Our promise to small business.

Small business is the backbone of the American economy, and its success is critical to the nation's recovery. Here at Citi, we are committed to providing small business owners with the advice and tools they need to manage their businesses even better, and to grow and create jobs.

As part of that commitment, we are hosting a series of small business seminars in the New York area that will help business owners make sound financial choices. The program kicked off last week in Brooklyn with an event that focused on the latest techniques to guard against identity theft and online fraud. The series will continue throughout April and early May in Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, with other seminars addressing "Cash Management Strategies."

In addition to the seminars, we also hosted Main St. Small Business expos in 71 Long Island branches on Saturday, April 24. The expos provided small business owners with networking opportunities and the chance to exhibit their products and services while interacting with Citi customers. The expos also celebrated small business owners' continued perseverance in a challenging economic environment.

The events are part of Citibank's "Our Promise" initiative launched in New York last year, now rolling out to all of Citi's U.S. markets. Our Promise is a way to help us reconnect with customers and thank them for their business and loyalty, and reinforces our commitment to improve every day, keeping customers at the center of all we do.

For more information on Citi's Small Business offerings, visit www.citibusiness.com. For more information on "Our Promise," visit www.citi.com/promises.