2007 proxy and proxy card
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. [ ])
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[xx]
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Filed
by Registrant
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[
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check
the appropriate box:
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[
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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[
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)2)
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[xx]
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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[
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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[
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
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Citizens
Financial Services, Inc.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the
Registrant)
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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[xx]
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No
filing fee required.
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[
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
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1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
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4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5)
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Total
fee paid:
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[
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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[
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule
0-11(A)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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3)
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Filing
Party:
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4)
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Date
Filed:
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CITIZENS
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
15
South Main Street
Mansfield,
Pennsylvania 16933-1590
March 14,
2007
Fellow
Shareholders:
You
are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Citizens
Financial Services, Inc. The meeting will be held at the Tioga County
Fairgrounds Main Building, 2258 Charleston Road, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901,
on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 12:00 p.m., local time.
The
attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the formal
business to be transacted at the meeting. During the meeting, we will report
on
the operations of the Company. Directors and officers of the Company, as well
as
representatives of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public Accountants, Citizens
Financial Services, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm, will
be present at the annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions of our
shareholders.
The
Board
of Directors of Citizens Financial Services, Inc. has determined that matters
to
be considered at the annual meeting are in the best interest of Citizens
Financial Services, Inc. and its shareholders. It is important that your shares
are represented at this meeting, whether or not you attend in person. Therefore,
to make sure that your shares are represented, please sign and return the
enclosed proxy card promptly. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person
even if you have previously mailed a proxy card.
On
behalf
of the Board of Directors, advisory board members and all of the employees
of
Citizens Financial Services, Inc. and First Citizens National Bank, I thank
you
for your continued interest and support.
Sincerely
yours,
Randall
E.
Black
Chief
Executive
Officer and President
CITIZENS
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
15
South Main Street
Mansfield,
Pennsylvania 16933-1590
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 2007
NOTICE
IS
HEREBY GIVEN
that the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Citizens Financial Services, Inc. (the
“Company”) will be held at 12:00 p.m., local time, on Tuesday, April 17,
2007 at the Tioga
County Fairgrounds Main Building, 2258 Charleston Road, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
16901, for the
following purposes:
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1.
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To
elect two
Class 2 directors to serve for three-year terms and until their successors
are duly elected and qualified;
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2.
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To
ratify the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public
Accountants, as the independent registered public accounting firm
for the
Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007;
and
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3.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
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NOTE:
The
Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the
meeting.
Record
holders of the common stock of Citizens Financial Services, Inc. at the close
of
business on February 28, 2007 are entitled to receive notice of the annual
meeting and to vote at the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the
meeting. The annual meeting may be adjourned to permit the Company to solicit
proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for a quorum or to
approve any of the proposals at the time of the meeting. A list of shareholders
entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available at Citizens Financial
Services, Inc., 15 South Main Street, Mansfield, Pennsylvania 16933-1590, for
a
period of ten days prior to the annual meeting and will also be available at
the
annual meeting itself.
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS,
Randall
E.
Black
Chief
Executive
Officer and President
March 14,
2007
Mansfield,
Pennsylvania
IMPORTANT:
The prompt return of proxies will save the Company the expense of further
requests for proxies in order to ensure a quorum. A self-addressed envelope
is
enclosed for your convenience. No postage is required if mailed in the United
States.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
PROXY
STATEMENT
OF
CITIZENS
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
This
Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by
the Board of Directors of Citizens Financial Services, Inc., (the “Company”), a
Pennsylvania business corporation headquartered at 15 South Main Street,
Mansfield, Pennsylvania 16933-1590, to be used at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Tioga County Fairgrounds
Main Building, 2258 Charleston Road, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901 on Tuesday,
April 17, 2007 at 12:00 p.m., local time. This Proxy Statement and the
enclosed proxy card are being first mailed on or about March 14, 2007 to
shareholders of record as of February 28, 2007.
GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING
Who
Can Vote at the Meeting
You
are
entitled to vote your Citizens Financial Services, Inc. common stock only if
the
records of the Company show that you held your shares as of the close of
business on February 28, 2007. As of the close of business on February 28,
2007, a total of 2,819,692
shares of common stock were outstanding. Each share of common stock has one
vote.
Attending
the Meeting
If
you
are the beneficial owner of Citizens Financial Services, Inc. common stock
held
by a broker, bank or other nominee (i.e., in “street name”), you will need proof
of your ownership of such stock to be admitted to the meeting. A recent
brokerage statement or letter from a bank or broker are examples of proof of
ownership. If you want to vote your shares of common stock held in street name
in person at the meeting, you must obtain a written proxy in your name from
the
broker, bank or other nominee who is the record holder of your
shares.
Quorum
and Vote Required
General.
The
annual meeting will be held only if there is a quorum. A quorum exists if a
majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote is
represented at the meeting. If you return valid proxy instructions or attend
the
meeting in person, your shares will be counted for purposes of determining
whether there is a quorum, even if you abstain from voting. Broker non-votes
also will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
A
broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares
for a
beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee
does
not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not
received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
Election
of Directors. The
Company’s Board of Directors currently consists of eleven members. At the
meeting, shareholders will elect two directors to serve three-year terms. In
voting for the election of directors, you may vote in favor of all nominees,
withhold votes as to all nominees or withhold votes as to specific nominees.
There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors. Directors must
be
elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting. The term
“plurality” means that the two nominees for Class 2 director receiving the
largest number of votes cast will be elected as Class 2 directors. Votes that
are withheld and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the
election.
Ratification
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
In
voting for the ratification of the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.,
Certified Public Accountants, as our independent registered public accounting
firm, you may vote in favor of the proposal, against the proposal or abstain
from voting. This proposal will be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast at the annual meeting by all shareholders entitled to vote,
assuming a quorum is present. On this matter, abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no effect on the voting.
Voting
By Proxy
The
Board
of Directors is sending you this Proxy Statement for the purpose of requesting
that you allow your shares of Company common stock to be represented at the
annual meeting by the persons named in the enclosed proxy card. All shares
of
common stock represented at the annual meeting by properly executed and dated
proxy cards will be voted according to the instructions indicated on the proxy
card. If you sign, date and return a proxy card without giving voting
instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Company’s Board of
Directors.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE:
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“FOR”
THE ELECTION OF
TWO CLASS 2 DIRECTORS TO SERVE FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS AND UNTIL THEIR
SUCCESSORS ARE DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIED;
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“FOR”
RATIFICATION OF S.R. SNODGRASS, A.C., CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS,
AS
OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM.
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If
any
matter not described in this Proxy Statement is properly presented at the annual
meeting, the persons named on the proxy card will use their own best judgment
to
determine how to vote your shares. The Company does not know of any other
matters to be presented at the annual meeting.
You
may
revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the meeting. To revoke
your proxy you must either advise the Secretary of the Company in writing before
your common stock has been voted at the annual meeting, deliver a signed later
dated proxy, or attend the meeting and vote your shares in person. Attendance
at
the annual meeting will not in itself constitute revocation of your
proxy.
If
your
common stock is held in “street name,” you will receive instructions from your
broker, bank or other nominee that you must follow in order to have your shares
voted. Your broker, bank or other nominee may allow you to deliver your voting
instructions via the telephone or the Internet. Please see the instruction
form
provided by your broker, bank or other nominee that accompanies this Proxy
Statement.
IF
YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING, PLEASE CONTACT OUR JUDGE OF ELECTION, MATTHEW
M. LUNDGREN, AT 800-326-9486.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
General
Citizens
Financial Services, Inc. periodically reviews and revises its corporate
governance policies and procedures to ensure that the Company meets the highest
standards of ethical conduct, reports results with accuracy and transparency
and
maintains full compliance with the laws, rules and regulations that govern
the
Company’s operations.
