Citi Opens New Training Center in Dalian

April 14, 2010, Dalian -- Citi China today announced the opening of a new training center in Dalian, in partnership with the Dalian University of Foreign Language (“DUFL. A ceremony was held to mark the occasion, attended by Mr. Darren Buckley, Citigroup Japan Holdings Representative Director, President & CEO, Mr. Gary Li, General Manager of Citi Data Processing Services, Ms Sun Yuhua, President of DUFL, as well as Dalian government officials.

Mr. Andrew Au, Chief Executive Officer of Citi China said, “The opening of this training center in Dalian reflects Citi’s intent to continue to grow in China and to launch new initiatives which facilitate job creation and the ongoing expansion of the talent pool in support of China’s financial services sector.”

Mr. Darren Buckley said, "This is yet another exciting example of fresh thinking and innovation by Citi. The collaboration between Citi in China and Japan, the DUFL and the Dalian government to make this a reality has been exceptional, brining benefits to the students of Dalian and ultimately, the local economy."

The new center will focus on the provision of banking and financial services training to DUFL’s third-year and forth-year undergraduates and some post-graduate students, as well as to Citi’s own employees. The training will primarily be conducted in Japanese, and some English-language courses will also be available. Citi trainers will conduct the courses, which will cover areas including personal banking, international clearance, transaction services, and compliance and corporate governance.

Citi maintains longstanding ties with Dalian. In addition to its Dalian branch, Citi has based two critically important operational centers in Dalian. Citi Data Processing Services provides professional back office services to Citi's customers in the Asia-Pacific region and Citicorp Software and Technology Services provides software development and technology support for Citi businesses worldwide. In 2009, Citi opened a lending company, in Wafangdian City, outside of Dalian, in Liaoning Province.

The Citi-DUFL Financial Services Training Center includes classrooms, conference rooms and a lecture hall with a capacity for more than 80 people. The training center will offer video conferencing services, allowing Citi professionals to train students from remote locations such as Japan.

Mr. Gary Li said, “We are delighted to be further expanding our presence in Dalian, and to be partnering with the Dalian University of Foreign Language to launch a state-of-the-art training center. We look forward to continuing to play an active and important role in the Dalian community.”

Ms Sun Yuhua, President of DUFL said, “We are very pleased to partner with Citi to launch this program. The establishment of this training center creates a win-win situation for both DUFL and Citi, also it will contribute valuable and well-qualified young professionals who in turn support the success of Dalian’s local economy.”

Citi and DUFL have officially agreed to offer courses for the next five years, with the option to extend the program at that time.