EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               CONTACT: CHARLES D. CHRISTY
                                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                             810-237-4200

                                    TRADED: NASDAQ
                                    SYMBOL: CBCF


                          CITIZENS BANKING CORPORATION
                           TO SELL ILLINOIS FRANCHISE

FLINT, Mich. -- April 2, 2004 -- Citizens Banking Corporation today announced
the signing of a definitive agreement to sell its subsidiary -- Citizens
Bank-Illinois, N.A. -- to Metropolitan Bank Group, Inc., of Chicago, Ill., in a
cash transaction valued at $26,250,000.

Citizens, a $7.7 billion bank holding company, operates subsidiaries in
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Metropolitan Bank Group, a privately
held company with assets of $2 billion, operates seven community banks with a
total of 56 branches and more than 90 ATM locations in the Chicago area.

"While the suburban Chicago market is growing and vibrant, we've made the
strategic decision to focus our delivery systems where we have more locations
and market influence," said William R. Hartman, chairman, president and CEO of
Citizens Banking Corporation. "Metropolitan Bank Group provides quality products
and services to its customers through its locally focused community banks. With
their strong community bank presence in the Chicago area, we're confident that
Metropolitan Bank Group will continue to provide this same level of service to
the clients and employees of Citizens Bank --Illinois."






"Metropolitan Bank Group has a proven track record of integrating local
companies into our community banking delivery network," said Peter A. Fasseas,
chairman and CEO of Metropolitan Bank Group. "We look forward to providing
quality service with continued growth in the communities that we serve through
the acquisition of Citizens Bank-Illinois."

Citizens Banking Corporation acquired Citizens Bank-Illinois in 1987. The
subsidiary has three locations in Berwyn, Cicero, and Elk Grove, Ill. Citizens
Bank-Illinois has approximately $84 million in loans, $167 million in deposits
and total assets of $187 million (as of Feb. 29, 2004). Citizens Bank-Illinois
employs a staff of 37.

The sale is expected to close in the third quarter of 2004, subject to
regulatory approval. Citizens expects to realize a gain of approximately $12
million on the sale, and anticipates re-deploying the proceeds into one or more
strategic alternatives to achieve an equal or somewhat greater return. As such,
the sale is anticipated to have a neutral to slightly positive impact on future
earnings per share.

Citizens Banking Corporation is a diversified financial services company,
providing a wide range of commercial, consumer, mortgage banking, trust
investment and financial planning services to a broad client base. Citizens
Banking Corporation serves markets through Citizens Bank offices in Michigan and
suburban Chicago, Illinois, and through F&M Bank offices in Wisconsin and Iowa.
Citizens Banking Corporation is the second-largest bank holding company
headquartered in Michigan, with assets of $7.711 billion as of Dec. 31, 2003.
More information about Citizens Banking Corporation is available at
www.citizensonline.com








SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Discussions in this release that are not statements of historical fact
(including statements that include terms such as "believe", "expect", and
"anticipate") are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, and our actual future results could materially differ from those
discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include,
but are not limited to, adverse changes in our loan portfolios (including losses
due to fraud and economic factors) and the resulting credit risk-related losses
and expenses, our future lending and collections experience and the potential
inadequacy of our loan loss reserves, interest rate fluctuations and the effects
on net interest income of changes in our interest rate risk position, other
adverse changes in economic or financial market conditions, the potential
inability to hedge certain risks economically, adverse changes in competition
and pricing environments, our potential failure to maintain or improve loan
quality levels and origination volume, our potential inability to continue to
attract core deposits, the potential lack of market acceptance of our new wealth
management capabilities and our products and services, adverse changes in our
relationship with major customers, unanticipated technological changes that
require major capital expenditures, adverse changes in applicable laws and
regulatory requirements, unanticipated environmental liabilities or costs, our
potential inability to complete our restructuring, the effects of terrorist
attacks and potential attacks, our success in managing the risks involved in the
foregoing, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other factors not currently anticipated by management may also materially and
adversely affect our results of operations. We do not undertake, and expressly
disclaim any obligation, to update or alter our forward-looking statements
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable law.

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