Citi Supports New Microfinance Disaster Management Training Conducted by

Banking With The Poor Network in Chengdu Thursday March 12, 2009, Chengdu – China’s microfinance community is benefiting from the first ever Microfinance and Disaster Management training conducted in China. The workshops held in Chengdu in Sichuan Province are part of a long-term initiative to support the development of microfinance in Asia that is funded by Citi, and managed by the Banking With the Poor Network (“BWTP Network”) and the Foundation for Development Cooperation (“FDC”). The week-long session in Chengdu is being held in collaboration with the Citi-China Microfinance Training Centre (CCMTC) and the China Association of Microfinance (CAM). It spans two separate initiatives – a Training of Trainers Workshop, which commenced on March 9, and a Microfinance and Disaster Management Workshop on March 12 and 13. Representatives from CCMTC, CAM, and the Association for Rural Development of Poor Areas of Sichuan attended the training-of-trainers workshop. The primary objective of this workshop was to prepare locally based facilitators to implement the Microfinance and Disaster Management Trainer’s Manual for practioners throughout China. This Manual is designed to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) develop strategies for disaster preparedness, and to respond more effectively to natural disasters. To date, it has been disseminated to more than 100 training and policy organizations and MFIs around the world. Around 25 microfinance practitioners from various microfinance organizations around China are attending the Microfinance and Disaster Management Workshop, which commences today. This training is designed to develop critical knowledge and skills to better prepare MFIs for natural disasters, as well as highlighting the role that microfinance can play in reconstruction efforts. Andrew Au, Chief Executive Officer of Citi China, said, “We are delighted to be supporting this important initiative in partnership with the BWTP Network and FDC, which reinforces Citi China’s commitment to playing an active role in recovery efforts in Sichuan Province, while reflecting Citi’s leading role in promoting microfinance as a means of poverty alleviation in China.” Craig Wilson, Executive Director, FDC, and Executive Committee member, BWTP Network, said, “This workshop builds on Citi’s existing strong support of microfinance in the region and the BWTP Network’s greater involvement in Asia. The program works to build on lessons learned by the microfinance industry is the wake of the 2005 Asian Tsunami, primarily in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India, and to transfer these lessons to other countries and contexts. FDC and the BWTP Network are especially pleased to be working with the China Association of Microfinance as a part of increasing coordination between microfinance networks regionally”.

Citi is one of the world’s leading corporate supporters of the microfinance sector. Citi’s philanthropic support for microfinance, funded by the Citi Foundation, focuses on building the capacity of MFIs and promoting the microfinance sector. FDC has an established record and commitment to improving the outreach and efficiency of financial services to the poor. The BWTP Network is the leading pan-Asia microfinance network with a diverse and inclusive membership of stakeholders involved in the financing, regulation and delivery of microfinance to the poor. The Citi Foundation sponsored Microfinance and Disaster Management workshop follows another initiative recently unveiled by Citi to support reconstruction efforts in earthquake-hit areas of Sichuan Province. In February 2009, Citi announced a new sustainable bamboo enterprise program in conjunction with the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. The program is the first of its kind and is designed to help rebuild livelihoods by promoting bamboo-based employment opportunities for families affected by the earthquake, while supporting the development of the local bamboo sector.

END About 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. About Citi Foundation The Citi Foundation is committed to enhancing economic opportunities for underserved individuals and families in the communities where we work throughout the world. Globally, the Citi Foundation is focusing its giving on Microfinance and Microentrepreneurship, which helps individuals become economically self-sufficient; Small and Growing Businesses, leading to economic expansion and job creation; Education, which prepares young people for personal and professional success; Financial Education, which helps individuals make informed financial decisions; and the Environment with a focus on sustainable enterprises that generate jobs and stimulate economic growth while preserving the environment. Additional information can be found at www.citigroupfoundation.com/ About Foundation for Development Cooperation The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) - The Foundation for Development Cooperation is an independent, not-for-profit international development organization, based in Brisbane, Australia. The Foundation for Development Cooperation is an independent, not-for-profit international development organisation. Through alliances and partnerships, FDC undertakes a range of initiatives which seek to improve the lives of poor people in developing countries. It has extensive regional activities and its early work in microfinance led to the creation of the BWTP Network in 1997. In relation to microfinance, FDC has undertaken in-depth studies on policy, regulatory frameworks, the roles of central and commercial banks, and capacity building. With Citi Foundation sponsorship, FDC and BWTP organized the "Pan-Asia Forum on

Capacity Building for Microfinance in Crisis Situations" in Colombo, Sri Lanka in June 2005, and the first Asia Microfinance Forum "Partnerships and Innovations: Increasing the impact of Microfinance in Asia" in Beijing, China in March 2006. FDC has an Asia regional office in Singapore and a Pacific regional office in Fiji is to be opened on 15 September 2008. Additional information may be found at www.fcdc.org.au About Banking With The Poor Banking With The Poor (BWTP) - BWTP is an expanding network of some 30-plus national policy institutions, commercial banks and NGOs from 10 countries in Asia. Its objective is to support the development of the microfinance sector in the Asia region. BWTP members include ASA (Bangladesh), Credit Development Forum (Bangladesh), Janata Bank (Bangladesh), PKSF (Bangladesh), Shakti Foundation (Bangladesh), Sajida Foundation (Bangladesh), Swanirvar Bangladesh, PKSF (Bangladesh), Bandhan (India), BWDA (India), Canara Bank (India), Friends of Women's World Banking (India), MYRADA (India), NABARD (India), Vysya Bank (India), Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Indonesia), Bina Swadaya (Indonesia), PPSW - Center for Women's Resources Development (Indonesia), Dian Mandiri Foundation (Indonesia), Rural Microfinance Development Centre (Nepal), Swabalamban Bikas Bank (Nepal), First Microfinance Bank Ltd (Pakistan), ASKI (Philippines), KMBI (Philippines), TSPI Development Corporation (Philippines), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Philippines), Hatton National Bank (Sri Lanka), Lakjaya (Sri Lanka), SANASA Development Bank (Sri Lanka), SEEDS (Sri Lanka), and Small Enterprise Development Company (Thailand). BWTP recently established its secretariat in Singapore. Additional information may be found at www.bwtp.org Media Contact: Stephen Thomas (86 21) 2896 6369; Stephen.r.thomas@citi.com