tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/3 2013-05-22T22:50:16Z Visit Citi’s blog for updates on Citi’s innovations and financial insights from senior leaders, employees, and community partners as Citi builds upon its 200 year history. Movable Type Enterprise 4.37 tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1395 2013-05-22T22:26:54Z

Approximately 3.5 billion people today live in cities. Road traffic has become a must-consider factor for many of us on a daily basis. According to the 2012 Urban Mobility Report, American commuters spend almost the equivalent of a work week...

Secretary Roberto Roy of the Panama Metro Secretariat https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Approximately 3.5 billion people today live in cities. Road traffic has become a must-consider factor for many of us on a daily basis. According to the 2012 Urban Mobility Report, American commuters spend almost the equivalent of a work week behind the wheel in one year. The world's population is growing and more and more people are seeking opportunities in urban areas. Citi is committed to helping transform and modernize infrastructure and enhance the cities' livability. One example is the assistance to the Republic of Panama in facilitating funds for the first metro line in Panama City, where there have tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1394 2013-05-21T20:34:26Z

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are at historic lows--but your initial interest rate would likely be even lower if you opted for some sort of adjustable-rate loan. Does that mean you should go for an ARM, as adjustable-rate mortgages are...

By Jonathan Clements, Director of Financial Education, Citi Personal Wealth Management https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are at historic lows--but your initial interest rate would likely be even lower if you opted for some sort of adjustable-rate loan. Does that mean you should go for an ARM, as adjustable-rate mortgages are often called? Like many things in life, it depends. Imagine your paycheck fluctuates, perhaps because you work on commission or you own a small business. Alternatively, let's say you just don't like uncertainty. In these cases, you may want to go for a fixed-rate mortgage, where your monthly principal-and-interest payment won't change. Most fixed-rate mortgages are for 15 or 30 tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1393 2013-05-17T16:00:00Z

Some people are reluctant to fund Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k) plans, fearing they are setting themselves up for big tax bills in retirement. After all, retirement-account withdrawals are typically taxed as ordinary income, which can mean paying a federal...

Jonathan Clements, Director of Financial Education, Citi Personal Wealth Management https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Some people are reluctant to fund Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k) plans, fearing they are setting themselves up for big tax bills in retirement. After all, retirement-account withdrawals are typically taxed as ordinary income, which can mean paying a federal rate as high as 39.6% in 2013. By contrast, in a taxable account, any qualifying dividends and long-term capital gains are taxed at a maximum federal rate of 20%. What to do? If you're eligible, you can always fund a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) instead. Roth accounts don't offer an initial tax deduction, but withdrawals can be federal and tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1388 2013-05-15T22:18:27Z

Thank you for sharing your comments and questions. While it is encouraging to hear your feedback on our improvements, we know some of your experiences have not been satisfactory and we have more work ahead to meet your needs. For...

Jud Linville, Citi Cards CEO https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Thank you for sharing your comments and questions. While it is encouraging to hear your feedback on our improvements, we know some of your experiences have not been satisfactory and we have more work ahead to meet your needs. For those of you with questions related to your account, a member of our Customer Service team will reach out to you via phone or email, if they have not already. We also encourage you to contact us anytime at 1-800-950-5114 or tweet @AskCiti to let us know how we can address your concerns. We appreciate your feedback on improvements to tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1387 2013-05-14T21:37:23Z

Wind, as a source of energy, has numerous advantages and is a responsible way of addressing our current and future energy needs. 1) Wind energy is renewable and clean. Wind is generated from a pollution-free and inexhaustible natural resource that...

EDF Renewable Energy https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Wind, as a source of energy, has numerous advantages and is a responsible way of addressing our current and future energy needs. 1) Wind energy is renewable and clean. Wind is generated from a pollution-free and inexhaustible natural resource that protects both air and water quality. Citi recently helped finance EDF RE's Pacific Wind project located in Kern County, California, which achieved commercial operation in 2012 and can supply the electricity needs of 54,000 households. In addition, the Pacific Wind Project encompasses approximately 8,500 acres of leased land, but less than 2 percent of the land area will be occupied tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1384 2013-05-10T20:19:50Z

From left to right: Bill Cho, Citibank Area Director for NYC, Don Callahan, Citi CAO, Val Smith, Director of Citi's Corporate Sustainability and Scot Horst, Senior Vice President of LEEDAs a global financial institution doing business in more than...

