Citi, Operation HOPE Partnership Continues to Deliver Valuable Lessons on Financial Literacy

Renewed commitment kick-off teaches students nationwide the "language of money"
LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
Citi and Operation HOPE, the leading global financial literacy nonprofit, renew
their longtime commitment to bring financial literacy to classrooms across the
country and share an important message about personal finance and economic
aspiration. David Simon, Executive Vice President, Citi Cards and HOPE National
Board Member along with John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Operation
HOPE with Citi HOPE Corps volunteers taught Banking on Our Future, HOPE's
award-winning financial literacy curriculum, to students, teachers and guests at
Dutch Kills Elementary School in Long Island City.

The New York event was part of a daylong nationwide effort where Citi HOPE Corps
volunteers taught 1,300 third, fourth and fifth grade students in Atlanta,
Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and
Washington, DC a critical lesson about taking charge of their financial futures.

"Operation HOPE applauds Citi and the Citi Foundation's five year commitment to
HOPE," said John Bryant, who also serves on the President's Advisory Council on
Financial Literacy as vice chairman. The continued support and assistance from
Citi allows HOPE to broaden its 'silver rights' mission to bring economic
self-sufficiency and a sustained spirit of revitalization to underserved
communities.

Banking on Our Future is the winner of Oprah's Angel Network Use Your Life Award
and the U.S. Treasury Department's John Sherman Award for Financial Literacy
Excellence. Since 1996, over 8,000 HOPE Corp volunteers have educated more than
375,000 youth.

"We are pleased to continue Citi's commitment to financial education. Now more
than ever young people need to understand how to save money and plan for their
future. Our work with HOPE serves to inspire and educate thousands of young
people and promote long term economic empowerment. When it comes to money,
knowledge is your greatest asset, and, in today's complex world, financial
literacy is a critical life skill," said Citi Executive Vice President and HOPE
National Board member David Simon.

Citi and Citi Foundation have been working to provide individuals with knowledge
about topics such as basic financial services, saving, credit, financial
planning and budgeting, asset building, investing and homeownership. Through
financial education, individuals develop skills to manage their personal
finances responsibly, build assets, achieve their financial goals and make
informed financial decisions. This work also includes working with HOPE, in
teaching young people to establish responsible, life-long personal financial
accountability.

Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200
million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through
its two operating units, Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides 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. Additional
information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment of individuals and
families, particularly those in need, in the communities where we work so that
they can improve their standard of living.

Globally, the Citi Foundation targets its strategic giving on its priority focus
areas: Microfinance and Microenterprise, Small and Growing Businesses,
Education, and Financial Education and Asset Building. In the United States and
Canada, the Citi Foundation also supports Community Development programs. The
Citi Foundation works with its partners in Microfinance and Microenterprise,
Small and Growing Businesses, and Community Development to support environmental
programs and innovations. Additional information can be found at
www.citifoundation.com.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Operation HOPE is America's leading nonprofit social investment banking and
financial literacy empowerment organization. With more than 400 private sector
partners, 1500 nonprofit organizations and schools, and 100 government partners
in 68 major U.S. cities and five provinces South Africa, HOPE has raised more
than $500 million in its pursuit of educating, assisting and inspiring the next
generation of global stakeholders. Through international initiatives and its
three principal programs, Banking on Our Future (teaching school children about
money), HOPE Coalition America (Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline, 1-888-388-HOPE,
financial emergency preparedness and disaster relief), and Walk-In HOPE Centers
(loans, bill pay, computer literacy, understanding banking principles),
Operation HOPE has delivered services to more than one million low-wealth
individuals and assumed the responsibility of piloting the Silver Rights
Movement towards making free enterprise and capitalism relevant to all
underserved communities. To learn more about HOPE, visit www.operationhope.org
or read the blog at www.operationhope.org/blog.

HOPE
Sherry T. John, 213-891-2908
sherry.john@operationhope.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009