Citibank 2009 Annual Report Download - page 10

viii
2009 IN SUMMARY
Toward the end of last year, members of our senior leadership team and I traveled separately
to 17 cities in 14 states where Citi has operations. We met with representatives of more than
200 not-for-profit groups with whom Citi is associated, including our partners in foreclosure
prevention and other community-service activities. The work our colleagues and these
groups do together at the grassroots of America truly is impressive. It offered me a vivid and
deeper perspective on why the people of Citi should feel good about what the Company has
accomplished over the past year and about our collective ability to handle all the challenges
still before us.
Citi has overcome problems that many critics said we could not surmount. We are emerging
from a very bleak financial environment. Throughout this time, however, we have never
stopped playing a constructive role in the communities of this nation by helping to alleviate
the economic pressures on individuals and their families. We also have opened our lending
capacity to a wide range of business and other organizations. At the same time, we have
aggressively and effectively attacked the problems that threatened to undermine the
Company.
Appropriately, then, I return to where I started this letter: by expressing gratitude to the people
of Citi, whatever their roles and wherever they work in the global expanse of the Company.
And again, all of us at Citi are deeply appreciative of the assistance we received from the
people of the United States.
Naturally, I am profoundly grateful to our customers as well. They have shown us incredible
loyalty and support through even the worst days. They have reinforced our determination
that, in operating our businesses, the needs of our clients will come first. Experience clearly
has shown that where this principle is not followed, there can be no genuine, lasting business
success.
For all my fellow shareholders, I emphasize how far we have come and my keen awareness
of both the cost incurred in doing so and our obligation to achieve the profitability and growth
that will convincingly demonstrate the promise of Citi. We believe our progress in 2009 has
positioned us to deliver new and substantial value to shareholders. That is our ultimate
purpose and most immediate objective.
Sincerely,
Vikram Pandit
Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup Inc.