Corporate
Governance Guidelines
The
Company has adopted corporate governance guidelines to govern certain
activities, including:
1. |
The
duties and responsibilities of each
director;
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2. |
The
composition, responsibilities and operation of the Board of Directors,
to
include director qualifications, director independence standards,
director
compensation, and director orientation and continuing
education;
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3. |
The
establishment and operation of board
committees;
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5. |
The
Board of Directors’ interaction with management and third parties;
and
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6. |
The
evaluation of the performance of the Board of Directors and of the
chief
executive officer.
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Employee
Code of Ethics
The
Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Citizens National Bank (the
"Bank"), have adopted a Code of Ethics that is designed to ensure that the
Company’s and Bank’s directors, executive officers and employees meet the
highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics requires that the
Company’s and Bank’s directors, executive officers and employees avoid conflicts
of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business
in an honest and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity and in the
Company’s and Bank’s best interest. Under the terms of the Code of Ethics,
directors, executive officers and employees are required to report any conduct
that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the
Code.
As
a
mechanism to encourage compliance with the Code of Ethics, the Company has
established a Whistleblower Procedure to receive, retain and treat complaints
received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.
This policy ensures that individuals may submit concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters in a confidential and anonymous manner. The
Whistleblower Procedure also prohibits the Company from retaliating against
any
director, executive officer or employee who reports actual or apparent
violations of the Code.
Governance
and Nominating Committee Procedures
It
is the
policy of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors
of
the Company to consider director candidates recommended by shareholders who
appear to be qualified to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors. The
Governance and Nominating Committee may choose not to consider an unsolicited
recommendation if no vacancy exists on the Board of Directors and the Governance
and Nominating Committee does not perceive a need to increase the size of the
Board of Directors. In order to avoid the unnecessary use of the Governance
and
Nominating Committee’s resources, the Governance and Nominating Committee will
consider only those director candidates recommended in accordance with the
procedures set forth below.
Procedures
to be Followed by Shareholders
To
submit
a recommendation of a director candidate, a shareholder should submit the
following information in writing, addressed to the Secretary of the Company
at
the main office of the Company:
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1.
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The
name and address of the person recommended as a director
candidate;
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2.
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All
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed
in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended;
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3.
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The
written consent of the person being recommended as a director candidate
to
be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director
if
elected;
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4.
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As
to the person making the recommendation, the name and address, as
they
appear on the Company’s books, of such person, and number of shares of
common stock of the Company owned by such person; provided, however,
that
if the person is not a registered holder of the Company’s common stock,
the person should submit his or her name and address along with a
current
written statement from the record holder of the shares that reflects
the
recommending person’s beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock;
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5. |
A
statement disclosing whether the person making the recommendation
is
acting with or on behalf of any other person and, if applicable,
the
identity of such person; and
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6. |
The
number of shares that to the knowledge of the person making the
recommendation will be voted for the proposed
nominee.
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In
order
for a director candidate to be considered for a nomination at the Company’s
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the recommendation must be received by the
Secretary of the Company at least 90 days but no more than 120 days before
the
annual meeting.
Minimum
Qualifications
The Governance and Nominating Committee has adopted a set of criteria that
it
considers when it selects individuals to be nominated for election to the Board
of Directors. A candidate must meet the eligibility requirements set forth
in
the Company’s Bylaws, and must meet any qualification requirements set forth in
any Board or committee governing documents.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee will consider the following criteria in
selecting nominees: financial, regulatory and business experience; familiarity
with and participation in the local community; integrity, honesty and
reputation; dedication to the Company and its shareholders; independence; and
any other factors the Governance and Nominating Committee deems relevant,
including age, diversity, geographies, size of the Board of Directors and
regulatory disclosure obligations.
In
addition, prior to nominating an existing director for re-election to the Board
of Directors, the Governance and Nominating Committee will consider and review
an existing director’s Board and committee attendance and performance; length of
Board service; experience; skills and contributions that the existing director
brings to the Board; and independence.
Process
for Identifying and Evaluating Nominees
The
process the Governance and Nominating Committee follows when it identifies
and
evaluates individuals to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors
is
as follows:
Identification.
For
purposes of identifying nominees for the Board of Directors, the Governance
and
Nominating Committee relies on personal contacts of the committee and other
members of the Board of Directors as well as its knowledge of members of the
Bank’s local communities. The Governance and Nominating Committee will also
consider director candidates recommended by shareholders in accordance with
the
policy and procedures set forth above. The Governance and Nominating Committee
has not previously used an independent search firm in identifying nominees.
Evaluation.
In
evaluating potential nominees, the Governance and Nominating Committee
determines whether the candidate is eligible and qualified for service on the
Board of Directors by evaluating the candidate under the selection criteria
set
forth above. In addition, the Governance and Nominating Committee will conduct
a
check of the individual’s background and may interview the
candidate.
STOCK
OWNERSHIP
The
following table sets forth, as of February 28, 2007, the name and address
of each person who owns of record or who is known by the Board of Directors
to
be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common
stock, the number of shares beneficially owned by such person and the percentage
of the Company’s outstanding common stock so owned.
Name
and Address
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Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
(1)
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Percent
of Outstanding
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
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R.
Lowell Coolidge
Post
Office Box 41
Wellsboro,
Pennsylvania 16901
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163,662(2)
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5.8%
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(1) The
securities “beneficially owned” by an individual are determined in accordance
with the definitions of “beneficial ownership” set forth in the general rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and may
include securities owned by or for the individual’s spouse and minor children
and any other relative who has the same home, as well as, securities to which
the individual has or shares voting or investment power or has the
right
to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after February 28,
2007. Beneficial ownership may be disclaimed as to certain of the
securities.
(2) Mr. Coolidge
beneficially owns 129,524 shares individually, and his remaining 34,138 shares
are held by his spouse.
The
following table sets forth the information concerning the number of shares
of
Citizens Financial Services, Inc. common stock beneficially owned, as of
February 28, 2007, by each present director, nominee for director, named
executive officer in the compensation table set forth elsewhere herein and
by
all directors and executive officers as a group.
Name
of Beneficial Owner(1)
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Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
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Percent
of Class
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Randall
E. Black(2)
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2,127
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*
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Robert
W. Chappell(3)
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2,213
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*
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R.
Lowell Coolidge(4)
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163,662
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5.8%
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Mark
L. Dalton
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1,019
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*
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Rinaldo
A. DePaola(5)
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1,213
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*
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Roger
C. Graham, Jr.
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15,152
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*
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Mickey
L. Jones
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202
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*
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E.
Gene Kosa(6)
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1,166
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*
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R.
Joseph Landy(7)
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8,202
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*
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Thomas
C. Lyman(8)
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430
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*
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John
E. Novak(9)
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3,676
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*
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Terry
B. Osborne(10)
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1,480
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*
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Carol
J. Tama(11)
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76,734
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2.7%
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Rudolph
J. van der Hiel(12)
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18,060
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*
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Douglas
W. Whitten(13)
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106
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*
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Executive
Officers and Directors as a Group (15 persons)
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295,442
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10.4%
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*
Less
than 1%.
(1) |
The
securities “beneficially owned” by an individual are determined in
accordance with the definitions of “beneficial ownership” set forth in the
general rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and may include securities owned by or for the individual’s spouse and
minor children and any other relative who has the same home, as well
as,
securities to which the individual has or shares voting or investment
power or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60
days
after February 28, 2007. Beneficial ownership may be disclaimed as to
certain of the securities.
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(2) |
Mr.
Black beneficially owns 282 shares individually, 1,593 shares jointly
with
his spouse, and his remaining 252 shares are held by his
spouse.
|
(3) |
Mr.
Chappell beneficially owns 897 shares individually, 128 and 546 shares
jointly with friends, and his remaining 642 shares are held by his
mother
living at the same address.
|
(4) |
Mr. Coolidge
beneficially owns 129,524 shares individually, and his remaining
34,138
shares are held by his spouse.
|
(5) |
Mr.
DePaola beneficially owns 1,031 shares jointly with his spouse, and
his
remaining 182 shares are held by his spouse as custodian for their
son.
|
(6) |
Mr.
