EXHIBIT 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                  TRADED: NASDAQ
                                                                  SYMBOL: CBCF


                          CITIZENS BANKING CORPORATION
                     ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING
                           AND RELATED SPECIAL CHARGES


FLINT, MICHIGAN, September 26, 2002, -- Citizens Banking Corporation today
announced restructuring initiatives designed to improve performance and client
service in its three main lines of business. As a result, Citizens will incur
special charges of approximately $14 million ($9.1million after tax) during the
third quarter of 2002.

The restructuring is the result of a detailed review of Citizens' consumer
banking, business banking and wealth management areas by key members of
management during the second and third quarters of this year. This review
revealed opportunities for process change, staff reassignment, reporting
structure changes, expense reduction and business growth. Additionally, Citizens
engaged banking industry consultants to assist in analyzing these areas.

"In the second quarter of this year we developed a new vision for Citizens which
laid the foundation for our company's future," commented William R. Hartman,
president and CEO. "This vision calls for our company to work toward a goal of
operational excellence by improving

the level and quality of service to our clients as cost-efficiently as
possible. We believe the changes announced today support this goal and will help
bring it within our reach."


Consumer Banking

The review process undertaken by the management team of the company emphasized
changes that were needed in order to make consumer banking more efficient and
market-driven, grow Citizens' core banking business and improve client
retention. "We are streamlining our organization to reduce the levels of
managers between our top management and the branch staff people who touch our
clients," Hartman explained. Additionally, a review of the branch office network
has led to the decision to consolidate twelve banking offices during the fourth
quarter of 2002 and six offices during the first half of 2003.


Business Banking

Analysis of the configuration of the commercial banking group resulted in
several new initiatives, including an increased emphasis on small business
banking and expanding existing business relationships. "The objective of
reorganizing this area is to provide a clearer focus to expand and grow
relationships among the banks' small business, middle market and institutional
clients," remarked Hartman. "Our new structure will have fewer layers of
management, resulting in more rapid response time to clients, greater
cost-efficiency and an enhanced credit process."


Wealth Management

A new service unit will be established to bring about a more cohesive approach
to serving the needs of the majority of the company's trust clients. "The
Cost-Efficiencies and service improvement that we expect from this move,
represent another step toward our goal of operational excellence," Hartman
commented. Citizens will close its trust offices in Berwyn, Illinois and in
Sturgis, Michigan, and will transfer the trust relationships to either the new
service unit or another trust office.

Staff Reassignment and Special Charge

As a result of the restructuring, Citizens anticipates eliminating up to 250
positions, including approximately 175 from layoffs and the remainder through
attrition during the next 12 months. The company will be offering severance
packages and outplacement assistance to employees displaced as a result of the
restructuring. A special charge of approximately $14 million related to this
organizational restructuring will be taken during the third quarter of 2002. The
charge includes $8.5 million for compensation, benefits and severance packages,
$2.4 million for branch closing and building impairment expenses, $2.7 million
for consulting fees and employee placement services, and $.4 million for
equipment and obsolete supplies. "These decisions were difficult, but necessary,
in order to improve our long-term profitability and be in a position to grow our
company. These changes will also help us be more competitive and improve our
level of service to clients," stated Hartman.


CORPORATE PROFILE

Citizens Banking Corporation is a diversified financial services company
providing a full range of commercial, consumer, mortgage banking, trust and
financial planning services to a broad client base. Citizens operates 198
branch, private banking, and financial center locations throughout Michigan,
Wisconsin, Iowa, and in suburban Chicago, Illinois.

Safe Harbor Statement

Discussions in this release that are not statements of historical fact
(including statements which include terms such as "believe", "expect", and
"anticipate") are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, and the Corporation's actual future results could materially
differ from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, the Corporation's future lending
and collections experience, the inability to complete announced acquisition
transactions, the effects of acquisitions and the ability to integrate acquired
operations, market acceptance of the Corporation's products and services,
competition from other institutions, changes in the banking industry and its
regulation, needs for technological change, and other factors, including those
which are discussed in the Corporation's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

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MEDIA CONTACT:     Linda Manson
                   Vice President Corporate Communications
                   (810) 766-7733


                   Visit our Web site at HTTP://WWW.CITIZENSONLINE.COM