<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-17-051189.txt : 20170222
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-17-051189.hdr.sgml : 20170222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170222072832
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-17-051189
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		3
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170222
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170222

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITIZENS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000024090
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				840755371
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16509
		FILM NUMBER:		17627043

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 EAST ANDERSON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78752
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5128377100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 EAST ANDERSON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78752

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CONTINENTAL INVESTORS LIFE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19881222
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d279906d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
</HEAD>
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<h5 align="left"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></h5>

 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February&nbsp;22, 2017 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CITIZENS, INC. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"><B>COLORADO</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>0-16509</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>84-0755371</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of incorporation)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>400 East Anderson Lane </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Austin, Texas 78752 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(512)&nbsp;837-7100 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Not Applicable </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former
Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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<h5 align="left"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></h5>

 <P STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:0.5pt"><FONT COLOR="#FFFFFF"><A NAME="toc"></A>TOC </FONT></P>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#tx279906_1">Item&nbsp;5.02 - Departure&nbsp;of&nbsp;Directors&nbsp;or&nbsp;Certain&nbsp;
Officers;&nbsp;Election&nbsp;of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory&nbsp;Arrangements of Certain Officers</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">1</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#tx279906_2">Item&nbsp;9.01- Financial Statements and Exhibits</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">1</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#tx279906_3">Signature</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">2</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#tx279906_4">Exhibit Index</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">3</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
<h5 align="left"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></h5>

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="tx279906_1"></A>Item&nbsp;5.02 - Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On February&nbsp;22, 2017, Citizens, Inc. (&#147;Citizens&#148;)
announced the appointment of Gerald W. Shields, 59, as a director, effective immediately. Mr.&nbsp;Shields joins Citizens&#146; Board of Directors with over 37 years of technology experience, including significant life insurance experience as the
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of AFLAC, Inc., a leading provider of supplemental insurance. During the last five years, Mr.&nbsp;Shields has served as Director of the IT practice at RE Nolan, a management-consulting firm that
caters to the insurance, health care, technology, and banking industries. He also currently serves as the Chief Information Officer of FirstCare Health Plans, a provider of comprehensive health care services to health maintenance organization (HMO)
subscribers that also owns Southwest Life&nbsp;&amp; Health Insurance Company which offers the FirstCare PPO and life insurance products. Mr.&nbsp;Shields brings Citizens&#146; board expertise in technology, cybersecurity and insurance operating
systems, having significant experience directing these areas throughout his career. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Mr.&nbsp;Shields fills the open Board seat vacated by former Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer Rick D. Riley, having been elected by the currently serving Class B directors in accordance with the Colorado Business Corporation Act and Citizens&#146; bylaws. At the time of this announcement, Mr.&nbsp;Shields has not
been appointed to serve on any Committees of the Board. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A copy of the press release issued by Citizens regarding this announcement is attached as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="tx279906_2"></A>Item&nbsp;9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(d)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Exhibits </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD WIDTH="94%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">News Release issued by Citizens, Inc. on February&nbsp;22, 2017.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">1 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="tx279906_3"></A>SIGNATURE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


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<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">CITIZENS, INC</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">/s/ Geoffrey M. Kolander</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Geoffrey M. Kolander</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Chief Executive
Officer</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Date: February&nbsp;22, 2017</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">2 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="tx279906_4"></A>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:25.30pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit<BR>No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:39.50pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">News Release issued by Citizens, Inc. on February 22, 2017.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">3 </P>

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<TYPE>EX-99.1
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 99.1 </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">


<IMG SRC="g279906g06v02.jpg" ALT="LOGO">
 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">February&nbsp;22, 2017 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:54%; text-indent:-2%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>For
further information contact: </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:54%; text-indent:-2%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Investor Relations </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:54%; text-indent:-2%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>PR@citizensinc.com</U> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><U>CITIZENS, INC. ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBER </U></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>AUSTIN, TX &#150; February&nbsp;22, 2017 &#151;</B> Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Gerald
W. Shields as a director, effective immediately. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Mr.&nbsp;Shields joins Citizens&#146; Board of Directors with over 37 years of technology experience,
including significant life insurance experience as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of AFLAC, Inc., a leading provider of supplemental insurance. During the last five years, Mr.&nbsp;Shields has served as Director of the IT
practice at RE Nolan, a management-consulting firm that caters to the insurance, health care, technology, and banking industries. He also currently serves as the Chief Information Officer of FirstCare Health Plans, a provider of comprehensive health
care services to health maintenance organization (HMO) subscribers that also owns Southwest Life&nbsp;&amp; Health Insurance Company which offers the FirstCare PPO and life insurance products. Mr.&nbsp;Shields brings Citizens&#146; board expertise
in technology, cybersecurity and insurance operating systems, having significant experience directing these areas throughout his career. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Mr.&nbsp;Shields
filled the open Board seat vacated by former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick D. Riley, having been elected by the currently serving Class&nbsp;B directors in accordance with the Colorado Business Corporation Act and Citizens&#146; bylaws.
At the time of this announcement, Mr.&nbsp;Shields has not been appointed to serve on any Committees of the Board. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">According to Dr.&nbsp;E. Dean Gage,
the Chairman of the Citizens&#146; Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, &#147;this is another strategic appointment in implementing the future vision of Citizens. Gerald&#146;s significant technology and insurance experience will be
instrumental to the Board&#146;s oversight as Citizens advances its strategic technology objectives. Personally, I admire Gerald&#146;s humility and proven character throughout his successful technology career.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;I am excited to work with Gerald and the executive team as we continue to shape Citizens for success,&#148; said Dr.&nbsp;Robert Sloan, Chairman of
Citizens&#146; Board of Directors. &#147;Gerald embodies the technology and insurance industry expertise we hoped to gain when we began our board search. Combined with his proven integrity, we believe we have found the ideal board member for
Citizens.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Citizens, Inc. is a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIA. The Company utilizes a
three-pronged strategy for growth based upon worldwide sales of U.S.&nbsp;Dollar-denominated whole life cash value insurance policies, life insurance product sales in the U.S. and the acquisition of other U.S.-based life insurance companies. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. federal securities laws, which can be identified by words such
as &#147;may,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; &#147;expect,&#148; &#147;anticipate&#148; or &#147;continue&#148; or comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that the Company expects or
anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by the
forward-looking statements, including the &#147;Risk Factors&#148; and similar disclosure described in Citizens&#146; Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2015, Quarterly Reports on Form&nbsp;10-Q and other periodic
</P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Citizens undertakes no duty or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company&#146;s expectations. The Company also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be
contained in reports published by the investment community. </P>
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