, the Community Impact Month creates an opportunity for banks to highlight the many volunteer opportunities available to help build stronger local communities. Citizens and their employees were proud to be a part of this effort and we thank everyone who donated at all of our locations! #BanksBuildMN


Citizens Delivers Snack Care Packages To Local Hospitals

Citizens employees delivered totes with a variety of snacks and packages of sports drinks to the New Ulm Medical Center, Sleepy Eye Medical Center and the Madelia Community Hospital and Clinic, as a way to say "Thank You" to our essential frontline workers! We appreciate everything they do in keeping us safe every day.
2 Citizens Bank Minnesota workers helping at food drive  3 Citizens Bank Minnesota workers helping at food driveIndividuals smiling with nurse at clinic


Citizens delivers loads of snacks to 4 area organizations

Did you know approximately 13 million American children are at risk of hunger? Because of this, Citizens Bank Minnesota chose to collect snacks for children in need in the area for their community snack backpack programs. These snack backpack programs help ensure students in need have access to healthy meals during the weekend and return to school ready to learn.

This effort was in conjunction with the Minnesota Bankers Association’s Community Impact Month. Across the state, 94 banks and over 458 branches will join forces in September to serve their local communities. Citizens employees were able to raise $715, which employees used to shop for snacks to donate to four area organizations. Several boxes of snacks were donated by employees and community supporters as well! The organizations donated to include: United Way of Brown County Project Lunch Box, Watonwan County Backpack Program, Lafayette Charter School Food Backpack Program and Kenwood Trail Middle School Snack Pack Program in Lakeville.

Launched by the Minnesota Bankers Association, the Community Impact Month creates an opportunity for banks to highlight the many volunteer opportunities available to help build stronger local communities. Citizens and their employees were proud to be a part of this effort and we thank everyone who donated at all of our locations! #BanksBuildMN
Students studying around a table

Citizens has scholarships for High School Seniors!

High School Seniors - are you attending post-secondary education? You could be one of our next scholarship recipients!