Four banks joined Citizens in funding a first-of-its-kind micro-pathway at Community College of Rhode Island. The banking pathway leads to entry-level financial services jobs.
UPDATE (Feb. 19, 2026): CCRI graduates first cohort of Banking Micro-Pathway program
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(October 2025) Want an example of employers and community colleges working together to create more affordable and flexible “stepladders” for learner-earners? Look at what’s happening in Rhode Island.
Last week, the Lab’s Rachel Kahn and Joe Davis traveled to Providence, where Citizens and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) launched a new micro-pathway to entry-level financial services jobs during a Sept. 23 press event.
Four banks joined Citizens in funding this first-of-its-kind Banking Micro-Pathway at CCRI, and 10 banks participated in the event’s job fair, which provided on-the-spot interviews and resume reviews. CCRI’s free, 15-week virtual program will start on Nov. 3 and is open for enrollment.
“This pathway is a powerful example of what’s possible when banks, educators and workforce leaders come together with a shared purpose,” said Keith Kelly, president of Citizens Bank Rhode Island. “By collaborating across institutions, we are helping Rhode Islanders build the skills and confidence to succeed in meaningful careers that will continue to evolve. Citizens is proud to lead this effort in our home state, not just as a bank but as a partner in shaping the future of financial services.”
Providence Business News covered the event here … and Michelle Hecht, Head of Corporate Affairs at Citizens, shared more photos and details about this cross-industry collaboration in this LinkedIn post.
Citizens recently announced a $20 million workforce development commitment over three years to strengthen programs like this across its footprint. In 2024 and 2025, this included $1.6 million in funding to expand micro-pathways to 10 schools across Boston, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Rhode Island. We’re grateful for the generous support from Citizens and all of our partners helping to design a skills-based, learn+work system that facilitates upward economic mobility for New Majority Learner-Earners.