Steven E. Avadek, Director and Global Head, Sustainability, Citi https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 From left to right: Bill Cho, Citibank Area Director for NYC, Don Callahan, Citi CAO, Val Smith, Director of Citi's Corporate Sustainability and Scot Horst, Senior Vice President of LEEDAs a global financial institution doing business in more than 160 countries, we have an expansive real estate footprint with more than 12,000 locations around the world. Our branches, ATMs, data centers and offices collectively consume the same amount of energy each year as countries like Senegal or Nicaragua. This is significant from both a financial and environmental perspective.Here are 3 ways decreasing our environmental footprint enhances Citi and helps tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1383 2013-05-08T21:09:24Z

After years in the doldrums, the U.S. housing market is finally showing signs of life. Looking to buy a home? Here are five tips to keep in mind: 1. Save 20%. To avoid taking out private mortgage insurance, you...

Jonathan Clements, Director of Financial Education, Citi Personal Wealth Management https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 After years in the doldrums, the U.S. housing market is finally showing signs of life. Looking to buy a home? Here are five tips to keep in mind: 1. Save 20%. To avoid taking out private mortgage insurance, you typically have to put down 20% of a home's purchase price. If you're in your 20s and fairly new to the workforce, it can be hard to scrape together that 20%, unless you get help from your parents or elsewhere. Still, save as much as you can. The more you put down, the easier it should be to get a tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1382 2013-05-07T15:36:51Z

Digitization is a hot topic as more of the world moves toward online banking. For Citi, digitization is important because of the ways we use technological advances to make the world not only more convenient, but more sustainable. One progressive...

Jonathan Larsen, Head of Consumer Banking, Asia Pacific https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Digitization is a hot topic as more of the world moves toward online banking. For Citi, digitization is important because of the ways we use technological advances to make the world not only more convenient, but more sustainable. One progressive part of Citi's digitization efforts is the recent unveiling of Citibank Express, a machine that links physical and digital banking channels, allowing customers to do almost all of their banking outside of a branch. These are the three ways this development helps make the world a better place: tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1381 2013-05-06T13:29:31Z

When you speak, we do listen. Your opinions and experiences continue to help us understand where we need to improve. Here are some recent changes we have made based on your feedback: We heard that your payment deadline was too...

Jud Linville, Citi Cards CEO https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 When you speak, we do listen. Your opinions and experiences continue to help us understand where we need to improve. Here are some recent changes we have made based on your feedback: We heard that your payment deadline was too early in the day and we agree. Effective immediately, we have extended the deadline for online and phone payments until midnight Eastern Time on your due date to pay your bill. You told us you wanted Virtual Account Number (VAN) back. We are pleased to tell you that the downloadable version of VAN is now available. For those not aware tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1380 2013-05-03T20:44:57Z

What do Gary Sinise, Tom Brokaw and Citi all have in common? Each is committed to the support of veterans, service members and their families. To recognize this commitment, Easter Seals Serving DC | MD | VA recently held its...

Lisa Reeves, President & CEO, Easter Seals Serving DC | MD | VA https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 What do Gary Sinise, Tom Brokaw and Citi all have in common? Each is committed to the support of veterans, service members and their families. To recognize this commitment, Easter Seals Serving DC | MD | VA recently held its annual Advocacy Awards dinner in Washington, DC where we were proud to honor the significant contributions of Citi, Tom Brokaw, and Gary Sinise to improve veterans' lives. Each year, Easter Seals' Advocacy Awards recognize individuals, corporations and foundations who have transformed the landscape for people with disabilities and special needs. The 2013, Awards were dedicated to celebrating the vital veterans' tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1379 2013-05-03T16:14:15Z

Citi Green Teams are communities of Citi volunteers in offices across the globe who work together to share ideas, resources and best practices on sustainability. We then focus on implementing these green solutions into the Citi office environment, our homes...

