"At Citigroup, we aspire to be known as a company dedicated to community service, taking a leadership role in every local community around the world in which we operate, and making a positive difference in the communities where we live and work.
 
Citing the belief that strong financial education programs raise the quality of life for individuals, families and institutions and strengthen communities around the world, Citigroup and the Citigroup Foundation announced on April 7, 2004, a 10-year, $200 million commitment to financial education. The commitment will support financial education programs in the nearly 100 countries where the company operates around the world. Citigroup also announced the formation of an Office of Financial Education and a global initiative designed to encourage its 275,000 employees to support financial education and other charitable causes by granting a day off work to volunteer for a non-profit organization.
 
In 2003, Citigroup completed four years ahead of schedule the 10-year, $115 billion commitment made following our 1998 merger announcement to lend and invest in U.S. LMI communities and to small business. We also are ahead of goal during the first year of our 10-year, $120 billion commitment to lend and invest in underserved communities in California and Nevada having done $19 billion in lending. During 2003, we also announced a new commitment to make $200 billion available for affordable mortgages in the U.S. through 2010.
 
For close to 40 years, Citigroup has been a pioneer funder of microfinance programs knowing that it can help poor families improve their lives, as well as help build the private sector in poor countries and create jobs. Over the past 5 years, the Citigroup Foundation has made $17 million in grants to 178 microfinance partners in 50 countries.
 
Citigroup believes that working to conserve and enhance the environment is good business practice. One of our recent major initiatives was being part of a consortium of banks that developed and, in June 2003, adopted the Equator Principles. The Equator Principles are based on the World Bank and IFC’s policies and guidelines for managing social and environmental issues related to development projects financing around the world. During 2003, Citigroup also adopted a new environmental and social risk management policy and programs for the Global Corporate & Investment Banking group; and launched a new program to invest in sustainable forestry and renewable energy."