Kosa beneficially owns 1,089 shares jointly with his spouse, 57 shares
in
an investor club, and his remaining 20 shares are held by his
spouse.
|
(7) |
Mr.
Landy beneficially owns 4,643 shares individually, 2,861 jointly
with his
spouse, 349 shares are held as custodian for a child, and his remaining
349 shares are held by a daughter living at the same
address.
|
(8) |
Mr.
Lyman beneficially owns 277 shares jointly with his spouse, and his
remaining 153 shares are held by his
spouse.
|
(9) |
Mr.
Novak beneficially owns 3,487 shares individually, and his remaining
189
shares are held by his spouse.
|
(10) |
Mr.
Osborne beneficially owns 48 shares individually, 1,291 shares jointly
with his spouse, and his remaining 141 shares are held by his
spouse.
|
(11) |
Mrs.
Tama beneficially owns 76,073 shares individually, and her remaining
661
shares are held in a partnership.
|
(12) |
Mr.
van der Hiel beneficially owns 16,466 shares individually, 22 shares
jointly with his spouse, and his remaining 1,572 shares are held
by his
spouse.
|
(13) |
Mr.
Whitten owns 106 shares jointly with his
spouse.
|
PROPOSAL
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
Company’s Board of Directors consists of eleven members,
all of whom are independent under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock
Market, except for Director Black. The
Board
is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, and known
as Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. The Class 2 directors
elected at this annual meeting will serve for three-year terms. The Class 1
and
Class 3 directors will continue to serve for one and two years, respectively,
in
order to complete their three-year terms.
The
Board
of Directors fixed the number of directors in Class 2 at two and has nominated
Rudolph J. van der Hiel and Mark L. Dalton for election as Class 2 directors
to
hold office for three-year terms to expire at the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders or when their successors are duly elected and qualified. These
individuals are currently directors of the Company. Class 2 director John E.
Novak has reached the Company’s mandatory retirement age of 70 and will be
retiring from the Board of Directors immediately prior to the annual meeting.
The Board of Directors has determined to decrease the size of the Board from
eleven to ten effective upon Mr. Novak’s retirement.
Unless
you indicate on your proxy card that your shares should not be voted for certain
nominees, the Board of Directors intends that the proxies solicited by it will
be voted for the election of all of the Board’s nominees. If any nominee is
unable to serve, the persons named on the proxy card would vote your shares
to
approve the election of any substitute proposed by the Board of Directors.
At
this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why any nominees might
be
unable to serve.
The
Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of its
nominees.
Information
regarding the Board of Directors’ nominees and the directors continuing in
office is provided below.
Nominees
for Election as Class 2 Directors - Terms Expire in 2010
Name
|
|
Age
as of
February
28, 2007
|
|
Principal
Occupation
for
Past Five Years
|
|
Director
Since
Company
(Bank)
|
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Directorship
of Other Public Companies
|
Rudolph
J. van der Hiel
|
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67
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As
of August 2005 is in an “of Counsel” capacity for the Law Offices of van
der Hiel, Chappell & Loomis located in Mansfield, PA and Rome, PA.
Part time Episcopal Priest for various churches in Ontario and
Pennsylvania. Retired Attorney-at-Law with the Law Offices of van
der Hiel
& Chappell, located in Mansfield, PA. Retired Episcopal Priest at St.
James Episcopal Church, Mansfield, PA and Trinity Episcopal Church,
Antrim, PA
|
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1984
(1975)
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None
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Mark
L. Dalton
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52
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Since
November 2003 has been an Agent/Broker with Gannon Associates, an
insurance company, located in Mansfield, PA and Towanda, PA. Prior
to
November 2003 was Owner of Robert E. Dalton General Insurance, located
in
Blossburg, PA
|
|
1998
(1997)
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|
None
|
Continuing
Class 1 Directors - Terms Expire in 2008
Name
|
|
Age
as of
February 28,
2007
|
|
Principal
Occupation
for
Past Five Years
|
|
Director
Since
Company
(Bank)
|
|
Directorship
of Other Public Companies
|
Carol
J. Tama
|
|
66
|
|
Retired
President of Monaghan Transportation Company
|
|
1986
(1984)
|
|
None
|
R.
Lowell Coolidge
|
|
66
|
|
Attorney-at-Law
with the firm of Walrath and Coolidge, located in Wellsboro,
PA
|
|
1984
(1984)
|
|
None
|
Randall
E. Black
|
|
40
|
|
Since
April 2004 has been Chief Executive Officer and President of the
Company
and the Bank. Prior to April 2004, was the Chief Financial Officer
for the
Bank
|
|
2004
(2004)
|
|
None
|
Rinaldo
A. DePaola
|
|
51
|
|
Attorney-at-Law
with the firm of Griffin, Dawsy, DePaola & Jones, located in Towanda,
PA
|
|
2006
(2006)
|
|
None
|
Continuing
Class 3 Directors - Terms Expire in 2009
Name
|
|
Age
as of
February 28,
2007
|
|
Principal
Occupation
for
Past Five Years
|
|
Director
Since
Company
(Bank)
|
|
Directorship
of Other Public Companies
|
E.
Gene Kosa
|
|
60
|
|
Partner
in EDKO Farms, an agricultural production and service business, located
in
Ulysses, PA. Since November 2004 has been operating a restaurant,
GENA
Holdings Inc,. located in Ulysses, PA
|
|
2001
(2001)
|
|
None
|
R.
Joseph Landy
|
|
52
|
|
Attorney-at-Law
with the firm of Landy & Landy, located in Sayre, PA
|
|
2001
(2001)
|
|
None
|
Roger
C. Graham, Jr.
|
|
51
|
|
Retired
Owner of Graham Excavating
|
|
2001
(2001)
|
|
None
|
Robert
W. Chappell
|
|
40
|
|
Attorney-at-Law
with the firm of van der Hiel, Chappell & Loomis, located in
Mansfield, PA
|
|
2006
(2006)
|
|
None
|
Executive
Officers Who Are Not Directors
Name
|
|
Age
as of
February 28,
2007
|
|
Principal
Occupation
for
Past Five Years
|
Mickey
L. Jones
|
|
46
|
|
Since
June 2004 has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and
Treasurer of the Company and Bank. Previously was Director of Finance
and
Claims for Keystone Health Plan Central, Inc.
|
Thomas
C. Lyman
|
|
61
|
|
Vice
President and Assistant Treasurer of the Company and Bank since November
1988.
|
Terry
B. Osborne
|
|
53
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Secretary of the Company and Bank since December
1991
and September 1983, respectively.
|
Douglas
W. Whitten
|
|
64
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Operations Division Manager for the Bank since April
2006
and November 2000, respectively.
|
Executive
officers are elected
annually and serve at the discretion of the Board.
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
The
Board
of Directors oversees all of the Company’s business, property and affairs. The
Chairman of the Board and the executive officers keep the members of the Board
informed of the Company’s business through discussions at Board meetings and by
providing them reports and other materials. During 2006, the Company’s Board of
Directors held ten regular meetings. Each
of
the directors attended at least 75% of aggregate of the total number of meetings
of the Board and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the
Board on which he or she served.
Meetings
of the Advisory Board
Advisory
boards are composed of well respected people from the community, the office
manager and a non-voting member of the Board of Directors. The Board member
serves as a communication link to share, with the advisory board, the
appropriate information occurring at Board of Directors’ meetings, as well as
communicating to the Board of Directors advisory board issues and suggestions.
Advisory boards meet monthly. A fee of $185 is paid for attendance at the
monthly advisory board meeting.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
Audit
and Examination Committee. The
Audit
and Examination Committee, consisting of Directors Kosa, Tama, Novak and Graham,
oversees the Company's accounting and financial reporting processes. It meets
periodically with the independent registered public accounting firm, management
and the internal auditors to review accounting, auditing, internal control
structure and financial reporting matters. This committee met five times during
the year ended December 31, 2006. Each member of the Audit and Examination
Committee is independent in accordance with the listing standards of the NASDAQ
Stock Market (“NASDAQ”). The Audit and Examination Committee does not have an
“audit committee financial expert.” The Board of Directors believes that the
cost to retain a financial expert at this time is prohibitive. However, the
Board of Directors believes that each Audit and Examination Committee member
has
sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the
committee. The committee has the authority to engage legal counsel or other
experts or consultants as it deems appropriate to carry out its
responsibilities. The Audit and Examination Committee acts under a written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Audit and Examination
Committee charter is posted on the Company’s website at
www.firstcitizensbank.com.
