Citibank Says 'ThankYou' with New Industry-Leading Customer Apprecia

    Business Editors

    NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2005--Citibank, the world's leading brand in financial services, today unveiled a new program to demonstrate its appreciation to its customers, becoming the first major U.S. bank to say "thank you" in a unique way. Building on the strengths of its highly successful ThankYou Network(R), which was launched by Citi's market-leading cards business last year, Citibank customers can now enjoy receiving points, redeemable for rewards, for many of the same banking services they use every day. The new program offers customers comprehensive benefits for using a variety of products available from Citi's expansive suite of financial services. Customers may combine ThankYou Points(R) for banking with ThankYou Points they acquire when using a variety of Citi credit cards.
    Like Citi's innovative Identity Theft Solutions program, ThankYou Network aims to acknowledge customers in a highly meaningful way and encourage them to deepen their relationship with Citi. ThankYou Network supports Citibank's ongoing commitment to be a provider of innovative products and services to a wide spectrum of customers, thereby reinforcing Citibank's position as a market leader in the financial services industry.
    "The most valuable asset any business can have is a satisfied and loyal customer, and we want to reward our customers for their loyalty," said Marge Magner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup's Global Consumer Group. "We respond to customers' aspirations by developing and providing creative solutions to meet their increasingly diverse needs. It's our singular focus on the customer that allows us to enhance these vital relationships. Now we are expanding ThankYou Network, which provides compelling, tangible value to customer relationships, as another way of expressing our appreciation. And we won't stop there; we will continue to look for ways to extend our customer recognition programs across our businesses and geographies around the globe," Ms. Magner added.
    ThankYou Network offers consumers the opportunity to receive points and redeem them for a host of rewards, many from brand-name merchants. The unique recognition program enables customers who hold a Citibank checking account in the U.S. or Puerto Rico to receive points every month for checking and savings accounts, loans and lines of credit, CDs, mortgages, online bill payments, direct deposit, and debit and credit card purchases.
    The more products and services customers have and use, the more points they receive. ThankYou Points can be redeemed for an ever-growing variety of rewards including movie tickets, flat-screen televisions, round-trip airline tickets on any airline with no blackout dates and many others.
    "At Citibank, we constantly look for new and exciting ways to expand customer relationships. We're proud to be the first major bank to offer customers such a dynamic program that rewards the relationship and trust they've placed in us with truly meaningful awards," said Maura Markus, President of Citibank's U.S. branch banking system. "Now consumers can get valuable benefits, not just from their transactions, but from the number and types of accounts they have with us. By combining points from various accounts, they'll be able to redeem rewards faster. And since ThankYou Network offers brand-name rewards with as few as 1,000 points, we're not only making it easier to get more points, but easier to enjoy them."
    There is no cost to participate in ThankYou Network. A checking account with a debit card is required for banking customers to participate and receive points in the program. Customers who enroll will receive points according to the type of checking account and the number of products they have. Every month, customers will receive points for linked Citibank saving and money market accounts, CDs, Ready Credit(R) and Checking Plus(R) accounts, mortgages, personal and home equity loans and lines of credit, and for using direct deposit, free online bill payments, and debit card purchases. ThankYou Points for banking and credit card products are combined so that Citi is servicing the customer on one rewards platform.
    Citi launched the market-leading ThankYou Network in July 2004. ThankYou Network has now become one of the largest card rewards programs in the United States, with over 8.8 million accounts enrolled. Customers who have a Citi(R) Diamond Preferred(R) Rewards Card, Citi PremierPass Card, or an eligible Citi(R) Platinum Select Card or AT&T Universal Card are automatically enrolled in ThankYou Network.
    ThankYou Points can be redeemed via phone or online for a wide range of rewards, including concert tickets, golf passes, dining, travel getaways, movie tickets, electronics, special offers, and much more.
    To apply for a Citibank checking account, consumers can go to a Citibank Financial Center, call 1-800-374-9700 or visit www.citibank.com. Information about ThankYou Network is available at http://www.thankyouredemptions.com/.

    About Citibank

    Citibank is a member of Citigroup (NYSE: C). Citigroup, the preeminent 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, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com.

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CONTACT: Citibank Mark Rodgers, 212-559-1719

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT SOURCE: Citibank

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