FSVC & Citi Foundation Announce Program to Train Russian & Ukrainian Bankers

Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC)
The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) is a not-for-profit, private-public partnership created in 1990 at U.S. Presidential initiative to assist developing and transition countries around the world build sound financial and banking infrastructure, essential for a healthy market economy. FSVC is a demand-driven organization that provides state-of-the-art technical assistance with the help of highly-skilled volunteers. These experts represent the best of American ideals to our overseas partners, build partnerships and personal bridges across international borders, and help facilitate positive standing for the United States around the world. Since FSVC’s inception, more than 7,000 volunteer experts from the financial, legal, and regulatory communities have taken part in more than 1,400 missions, reaching nearly 30,000 counterparts in 40 developing and transition countries. For more information about FSVC’s programs and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.FSVC.org, call 212.771.1400, or write us at 800 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation supports organizations that help people improve their lives, businesses to grow, and communities to prosper around the world. The Citi Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: financial education, educating the next generation, and building communities and entrepreneurs. Additional information can be found at http://www.citigroupfoundation.com/.


	Printer Friendly Page		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) June 08, 2007 FSVC & Citi Foundation Announce Program to Train Russian & Ukrainian Bankers Program to Give Hands-On Training in Principles of Effective Credit and Operational Risk Management New York, NY – The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) and the Citi Foundation announced today the participation of ten bankers from Russia and Ukraine in the seventh annual Bank Management Internship and Training Program (BMIT), a program that delivers technical and practical understanding of effective credit and operational risk management. “FSVC is pleased to offer promising bankers from Russia and Ukraine the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of principles of credit and operational risk management by witnessing them in practice,” said FSVC President and CEO Andrew Spindler. “This type of program exposes these bankers in a unique way to the culture of credit in the United States. This experience will allow these individuals to recognize how to strengthen their banks’ risk management functions. This leads to healthier banks, expanded banking services to more consumers and small businesses, and ultimately, to a healthier economy.” BMIT helps enhance effective credit and operational risk management skills within consumer and SME business units, including identifying the appropriate organizational staffing structure for the risk management function, identifying and mitigating credit and operational risk, portfolio management, and understanding reporting and monitoring requirements. The program is divided into two parts, and a culminating activity: One week of classroom training with practical instruction, held in Moscow the week of April 23, 2007. One-week internships at banks in the United States, June 16- June 23, 2007, to provide practical “hands-on” work experience to apply the more theoretical aspects of training. At the conclusion of these two sessions, participants will present their recommendations for adapting and integrating new techniques, policies or procedures at their home institutions. Since 2001, Citi Foundation provided financial support and expertise to different programs of FSVC in a total amount of $1,075,000. “Citi supports FSVC’ programs because of its continuing relevance to financial sector developments in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan,” Mark Robinson, President of ZAO Citibank, Division Regional Head Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). “Working in the CIS for many years we see many positive changes in the market. Clearly there are new challenges that need to be addressed and Citi is committed to helping to strengthen the banking market in the region in the years ahead, including by partnering with FSVC”. # # # Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) is a not-for-profit, private-public partnership created in 1990 at U.S. Presidential initiative to assist developing and transition countries around the world build sound financial and banking infrastructure, essential for a healthy market economy. FSVC is a demand-driven organization that provides state-of-the-art technical assistance with the help of highly-skilled volunteers. These experts represent the best of American ideals to our overseas partners, build partnerships and personal bridges across international borders, and help facilitate positive standing for the United States around the world. Since FSVC’s inception, more than 7,000 volunteer experts from the financial, legal, and regulatory communities have taken part in more than 1,400 missions, reaching nearly 30,000 counterparts in 40 developing and transition countries. For more information about FSVC’s programs and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.FSVC.org, call 212.771.1400, or write us at 800 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Citi Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com. Citi Foundation The Citi Foundation supports organizations that help people improve their lives, businesses to grow, and communities to prosper around the world. The Citi Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: financial education, educating the next generation, and building communities and entrepreneurs. Additional information can be found at http://www.citigroupfoundation.com/.