Providence, R.I.-Based Bank to Maintain Cape Cod, Mass., Supermarket Branches.

Byline: Ethan Zindler

Sep. 25--This month, Rhode Island-based Citizens Bank greatly expands its presence on the Cape with the opening of nine new branches in Stop & Shop supermarkets from Falmouth to Orleans. The move comes at a time when many banks are shuttering supermarket branches for being unprofitable.

Not Citizens. In 2002, the bank opened 58 branches in Stop & Shops in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, according to it annual report. It boasts of having the fourth largest number of supermarket branches in the United States: 254.

Overseeing them is Hal R. Tovin, Citizens Group executive vice president of emerging channels. The Times caught up with Tovin Tuesday to learn more about the …