Compensation/Human
Resource Committee. The
Compensation/Human Resource Committee, consisting of Directors Novak, DePaola,
Landy and Chappell, is responsible for all matters regarding the Company’s and
Bank’s employee compensation and benefit programs. The Company’s
Compensation/Human Resource Committee met seven times during the year ended
December 31, 2006. Each member of the Compensation/Human Resource Committee
is
independent in accordance with the listing standards of NASDAQ. As
a
basis for determining compensation, the Committee examines information from
a
peer group of banks relative to performance and compensation. The peer group
for
overall bank performance analysis consists primarily of community banks and
thrifts in Pennsylvania and New York with total assets between $500 million
and
$1.5 billion. The peer group for analysis of compensation paid to other bank
holding company and banking institution executives is obtained primarily from
L.
R. Webber Associates, Inc. (such data is compiled on both a regional and asset
size basis). The Chief Executive Officer also provides input to the Board of
Directors regarding the performance of the Executive Officers who directly
report to him. The Compensation/Human Resource Committee acts under a written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Compensation/Human
Resource Committee charter is posted on the Company’s website at www.firstcitizensbank.com.
Governance
and Nominating Committee.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee, consisting of Directors Dalton, Coolidge,
Tama, Black, and DePaola, takes
a
leadership role in shaping governance policies and practices, including
recommending to the Board of Directors the corporate governance policies and
guidelines that should be adopted by the Company and monitoring compliance
with
these policies and guidelines. In addition, the Governance and Nominating
Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become Board
members, considering the candidates recommended by shareholders for Board
membership, and recommending to the Board the director nominees for election
at
the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. It manages the Board’s annual review of
its performance and recommends director candidates for each committee for
appointment by the Board. This committee met eight times during
the year ended December 31, 2006. Each member of the Governance and Nominating
Committee is independent in accordance with the listing standards of NASDAQ,
except for Director Black. The Governance and Nominating Committee acts under
a
written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Governance
and
Nominating Committee charter is posted on the Company’s website at
www.firstcitizensbank.com.
Attendance
at the Annual Meeting
The
Company expects its directors to attend annual meetings of shareholders.
All
directors attended the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
PROPOSAL
2. RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
The
Audit
and Examination Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed S.R.
Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public Accountants, to be the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the 2007 fiscal year. A representative
of
S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public Accountants, will be present at the
annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders and will
have the opportunity to make a statement should he or she desire to do
so.
If
ratification of the appointment of the auditor is not approved by a majority
of
the votes cast by shareholders at the annual meeting, other independent
registered public accounting firms will be considered by the Audit and
Examination Committee of the Board of Directors.
The
Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” ratification of the
appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public Accountants, as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year
2007.
Audit
Fees
The
following table sets forth the fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years
ending December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, by S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.,
Certified Public Accountants:
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
Audit
Fees (1)
|
$77,158
|
|
$75,215
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
$0
|
|
$0
|
Tax
Fees (2)
|
$9,500
|
|
$6,600
|
All
Other Fees (3)
|
$25,428
|
|
$33,314
|
TOTAL
|
$112,086
|
|
$115,129
|
(1)
|
Audit
fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit
of
the Company’s financial statements and review of financial statements
included in the Company’s quarterly reports and services normally provided
by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection
with
statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements.
|
(2) Tax
fees
consist of compliance fees for the preparation of original tax returns. Tax
fees
also include fees relating to other tax advice, tax consulting and
planning.
(3) Other
services consisted primarily of consulting services for the facilitating of
regulatory compliance review and strategic planning meetings.
Policy
on Audit and Examination Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible
Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditing Firm
The
Audit
and Examination Committee is responsible for appointing and overseeing the
work
of the independent auditing firm. In accordance with its charter, the Audit
and
Examination Committee approves, in advance, all audit and permissible non-audit
services to be performed by the independent auditing firm. Such approval process
ensures that the external auditor does not provide any non-audit services to
the
Company that are prohibited by law or regulation.
In
addition, the Audit and Examination Committee has established a policy regarding
pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the
independent auditing firm. Management’s requests that particular services by the
independent auditing firm be pre-approved under the auditor services policy
must
be specific as to the particular services to be provided.
The
request may be made with respect to either specific services or a type of
service for predictable or recurring services.
During
the year ended December 31, 2006, all audit and non-audit services were
approved, in advance, by the Audit and Examination Committee in compliance
with
these procedures.
Report
of Audit and Examination Committee
The
Audit
and Examination Committee met with management periodically during the year
to
consider the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and the objectivity of
its financial reporting. The Audit and Examination Committee discussed these
matters with the Company’s independent auditing firm and with appropriate
Company financial personnel and internal auditors. The Audit and Examination
Committee also discussed with the Company’s senior management and independent
registered public accounting firm the process used for certifications by the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer which are required
for certain Company filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
The
Audit
and Examination Committee meets with the independent auditing firm, the internal
auditors, the Chief Financial Officer, the Risk Manager, and the Vice President
and Assistant Treasurer of the Company and Bank on a number of occasions, each
of whom has unrestricted access to the Audit and Examination Committee.
The
Audit
and Examination Committee appointed S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public
Accountants, as the independent registered public accounting firm for the
Company after reviewing the firm’s performance and independence.
Management
has primary responsibility for the Company’s financial statements and the
overall reporting process, including the Company’s system of internal
controls.
The
independent registered public accounting firm audited the annual financial
statements prepared by management, expressed an opinion as to whether those
financial statements fairly present the financial position, results of
operations and cash flows of the Company in conformity with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles and discussed with the Audit and Examination
Committee any issues the independent auditing firm believed should be raised
with the Audit and Examination Committee.
The
Audit
and Examination Committee reviewed with management and S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.,
Certified Public Accountants, the Company’s audited financial statements and met
separately with both management and S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public
Accountants, to discuss and review those financial statements and reports prior
to issuance. Management has represented, and S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified
Public Accountants, has confirmed, to the Audit and Examination Committee,
that
the financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles.
The
Audit
and Examination Committee received from and discussed with S.R. Snodgrass,
A.C.,
Certified Public Accountants, the written disclosure and the letter required
by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1. (Independence Discussions with
Audit Committees) as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
in
Rule 3600T. These items relate to that firm’s independence from the Company. The
Audit and Examination Committee also discussed with S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.,
Certified Public Accountants, matters required to be discussed by the Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees) of the
Auditing Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants to the extent applicable. The Audit and Examination Committee
implemented a procedure to monitor auditor independence, reviewed audit and
non-audit services performed by S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public
Accountants, and discussed with the auditors their independence.
In
reliance on these reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit and
Examination Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s
audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit and Examination Committee and
the
Board have also recommended the selection of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified
Public Accountants, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm for the year ending December 31, 2007.
The
Audit
and Examination Committee
of
Citizens Financial Services, Inc. and First Citizens National Bank
E.
Gene
Kosa (Chairman)
Carol
J.
Tama
John
E.
Novak
Roger
C.
Graham, Jr.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Introduction
Our
Compensation/Human Resource Committee (the "Committee") is responsible for
administering our executive compensation program. The Committee, which is
composed entirely of independent directors, evaluates and recommends
compensation plans, policies and programs applicable to executive officers
for
ratification by the Board, provides input on the annual performance evaluation
of the Chief Executive Officer and recommends to the Board for ratification
annual compensation for the executive officers. The Committee also administers
our 2006 Restricted Stock Plan subject to the review and approval of the Board
of Directors and in that capacity selects our employees and non-employee
directors and those of our subsidiaries, who will receive awards, determines
the
number of shares covered thereby, and establishes the terms, conditions, and
other provisions of the grants.