Ferenc Benda and Raoul Blignaut, Citi South Africa Green Team Members https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Citi Green Teams are communities of Citi volunteers in offices across the globe who work together to share ideas, resources and best practices on sustainability. We then focus on implementing these green solutions into the Citi office environment, our homes and if possible, the broader community in which we live in. Our motto is "One Citi... One Planet" and we are committed to creating a sustainable future through the 3 "R's"- Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. Below are three ways that the Citi Green Team in South Africa works toward the Citi motto and demonstrates commitment to sustainability: tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1378 2013-05-02T21:07:37Z

Have you ever been told "you should take out the largest mortgage possible"? As with so much conventional wisdom, there's an element of truth: For many Americans, a mortgage is indeed the most attractive way to borrow because interest rates...

Jonathan Clements, Director of Financial Education, Citi Personal Wealth Management https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Have you ever been told "you should take out the largest mortgage possible"? As with so much conventional wisdom, there's an element of truth: For many Americans, a mortgage is indeed the most attractive way to borrow because interest rates are not only low, but also the interest is often tax-deductible. But a mortgage isn't some sort of financial freebie--and too much mortgage debt can create severe financial headaches. How so? Consider three issues. First, even if your mortgage interest is tax-deductible, it's still costing you a lot more than it is costing Uncle Sam. Let's say you are in tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1374 2013-05-01T20:05:32Z

Living in a better world is dependent upon becoming more sustainable, but too often we use this term as shorthand for "environmental sustainability." For Citi, sustainability is inherently tied to environmental, social AND financial performance. Business alignment and execution are...

Pam Flaherty, Director, Corporate Citizenship, Citi https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Living in a better world is dependent upon becoming more sustainable, but too often we use this term as shorthand for "environmental sustainability." For Citi, sustainability is inherently tied to environmental, social AND financial performance. Business alignment and execution are critically important and we make sure that our sustainability strategy is aligned with and embedded in Citi's businesses, and that our initiatives are implementable. Citi was named last month as the "World's Greenest Bank" by Bloomberg Markets. This is due to a strong sustainability strategy, and strong execution. Our approach to sustainability is: tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1373 2013-04-30T20:18:35Z

Many of the world's poor lack not only financial resources but also adequate access to energy to power their homes and business places. The inefficient use of energy in under-served communities is also a contributor to climate change. But...

April Allderdice, CEO, MicroEnergy Credits https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Many of the world's poor lack not only financial resources but also adequate access to energy to power their homes and business places. The inefficient use of energy in under-served communities is also a contributor to climate change. But what if there were a way that lower-income communities could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also improving their financial and energy usage profiles? In Mongolia, many lower-income residents live in portable tent-like structures--called gers--that are traditionally under-insulated and heated by inefficient coal-burning stoves that contribute to the notorious air pollution in the country's urban centers. However, a simple household tag:blog.citigroup.com,2012-12-31:/1367 2013-04-29T05:30:25Z

Access to reliable and affordable financial products is critical when it comes to saving money for education, protecting against setbacks, or borrowing to start a business. Globally, more than 2.5 billion people are unbanked or underbanked, lacking access to the...

Fermin Vivanco, Maria Luisa Hayem and Andrea Reyes, Access to Finance Unit, Multilateral Investment Fund, Inter-American Development Bank https://blogmgmt.citi.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=3&id=114 Access to reliable and affordable financial products is critical when it comes to saving money for education, protecting against setbacks, or borrowing to start a business. Globally, more than 2.5 billion people are unbanked or underbanked, lacking access to the financial services necessary to engage in the local economy and safely conduct basic transactions. Solutions to many of these challenges come in the form of microfinance institutions (MFIs) that help provide access to specialized financial products. A common dilemma faced in the sector is how to offer savings products that are both attractive to and appropriate for the most vulnerable