FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
November 30, 2007
Poland: Citi Handlowy Educates Internet Users at ZrozumFinanse.pl
Citi Handlowy has launched an educational portal called ZrozumFinanse.pl (UnderstandFinance.pl), which is to help users to understand the world of finance. It is the only portal in Poland developed by a bank allowing internet users to choose the contents and a navigation option depending on their profile ("Single", "Couple" and "Family," respectively). This initiative is yet another element of the social responsibility strategy of the bank, which is implemented through, among others, the promotion of financial education. Thanks to the launch of ZrozumFinanse.pl, Citi Handlowy expands its offer of financial education programs with a modern, multimedia portal addressed to university students and young professionals.
"Every day each of us deals with financial matters such as personal expenses, income and savings. Experience shows that being responsible with money brings rewards – you can spend less and earn more, it's enough to know how to effectively take control of your money. We provide the knowledge at our ZrozumFinanse.pl. We have asked the best experts to explain the basics of personal finance management. Economists and publicists have prepared a unique range of tips and information thanks to which managing your money will not be a big deal anymore – you will find it simple and easy," said Slawomir S. Sikora, CEO of Citi Handlowy.
The website developed by specialists from Citi Handlowy presents innovative solutions that are not offered by any other services of this type. First of all, to meet the needs of different user groups three basic profiles have been developed, i.e., My Finances (a single, financially independent person, or a young person at the beginning of his/her career), Our Finances (a couple living together in their first apartment, increased financial needs and a bigger budget), and Family Finances (family, responsible persons thinking about their future and the future of their children, making investments and growing savings). The learning materials are grouped according to the needs of different users so that everybody could find information in their area of interest.
To make navigation as easy as possible, in addition to the above-mentioned profiles, the portal is organized into modules presenting different approaches to finance. For example, in the "Step By Step" module the user can find instructions how to open a personal bank account or apply for loan. In the "Learn the Consequences" module, the internet user will learn how interest rate hikes affect his portfolio. Other modules include: "World of Finance" (how the world of finance works), "What to Do When ..." and "Everything About ..." (information about cards, accounts, loans, financial future and many other most popular banking products).
Additionally, the portal offers many useful tools – calculators, a dictionary of financial terms, and multimedia, including films and presentations from the area of finance.
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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, Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.
Citi Handlowy
Citi Handlowy is one of the major financial institutions in Poland and offers under the Citi Handlowy brand a broad range of state-of-the-art products in corporate, investment and consumer banking. Through its modern distribution channels and a network of over 200 branches, Bank Handlowy services 20,000 corporate customers and 800,000 individuals. The Bank's group includes Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego (brokerage house) and Handlowy Leasing. Being a member of Citi enables the customers of Bank Handlowy access to financial services provided in over 100 countries. Further information is available at www.citihandlowy.pl.