This
Committee operates under a charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The
Committee annually reviews the adequacy of its charter and recommends changes
to
the Board for approval. The Committee meets at scheduled times during the year
and may also act upon occasion by written consent. The Committee makes regular
reports to the Board summarizing the matters reviewed and actions taken at
its
meetings.
Compensation
Philosophy
Our
executive compensation programs seek to balance the interests of shareholders
and the executive officers while supporting the need to attract and retain
competent executive management. As a result, the Committee developed an
executive compensation policy, along with supporting executive compensation
plans and programs, which are intended to attain the following
objectives:
· |
Emphasize
the enhancement of shareholder
value;
|
· |
Support
the acquisition and retention of competent
executives;
|
· |
Deliver
the total executive compensation package in a cost-effective
manner;
|
· |
Reinforce
key business objectives; and
|
· |
Encourage
management ownership of our common
stock.
|
We
believe that executive compensation should be tied to individual performance,
should vary with our performance in achieving our financial and non-financial
objectives, and should be structured so as to be closely aligned with the
interests of the shareholders. We also believe that the compensation package
of
each executive officer should include an at-risk, performance-based component
and that this component should increase as an officer’s authority and
responsibility increase. The Committee’s philosophy is reflected in our
compensation objectives for our executive officers; to create a merit-based
pay
to support a performance incentive-driven system which is linked to our
financial results and other factors that directly and indirectly influence
shareholder value, to establish a compensation system that enables us to attract
and retain talented executives who are motivated to act in a manner which
advances the interests of the shareholders, and to provide a total compensation
package that is fair in relation to the compensation practices of comparable
financial institutions.
We
believe that it is important to maintain a competitive compensation program.
Accordingly, the Committee examines information from a peer group of banks
relative to performance and compensation. The peer group for overall bank
performance analysis consists primarily of community banks and thrifts in
Pennsylvania and New York with total assets between $500 million and $1.5
billion (the "Peer Group"). The peer group for analysis of compensation paid
to
other bank holding company and banking institution executives is obtained
primarily from L. R. Webber Associates, Inc. The Committee generally targets
the
mid-range of the Peer Group in determining compensation.
In
2006
we hired a third party consultant for an overall compensation review.
To
date
the Committee has not adopted formal guidelines for allocating total
compensation between equity compensation and cash compensation but expects
that
with the adoption of the 2006 Restricted Stock Plan there will be an increased
focus on equity compensation in order to maintain a strong link between
executive incentives and the creation of shareholder value.
We
do not
believe that the accounting and tax treatment of particular forms of
compensation materially affect its compensation decisions. However, we will
evaluate the effect of such accounting and tax treatment on an ongoing basis
and
will make appropriate modifications to our compensation policies where
appropriate.
Components
of Compensation
The
primary elements of total compensation paid by the Company to its executive
officers, including the Chief Executive Officer and President (the “CEO”) and
the other executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table which
appears below (the "Named Executive Officers") include the
following:
· |
Performance
based cash compensation;
|
· |
Awards
under our 2006 Restricted Stock
Plan;
|
· |
Benefits
under our Pension Plan;
|
· |
Benefits
under our 401(k) Plan; and
|
· |
Benefits
under our health and welfare benefits
plans.
|
Base
Salary
The
base
salaries of the Named Executive Officers are reviewed by the Committee annually
in December of each year, as well as at the time when any promotion or
significant change in job responsibilities occurs. A base salary is established
for each position based upon the Committee’s review of Peer Group compensation
practices and any salary increase which the Committee believes is appropriate
in
light of the executive’s annual performance evaluation. Base salary increases
have traditionally taken effect January of each year.
Performance
Based Cash Compensation
The
Committee determines whether the Named Executive Officers should receive
discretionary cash bonuses based on the Company's financial performance,
shareholder return, Peer Group financial performance and compensation survey
data and the contribution to our success of the particular Named Executive
Officer. Financial performance includes an evaluation of actual results, both
financial and operational, compared to goals and targets established in advance
through the development of our strategic planning process which is completed
on
an annual basis. The Committee does not assign weights or rankings to any single
performance factor but instead makes subjective determinations based on a
consideration of all the factors in our business performance.
Awards
under Our 2006 Restricted Stock Plan
In
2006
we adopted, and our shareholders approved, the 2006 Restricted Stock Plan (the
"Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan we may make awards of restricted stock to
employees and non-employee directors. The purpose of these stock awards is
to
attract and retain competitively superior people, further align employees and
non-employee directors with shareholder interests, closely link employee and
non-employee compensation with our performance, and maintain high levels of
executive and non-employee director stock ownership. It is our intent to use
the
grant of restricted stock under the Plan as the primary vehicle for providing
long-term incentive compensation opportunities to the Named Executive Officers
and for aligning their interests with those of our shareholders. In general,
vesting of restricted stock awards under the Plan is tied to continued service
and/or satisfaction of performance goals. The Committee develops its restricted
stock award determinations based, in part, on its judgment about whether the
complete compensation package provided to the Named Executive Officers is
sufficient to retain, motivate and adequately reward them.
In
general restricted stock awarded under the Plan to a participant will become
exercisable/fully vested upon the occurrence of a “change in control” or upon
the participant’s death, "disability" or “retirement” (as such terms are defined
in the Plan). In addition, if it deems it equitable under the circumstances,
the
Committee may accelerate or waive any service requirement in the event that
a
participant terminates employment before such service requirement has been
satisfied. In general, the Committee may not accelerate or waive
performance-based vesting requirements.
Pension
Plan
We
maintain a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of
all
of our employees, including the Named Executive Officers. Benefits under the
Plan are based upon an employee’s years of service and the average annual
compensation during the highest five consecutive years within the final ten
years of employment. For
the
purpose of the Pension Plan, compensation means the participant’s total earnings
reportable as W-2 wages for the plan year. This includes base salary as well
as
other compensation such as bonuses, board fees, country club dues, cell phone,
car allowance, or other miscellaneous earnings.
Profit
Sharing 401(k) Plan
We
maintain a safe-harbor 401(k) plan for the benefit of all of our employees,
including the Named Executive Officers. Each year we make a 3% safe harbor
contribution to the Profit-Sharing Plan. All participants who are employed
during the plan year are eligible to receive this contribution. This allocation
is held in a Safe Harbor Nonelective Contribution Account and is 100%
immediately vested. Each year, we may make an additional profit sharing
contribution to the Plan. This contribution will be based on profits and
business conditions. This allocation is held in the employee’s Profit Sharing
Account and is subject to a vesting schedule.
Health
and Welfare Employee Benefits Plans
We
provide healthcare, life and disability insurance and other employee benefits
programs to our employees, including the Named Executive Officers. We believe
that our employee benefits programs should be comparable to those maintained
by
other members of the Peer Group so as to assure that we are able to maintain
a
competitive position in terms of attracting and retaining officers and other
employees. Our employee benefits plans are provided on a non-discriminatory
basis to all employees.
Other
Compensation
We
have
paid country club dues and provided cell phones and a car allowance for the
Named Executive Officers because we believe that use of such facilities by
the
Named Executive Officers in the course of their employment, e.g., to visit
or
entertain our customers and potential customers, is in our interest and will
further our business purposes. The Named Executive Officers are allowed to
make
personal use of country clubs, cell phones and cars, which we believe is
appropriate additional compensation in light of competitive standards and the
performance of the Named Executive Officers. We do not view perquisites as
a
significant element of our comprehensive compensation structure but we believe
that they can be used in conjunction with base salary to attract, motivate
and
retain individuals in a competitive environment.
Procedure
Followed by the Compensation/Human Resource Committee in Determining Executive
Compensation
The
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President,
and
Chief Financial Officer is reviewed and approved in December of each year by
the
Committee and Bank’s Board of Directors. As a basis for determining
compensation, the Committee examines information from a peer group of banks
relative to performance and compensation. The peer group for overall bank
performance analysis consists primarily of community banks and thrifts in
Pennsylvania and New York with total assets between $500 million and $1.5
billion. The peer group for analysis of compensation paid to other bank holding
company and banking institution executives is obtained primarily from L. R.
