Citi Employees in New York City and Across the U.S. Volunteer on National Teach Children to Save Day

NEW YORK, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Citi (NYSE: C) employees in New York City and across the United States are volunteering in schools and branches today on National Teach Children to Save Day, a program to teach kids the financial facts of life.

National Teach Children to Save Day is a financial literacy program developed by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation to teach children, grades K – 12, the importance of saving for the future.  The program also focuses on healthy money habits, such as understanding needs versus wants and spending money wisely.  

"Teach Children to Save is part of our commitment to responsible finance and giving back to the community," said Cece Stewart, President of U.S. Consumer and Commercial Banking at Citi.  "As a banker and a parent, I know that learning about money at an early age is a priceless lesson.  Citi is happy to be part of a program that helps give kids a healthy financial start."

In New York City, Citibank hosted the second graders of P.S. 41 at the Flagship Branch in Union Square.  Cece Stewart was joined by Jonathan Mintz, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs.

"We are pleased to join Citi in teaching students from P.S. 41 the financial basics because we know that learning to save is the foundation for building a lifetime of financial stability and success," said Commissioner Mintz. "The Department of Consumer Affairs invites all New Yorkers to continue their financial education with free, professional financial counseling at our Financial Empowerment Centers throughout the City."

Citi and Citi Community Development have been involved with Teach Children to Save for 13 years and during that time, Citi employees have taught nearly 90,000 children.  The Teach Children to Save initiative reinforces Citi's commitment to improving the financial capability of consumers so that they can make informed financial decisions, and build and preserve assets that will help them achieve a secure financial future.

Citi supports financial education around the world.  In 2011 alone, the Citi Foundation committed more than $25 million globally – nearly $13 million of which was invested in the United States – to support nonprofit partners that work with low-income individuals to build savings, pay down their debt, improve their credit and better manage their expenses.  

"The YMCA is proud to be joining with P.S. 41, one of our school partners, to take part in Citi's National Teach Children to Save Day," said Gary Laermer, Chief Development Officer for the YMCA of Greater New York. "Our after school programs, like the one at P.S. 41 , are designed to teach New York City children and teens the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and enhanced educational achievement.  We applaud Citi for making an effort to teach kids the importance of saving money, an important skill that will follow them in life."

"Citi employees around the country are in their community today and I'm proud of their commitment to financial literacy," said Stewart.  "As bankers, talking and teaching about dollars and cents is what we do every day.  It is part of our commitment to financial inclusion and responsible finance."

For tips and ideas on financial education for children, please visit Citi's blog at new.citi.com.

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. 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, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

SOURCE Citi