Oct. 28--A year after it launched Green$ense, which gives customers financial incentives to make electronic transactions, Citizens Financial Group said Tuesday it has given customers a total of $5.2 million through the program.

The program, which started in October 2008, is intended to reduce paper consumption by urging Citizens and Charter One customers to take care of their banking business electronically.

Citizens Financial Group, headquartered in Providence, R.I., operates Citizens Bank in 12 states including Connecticut. It also operates the Charter One brand in several additional states.

For those enrolled in the program, Green$ense gives customers 10 cents for each electronic payment they make, up to a maximum of $10 per month and $120 per year.

The company said "hundreds of thousands" of customers have enrolled in the program, but did not provide a specific number.

Bank officials estimate the program has saved nearly 90,000 pounds of paper, more than 1,000 trees and more than 840,000 gallons of water, in addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Those estimates are based on projections by Cooler Inc., a California company that helps businesses assess their impact on the environment.

"The benefits of this program show how small, everyday activities such as reducing paperbased transactions can have a tremendous impact on the environment," Martin Bischoff, vice chairman of Citizens Financial Group, said in a statement.

Enrollment in the program is free for all Citizens Bank and Charter One customers with a checking account. There is no minimum balance requirement and those who participate in the program get a Green$ense Visa debit card made of recycled plastic.

Those who opt for the program will be automatically enrolled in online banking and bill paying options, and will receive electronic banking statements only.

Money earned through the program is deposited directly into customers' checking account by the bank each month.

To enroll, visit www.citizensbank.com, call (888) 910-4100, or visit any branch. Enrollees will subsequently have to confirm enrollment electronically via online banking.

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