Webber Associates, Inc. (such data is compiled on both a regional and asset
size
basis). The CEO also provides input to the Board of Directors regarding the
performance of the executive officers who directly report to him.
Compensation
for the Chief Financial Officer and executive officers is also composed of
bonus
and participation in various employee benefit plans, such as the 401(k) plan.
The benefits provided under the 401(k) plan are determined based on the
executive’s compensation.
Evaluation
of Named Executive Officer Performance in 2006
Mr.
Black’s base salary is stated in his employment agreement, but the Committee may
adjust Mr. Black’s base salary each December in a manner consistent with the
salary determination for executive officers and those of the Bank. Specifically,
the Board of Directors considered our financial performance, shareholder return,
peer group financial performance and compensation survey data (survey compiled
by L. R. Webber Associates, Inc.). In addition, the Board of Directors
considered Mr. Black’s leadership, achievement of strategic goals and
strategies, and contribution to our success and his years of service to the
Board of Directors. The Committee did not assign weights or rankings to any
single performance factor but instead made subjective determinations based
on a
consideration of all factors in our business performance.
Mr.
Black’s annual performance evaluation is conducted by the Chairman and Vice
Chairman of the Board. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board request
input
from the Committee for incorporation during the performance evaluation. The
Committee annually reviews and recommends goals and objectives relevant to
Mr.
Black’s evaluation.
For
2006
the Named Executive Officers, other than Mr. Black, received salaries that
were
intended to maintain their compensation at a competitive level, reward them
for
our performance in general, and acknowledge specific goals accomplished by
executive officers and the departments/divisions they are responsible for.
This
includes an evaluation of the overall contribution to our success of the
particular Named Executive Officer. The evaluation also incorporates a review
of
how well the Named Executive Officers execute predetermined responsibilities,
as
well as the resolution and completion of various unplanned, non-recurring and
special business issues and situations.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information for the year ended December 31,
2006, concerning the compensation of the Company’s principal executive officer,
principal financial officer and its other three most highly compensated
executive officers (or executive officers of its subsidiaries) whose
compensation was $100,000 or more who were serving as such on December 31,
2006 (the “Named Executive Officers”) for services in all capacities to the
Company and its subsidiaries.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock
Awards ($)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(1)
|
Change
in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($)(2)
|
All
Other Compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
Randall
E. Black
CEO
& President of
the
Company and
Bank
|
2006
|
$154,500
|
$5,000
|
-
|
$2,694
|
$14,502
|
$7,453(3)
|
$184,149
|
Mickey
L. Jones
Executive
Vice President, CFO &
Treasurer
of the Company and Bank
|
2006
|
$105,000
|
-
|
-
|
$1,645
|
$5,003
|
$3,201(4)
|
$114,849
|
Terry
B. Osborne
Executive
Vice President & Secretary of the Company and the Bank
|
2006
|
$137,196
|
-
|
$525(5)
|
$2,206
|
$30,724
|
$8,830(6)
|
$179,481
|
Thomas
C. Lyman
Vice
President & Asst. Treasurer of the Company and Bank
|
2006
|
$95,376
|
-
|
-
|
$1,477
|
$37,989
|
$2,905(7)
|
$137,747
|
Douglas
W. Whitten
Senior
Vice President
&
Operations Division Manager
|
2006
|
$92,700
|
-
|
$42(8)
|
$1,452
|
$22,878
|
$3,445(9)
|
$120,517
|
(1) The
Bank
has a performance-based annual incentive plan (the “Plan”). The Bank uses both
return on assets and return on equity to fund the Plan by comparing the Bank’s
performance to a regionalized peer group. To the extent
that these measures exceed the peer group, a pool is created. This is calculated
by multiplying the percent difference by which the Bank’s performance exceeds
the peer group’s average equity and assets, respectively. The
incentive pool is cumulative; therefore unused remaining balances, either
positive or negative, are carried forward to future years. Thirty percent of
the
pool funds the employees’ pool, which covers all incentive payouts under
various programs, as well as the 401(k) safe harbor contribution and employee
years of service awards. The remaining seventy percent of the pool is paid
to
the shareholders. On December 6, 2006, seventy-five percent of the
eligible pool was paid to employees based upon October 31, 2006 numbers. The
remaining twenty-five percent was paid to employees based upon December 31,
2006
numbers on February 28, 2007. Management’s incentive is
based on bank and branch performance.
(2) This
column represents the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of
accumulated benefits under our defined benefit pension plan from the plan
measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with
respect to the prior completed fiscal year to the plan measurement date used
for
financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the covered fiscal year.
This benefit exists for all full-time employees who meet the vesting
requirement.
(3) In
2006,
this amount includes $600 for opting-out of health insurance coverage, $1,854
reimbursement for life insurance policy owned by Mr. Black, and $4,999 for
safe
harbor 401(k) contribution for Mr. Black.
(4) In
2006,
this amount includes $3,201 for safe harbor 401(k) contribution for Mr. Jones.
(5) In
2006,
Mr. Osborne received 25 shares of our common stock valued at $525. This stock
award was provided to Mr. Osborne in recognition of his 30 years of service.
(6) In
2006,
this amount includes $4,500 in fees paid to Mr. Osborne as Secretary of the
Corporation, and $4,330 for safe harbor 401(k) contribution for Mr.
Osborne.
(7)
In 2006,
this amount includes $2,905 for safe harbor 401(k) contribution for Mr.
Lyman.
(8) In
2006,
Mr. Whitten received two shares of our common stock valued at $42. This stock
award was provided to Mr. Whitten in recognition of his five years of service.
(9) In
2006,
this amount includes $600 for opting-out of health insurance coverage, and
$2,845 for safe harbor 401(k) contribution for Mr. Whitten.
Employment
Agreement
On
December 16, 2005, the Company and the Bank entered into an employment
agreement with Randall E. Black, Chief Executive Officer and President of the
Company and the Bank. The employment agreement was amended and restated on
September 19, 2006. The employment agreement provides for a three-year term,
which automatically renews on June 1st
of each
year to maintain a three-year term, unless either party notifies in writing
the
other party at least 90 days prior to June 1st
of such
party’s intent not to renew the agreement beyond the existing term, or the
agreement is terminated by the Company or the Bank for cause, death or
disability or if the agreement is terminated by Mr. Black. The employment
agreement provides that Mr. Black’s base salary shall be $150,000, which
may be increased in the future. The base salary is reviewed annually, but may
not be reduced below the base salary in effect at the time of such review.
In
addition to base salary, the employment agreement provides for, among other
things, participation in various employee benefit plans as well as furnishing
certain fringe benefits available to similarly-situated executive personnel.
The
employment agreement provides for termination by the Company or the Bank for
cause (as described in the agreement) at any time, death or disability. If
Mr. Black is terminated for cause, the Company shall pay Mr. Black his
full annual base salary through the date of termination at the rate in effect
at
the time of termination and the Company and Bank shall have no further
obligation to Mr. Black under the agreement. If Mr. Black is terminated due
to a disability, Mr. Black shall be entitled to the same benefit as provided
by
the Company’s long term disability plan. Upon Mr. Black’s death, the employment
agreement terminates automatically. In the event that the Company or the Bank
chooses to terminate Mr. Black’s employment for reasons other than for
cause or, in the event of Mr. Black’s resignation from the Company or the
Bank for good reason, the Company shall pay Mr. Black a lump sum amount
equal to and no greater than two times Mr. Black’s base salary minus
applicable taxes and withholdings. If such termination had occurred on December
31, 2006, Mr. Black would have been entitled to receive $309,000 (minus taxes
and withholdings). In addition, for a period of one year from the date of
termination, Mr. Black shall receive a continuation of health care, life
and disability insurance in effect during the one year prior to his termination.
