Category: News

LAKE WALES, FL – Sheryl Forbus has joined Citizens Bank & Trust as Officer and Office Manager. She leads the Fort Meade office, located at 214 West Broadway Street.

A lifelong resident of Fort Meade, Sheryl works in the same building where she began her banking career. She has held a variety of positions, progressing to leadership roles in both Highlands and Polk Counties. She has a passion for helping others and volunteering. Sheryl will also represent the Bank at community events.

“We are pleased to have a native of Fort Meade leading the Citizens Bank & Trust office,” said Citizens Bank & Trust President and CEO Greg Littleton. “Sheryl’s strong local ties, combined with her previous banking experience in town, make her the right fit to serve the customers and business community in this growing area.”

The Fort Meade office opened in 2017. The office phone number is (863) 622-2943.

About Citizens Bank & Trust:
Citizens Bank & Trust is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Banking Corporation, a one-bank holding company located in Frostproof, Florida. Citizens Bank & Trust operates 16 full-service offices in Polk, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties. The Bank proudly offers a full line of banking services, including residential and commercial loans, mortgages, investments, and trust services.

The Citizens Bank of Frostproof, as the Bank was originally known, was established in 1920. Over the past century, and three generations of family ownership, Citizens Bank & Trust has continued its tradition as a reliable and dependable community partner.

LAKE WALES, FL – Tiffani Gozdur has been promoted to the role of Vice President, Trust and Wealth Advisor within the Citizens Bank & Trust Wealth Management Department.

Over her 28-year banking career, Tiffani has held a variety of banking positions, including previous work in trust administration and private banking. As a Trust and Wealth Advisor, she will work directly with trust clients to develop strategies to meet their unique investment management and estate planning goals.

“Tiffani has been a strong asset to our Citizens Bank & Trust team since joining the bank in 2013,” said Citizens Bank & Trust President and CEO Greg Littleton. “She has a passion for serving others and our community, and we are happy to have her working with our Trust clients.”

A native of Polk County, Tiffani is a graduate of the Florida School of Banking and the Florida Graduate Trust School. She currently serves on the boards of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and Theatre Winter Haven. She is a past recipient of the Polk Emerging Leader Award and was named a 2024 “She Knows Where She’s Going” honoree by Girls Inc. of Winter Haven in recognition of her many community leadership roles.

About Citizens Bank & Trust:
Citizens Bank & Trust is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Banking Corporation, a one-bank holding company located in Frostproof, Florida. Citizens Bank & Trust operates 16 full-service offices in Polk, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties. The Bank proudly offers a full line of banking services, including residential and commercial loans, mortgages, investments, and trust services.

The Citizens Bank of Frostproof, as the Bank was originally known, was established in 1920. Over the past century, and three generations of family ownership, Citizens Bank & Trust has continued its tradition as a reliable and dependable community partner.

LAKE WALES, FL – Jennifer Bailey, a fourth-generation Polk County resident, has joined Citizens Bank & Trust as Officer and Office Manager. She leads the South Lakeland office, located at 5850 Florida Ave South.

Over her 26-year banking career, Jennifer has held a variety of leadership roles throughout Polk County. A native of Bartow, she enjoys developing relationships with her customers and volunteering with local organizations.

“We are delighted to have Jennifer on our Citizens Bank & Trust team,” said Citizens Bank & Trust President and CEO Greg Littleton. “Her strong local ties and extensive background in banking are a great fit for the customers and small businesses served through our South Lakeland office.”

The South Lakeland office, built in 2019, serves the growing Imperial Lakes and Christina communities in Lakeland, as well as the greater Mulberry area. The office phone number is 863-225-1460.

About Citizens Bank & Trust:
Citizens Bank & Trust is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Banking Corporation, a one-bank holding company located in Frostproof, Florida. Citizens Bank & Trust operates 16 full-service offices in Polk, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties. The Bank proudly offers a full line of banking services, including residential and commercial loans, mortgages, investments, and trust services.

The Citizens Bank of Frostproof, as the Bank was originally known, was established in 1920. Over the past century, and three generations of family ownership, Citizens Bank & Trust has continued its tradition as a reliable and dependable community partner.

Jason Hayes is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Citizens Bank & Trust. He joined the Bank in 2014 as the Information Technology Manager and was promoted to his current role in 2023. His career in IT spans more than twenty years.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from The University of South Florida. He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. The three-year graduate training program allowed Jason to better understand the business of banking and leverage this information to incorporate technology for a better customer experience. Jason also serves on the Cybersecurity Advisory Board at Polk State College, which works to ensure the College is training students in specific areas of cybersecurity needed by local businesses.

As Chief Information Officer, he is passionate about finding ways to bring customer-focused technology advancements to our community bank. At Citizens Bank & Trust, these advancements can be found in the mobile deposit experience, the implementation of electronic signatures, the wire and fund transfer process, and the expansion and improvement of the Bank’s network of ATMs.