Citigroup Awards $2 Million to Habitat for Humanity To Build Homes with Deserving Families in 30 U.S. Cities.

NEW YORK -- Habitat Recognizes Citigroup as Largest Investor in its Zero-Interest-Rate Mortgage Program with $14 Million

The Citigroup Foundation has awarded a $2 million grant to Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to help build homes in 30 U.S. cities with deserving families who would not otherwise be able to afford a home. These grant dollars awarded for 2004 are part of the "Citigroup Builds Communities" program, which unites employees from across the company's business units -- Citibank, Smith Barney, CitiFinancial, CitiMortgage, Primerica and Travelers Life and Annuity -- as they volunteer to build Habitat homes. Now in its fifth year, the "Citigroup Builds Communities" program is sponsored by Citigroup's Global Consumer Community Relations Department with support from the Citigroup Foundation.

This $2 million grant is the fifth major grant that Citigroup has made to HFHI targeted for the U.S. bringing the total to $7 million. Citigroup also was recently recognized by HFHI as being the largest dollar-amount investor in the organization's zero-interest-rate mortgage program for Habitat partner families. To date, Citigroup has invested more than $14 million in this special HFHI mortgage program.

To build on efforts to expand its reach to more Hispanic consumers, Citigroup is continuing to place a special emphasis on building Habitat homes in the nation's leading Hispanic markets. These are in California: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego; in Florida: Broward County; in Illinois: DuPage County; in New York: New York City; and in Texas: Dallas, Houston, Rio Grande and San Antonio. Habitat families in these markets are also being given the opportunity to improve their personal finance management skills by participating in financial education training developed by Citigroup and available in both English and Spanish.

"The combination of philanthropic giving, employee volunteerism and geographic breadth that we realize in partnership with Habitat truly reflects our commitment to help make a difference in communities where we live and work," said Bob Willumstad, President and COO of Citigroup, who also is a member of the Habitat for Humanity International board of directors. "Our partnership with Habitat is a natural one since we share with them the goal of ensuring that quality, affordable housing, financial products and financial education are available so families can feel confident in assuming the responsibility of homeownership."

Late last month, employees from Citigroup and Banamex, the company's bank in Mexico, were led by a senior management team that included Mr. Willumstad, Marge Magner, Chairman and CEO of Citigroup's Global Consumer Group; and Manuel Medina Mora, Chairman and CEO of Citigroup Latin America and CEO of Banamex, in building homes in Puebla during the 2004 Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) with Habitat for Humanity. The 2004 JCWP helped build two new communities, one in Puebla and one in Veracruz, where 150 families now own homes of their own.

Said Charles V. Raymond, President of the Citigroup Foundation, "We are very pleased to once again make a grant to Habitat for Humanity, and most especially to know that it will help deserving families realize their dreams of becoming homeowners. We also recognize that volunteerism is a very important form of support and we believe that through our 'Citigroup Builds Communities' program, our employees can get involved in a meaningful way to help revitalize local communities."

"We are so pleased to be working with Bob Willumstad and the great team of people he has at Citigroup," said Paul Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity International. "We are so thankful for the support we receive, and it's such a blessing to see an organization such as Citigroup that isn't content to just be in a community, but wants to work with Habitat and others to make a difference in the communities where they work and live."

In building Habitat for Humanity homes, teams of employee volunteers partner with local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. These affiliates are independent, locally run nonprofit organizations that coordinate all aspects of Habitat home building in their local area.

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is a Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. By the end of 2005, Habitat will have built its 200,000th house and more than one million people will be living in Habitat homes they helped build and are buying through no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. www.habitat.org

About Citigroup

Citigroup (NYSE: C), 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. The Citigroup Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: financial education, educating the next generation, and building communities and entrepreneurs. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com.