Under
the
agreement, if Mr. Black delivers a notice of termination following a change
in control (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Black shall be entitled to
receive compensation and benefits as follows: (1) for less than twelve months
of
continuous service, a lump sum amount equal to and no greater than two times
Mr. Black’s base salary minus applicable taxes and withholdings; (2) for
more than twelve months of continuous service, a lump sum amount equal to 2.5
times Mr. Black’s base salary; or (3) for more than twenty-four months of
continuous service, a lump sum amount equal to 2.99 times Mr. Black’s base
salary. If such termination had occurred on December 31, 2006, Mr. Black would
have been entitled to receive $461,955 (minus taxes and withholdings). In
addition, for a period of one year from the date of termination or until Mr.
Black secures substantially similar benefits through other employment, whichever
shall occur first, Mr. Black shall receive a continuation of health care,
life and disability insurance in effect during the one year prior to his
termination.
The
employment agreement provides for non-competition and non-solicitation (as
described in the agreement) during the term of Mr. Black’s employment or for one
year following the date of termination, as well as a restrictive covenant period
(as described in the agreement), with the exception being Mr. Black may engage
in the practice of public accounting.
Pension
Benefits
The
following table sets forth information concerning the Company's plans that
provide for payments or other benefits at, following, or in connection with,
retirement for each of the Named Executive Officers.
PENSION
BENEFITS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006
Name
|
|
Plan
Name
|
|
Number
of Years
of
Credited
Service
(#)
|
|
Present
Value
of
Accumulated
Benefit ($)
(1)
|
|
Payment
During
Last
Fiscal
Year
($)
|
Randall
E. Black
|
|
First
Citizens National
Bank
Pension Plan
|
|
14
|
|
$52,146
|
|
-
|
Mickey
L. Jones
|
|
First
Citizens National
Bank
Pension Plan
|
|
3
|
|
$11,218
|
|
-
|
Terry
B. Osborne
|
|
First
Citizens National
Bank
Pension Plan
|
|
31
|
|
$237,297
|
|
-
|
Thomas
C. Lyman
|
|
First
Citizens National
Bank
Pension Plan
|
|
18
|
|
$236,991
|
|
-
|
Douglas
W. Whitten
|
|
First
Citizens National
Bank
Pension Plan
|
|
6
|
|
$92,168
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
The
present value of accumulated benefits was calculated as of December
31,
2006 using an interest rate of 5.75% and the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality
table adopted by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners. The December 31, 2006 accrued benefit payable at
normal retirement age of age 65 was calculated, converted to a lump
sum
value payable at age 65, and then discounted to December 31, 2006
using
the above assumptions.
|
The
information in the foregoing table relates to the Bank's non-contributory
defined benefit pension plan for all employees meeting certain age and length
of
service requirements. Benefits are based primarily on years of service and
the
average annual compensation during the highest five consecutive years within
the
final ten years of employment. The Bank’s funding policy is consistent with the
funding requirements of federal law and regulations. The First Citizens National
Bank Division of Investment and Trust Services is the trustee of the pension
plan.
Thomas
C.
Lyman has 18 years of service and is eligible for early retirement.
The
normal retirement pension under the Plan is payable at age 65 as a
life annuity calculated using the following formula:
1. |
The
Base Percentage of average annual compensation up to the Social Security
integration level where the Base Percentages are as
follows:
|
Calendar
Year of Birth
|
|
Base
Percentage
|
1937
and Earlier
|
|
1.25%
|
1938
to 1954
|
|
1.30%
|
1955
and Later
|
|
1.35%
|
2. |
Plus
2% of average annual compensation in excess of the Social Security
integration level.
|
3. |
Both
multiplied by years of benefit service up to
30 years.
|
The
Social Security integration level is equal to the average of the taxable wage
bases over the 35 year period ending with the year the participant is entitled
to full Social Security benefits.
Average
annual compensation means the participant's annual compensation averaged over
the five consecutive year period which produces the highest average in the
last
10 consecutive years including the current plan year.
For
the
purpose of determining average annual compensation, the Plan does not take
into
account a year in which less than 1,000 hours of service are
credited.
The
accrued benefit on any date other than the normal retirement date is determined
according to the normal retirement pension formula multiplied by the ratio
of
years of benefit service to date to the projected years of benefit service
at
normal retirement.
Compensation
of Directors
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of
non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2006.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
Name
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid
in Cash
($)
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
Robert
W. Chappell
|
$15,645
|
$138(1)
|
$15,783
|
R.
Lowell Coolidge
|
$33,166
|
$208(2)
|
$33,374
|
Mark
L. Dalton
|
$23,995
|
$208(3)
|
$24,203
|
Rinaldo
A. DePaola
|
$14,270
|
$138(4)
|
$14,408
|
Roger
C. Graham, Jr.
|
$23,470
|
$2,865(5)
|
$26,335
|
E.
Gene Kosa
|
$23,395
|
$2,947(6)
|
$26,342
|
R.
Joseph Landy
|
$20,225
|
$208(7)
|
$20,433
|
John
E. Novak
|
$22,745
|
$189(8)
|
$22,934
|
Carol
J. Tama
|
$25,502
|
$208(9)
|
$25,710
|
Rudolph
J. van der Hiel
|
$22,785
|
$208(10)
|
$22,993
|
(1)
In
2006,
this amount includes $138 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
Chappell.
(2)
In
2006,
this amount includes $208 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
Coolidge.
(3)
In
2006,
this amount includes $208 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
Dalton.
(4) In
2006,
this amount includes $138 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
DePaola.
(5)
In
2006,
this amount includes $208 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
Graham, and $2,657 Pennsylvania Bankers Association annual convention expenses
for Mr. Graham and his spouse.
(6)
In
2006,
this amount includes $290 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr. Kosa,
and $2,657 Pennsylvania Bankers Association annual convention expenses for
Mr.
Kosa and his spouse.
(7)
In
2006,
this amount includes $208 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
Landy.
(8)
In
2006,
this amount includes $189 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr.
Novak.
(9)
In
2006,
this amount includes $208 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mrs.
Tama.
(10)
In
2006,
this amount includes $208 life insurance premium paid by the Bank for Mr. van
der Hiel.
The
foregoing table reflects the following arrangements:
Fees.
Directors,
except for Directors Coolidge, Tama and Black, received the following fees
for
services to the Company and the Bank: $250 for attended board meeting, strategic
retreat or training session; $12,000 annual retainer; $125 per attended
committee meeting; $100 for board conference call; and $185 for attended
advisory board meeting. Additionally, committee chairpersons receive
a $500
retainer, except for Director Kosa who receives a $1,200 retainer as Audit
and
Examination Committee chairman. Director Dalton receives a $3,000 retainer
for building/property guidance. Mr. Coolidge, who serves as the Company’s
and the Bank’s Chairman, and Mrs. Tama, who serves as the Company’s and Bank’s
Vice Chairman, received a fixed annual sum of $33,166 and $25,502, respectively,
in lieu of all director’s fees in 2006, except Director Tama also receives the
advisory board fee of $185 per attended meeting.
Deferred
Compensation Plan. Directors
are permitted to defer their fees subject to provisions of the director’s
deferred compensation plan. The plan provides for the Bank to distribute funds
to a director whenever he or she is no longer a member of the
Board.
Life
Insurance. In
addition to these fees, each director is provided a $100,000 life insurance
benefit. Once a director retires, insurance coverage continues but the benefit
declines as the age of the retired director increases. Total premiums paid
in
2006 for life insurance on behalf of the current and retired directors was
$2,508.
Restricted
Stock.
Pursuant
to our 2006 Restricted Stock Plan, Directors will receive an annual stock grant
based on Company and Bank performance. The amount of the grant for 2006 has
not
yet been determined.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
The
Compensation/Human Resources Committee has reviewed and discussed with
management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above. Based
on
such review and discussions, the Compensation/Human Resources Committee has
recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
The
Compensation/Human Resource Committee
of
Citizens Financial Services, Inc. and First Citizens National Bank
John
E.
Novak (Chairman)
R.
Joseph
Landy
Robert
W.
Chappell
Rinaldo
A. DePaola
COMPENSATION/HUMAN
RESOURCE COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND
INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The
members of the Compensation/Human Resource Committee are Directors Novak, Landy,
Chappell, and DePaola. No member of the Compensation/Human Resource Committee
was a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries during the year ended December 31, 2006. In addition, no member
of
the Compensation/Human Resource Committee has, directly or indirectly, engaged
in any transaction or series of transactions since January 1, 2006 with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, in which the amount exceeds $120,000 and
no
such transactions are currently proposed.
No
executive officer of the Company or the Bank serves or has served as a member
of
the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers
serves on the Compensation/Human Resource Committee of the Company or the Bank.
No executive officer of the Company or the Bank serves or has served as a
director of another entity, one of whose executive officers serves on the
Compensation/Human Resource Committee of the Company or the Bank. No executive
officer of the Company or the Bank serves or has served as a member of a
compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served
as a director of the Company.
OTHER
INFORMATION RELATING TO DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s
officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s
common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers, directors and greater
than 10% shareholders are required by regulation to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
Based
solely on the Company’s review of the copies of the reports it has received and
written representations provided to it from the individuals required to file
the
reports, the
Company believes that each of its executive officers and directors has complied
with applicable reporting requirements for transactions in the Company’s common
stock during the year ended December 31, 2006.
Transactions
with Management
Loans
and Extensions of Credit. During
2006 certain directors, nominees, and executive officers or their associates
received loans or commitments from the Bank. These transactions were made in
the
ordinary course of the Bank's business and on substantially the same terms,
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time
for comparable
transactions with unrelated persons and did not involve more than the normal
risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. Total loans
outstanding from the Bank at December 31, 2006, to the Company’s officers,
directors and nominees as a group and members of their immediate families and
companies in which they had an ownership interest of 5% or more was $2,737,717,
or approximately 6.1% of the total equity capital of the Bank. The aggregate
amount of indebtedness outstanding as of the latest practicable
date, February 28,
2007, to the above described group was $2,695,845.
The
Company's policies require that any loan to a director that would cause his/her
aggregate loan relationship to exceed $200,000 must be approved in advance
by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors. Any loan to
an
executive officer in the aggregate greater than $100,000 must be approved in
advance by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Related
Party Transactions. The
Company does not have a written policy or procedures for related party
transactions. Any related party transaction request is dealt with on an
individual basis by the Chief Executive Officer and President, the Chief
Financial Officer or the Board of Directors.
SUBMISSION
OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder
Proposals for Inclusion in Proxy Statement. The
Company must receive proposals that shareholders seek to include in the Proxy
Statement for the Company’s next annual meeting no later than November 14,
2007. If next year’s annual meeting is held on a date more than 30 calendar days
from April 15, 2008, a shareholder proposal must be received by a
reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail its proxy
solicitation for such annual meeting. Any shareholder proposals will be subject
to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Shareholder
Proposals. A
shareholder who wishes to make a proposal other than a nomination, but does
not
request that such proposal be included in the proxy statement, must deliver
notice of such proposal to the Company by January 28, 2008. Any
notices not received by the foregoing deadlines will be considered untimely.
Our
proxy for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will grant discretionary
authority to the persons named therein to exercise their voting discretion
with
respect to any matter of which we do not receive timely notice.
SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS
The
Company encourages shareholder communications to the Board of Directors and/or
individual directors. Communications regarding financial or accounting policies
may be made to the Chairman of the Audit and Examination Committee, E. Gene
Kosa, at First Citizens National Bank, 15 South Main Street, Mansfield,
Pennsylvania 16933. Other communications to the Board of Directors may be made
to the Chairman of the Governance and Nomination Committee, Mark L. Dalton,
at
First Citizens National Bank, 15 South Main Street, Mansfield, Pennsylvania
16933. Communications to individual directors may be made to such director
at
the principal office at First Citizens National Bank, 15 South Main Street,
Mansfield, Pennsylvania 16933.
MISCELLANEOUS
The
Company will pay the cost of this proxy solicitation. The Company will reimburse
brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable
expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners
of
Company common stock. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, directors,
officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally,
by
email or by telephone without receiving additional compensation.
The
Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders has been mailed to persons who were
shareholders as of the close of business on February 28, 2007. Any shareholder
who has not received a copy of the Annual Report may obtain a copy by writing
to
the Treasurer of the Company. The Annual Report is not to be treated as part
of
the proxy solicitation material or as having been incorporated in this Proxy
Statement by reference.
A
COPY OF
THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, WITHOUT EXHIBITS, FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2006, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO PERSONS WHO WERE SHAREHOLDERS AS OF THE
CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FEBRUARY 28, 2007 UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO MICKEY L.
JONES, TREASURER, CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., 15 SOUTH MAIN STREET,
MANSFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA 16933-1590.
If
you
and others who share your address own shares in street name, your broker or
other holder of record may be sending only one Annual Report and Proxy Statement
to your address. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce
our printing and postage costs. However, if a shareholder residing at such
an
address wishes to receive a separate Annual Report or Proxy Statement in the
future, he or she should contact the broker or other holder of record. If you
own your shares in street name and are receiving multiple copies of our Annual
Report and Proxy Statement, you can request householding by contacting your
broker or other holder of record.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please vote by marking, signing,
dating and promptly returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed
envelope.
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Randall
E.
Black
CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
OFFICER AND PRESIDENT
Mansfield,
Pennsylvania
March
14,
2007
Annex
A
REVOCABLE
PROXY
CITIZENS
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The
shareholder signing this proxy card appoints Terry B. Osborne and Thomas C.
Lyman, or either of them acting in the absence of the other, as proxyholders,
each with the power to appoint his substitute, and authorizes them to represent
and to vote, as designated below, all of the shares of the common stock, $1.00
par value per share, of Citizens Financial Services, Inc. that the shareholder
holds of record on February 28, 2007, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of
Citizens Financial Services, Inc. to be held on April 17, 2007, and at any
adjournment thereof.
THIS
PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY SIGNED BY YOU, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER YOU DIRECT
ON
THIS CARD. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE
LISTED NOMINEES IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, FOR
THE
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY ACCOUNTANTS, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXYHOLDERS NAMED
IN THIS PROXY UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL
MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT.
THIS
PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY YOU AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING.
(THIS
PROXY CARD MUST BE VOTED, SIGNED AND DATED
ON
THE OTHER SIDE)
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
ALL
OF THE MATTERS BELOW.
1. Election
of Class 2 Directors:
NOMINEES:
|
01
- Rudolph J. van der Hiel; 02 - Mark L. Dalton
|
[ ]
|
FOR
all nominees listed (except as marked to the contrary
below)
|
|
|
[ ]
|
WITHHOLD
authority to vote for all nominees listed
|
|
|
|
(INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for one or more individual nominees,
write
the nominees’ names or numbers on the line
below.)
|
2. |
Proposal
to ratify the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., Certified Public
Accountants, as independent auditor for the Company for the fiscal
year
ending December 31, 2007.
|
[ ]
|
For
|
[ ]
|
Against
|
[ ]
|
Abstain
|
I/We
hereby acknowledge the receipt, prior to the signing of this Proxy, of a Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Citizens Financial Services, Inc. called
for April 17, 2007, an attached Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting and
a 2006 Annual Report.
DATE:
_________________, 2007 _____________________________
Signature
_____________________________
Signature
Please
sign exactly as your name appears on the other side and print the date on which
you sign the proxy in the spaces provided above. If signed on behalf of a
corporation, please sign in corporate name by an authorized officer. If signing
as a representative, please give full title as such. For joint accounts, only
one owner is required to sign.
Luncheon
Reservation
ཬ
I will attend the luncheon, please include my reservation for
person(s)
ཬ
I will be unable to attend the luncheon