Citibank Adds a 'Cash Course' On Personal Finances to College Curricula

Business Wire, March 6, 2001

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2001

The #1 Credit Card Issuer Extends Its Reach In Helping College

Students Learn Responsible Money Management

Bolstering its leading commitment to financial literacy among young adults, Citibank teams with EdVenture Partners to take its "Credit-ED" program into college classrooms across the nation.

This spring semester, Citibank announces it will sponsor a unique hands-on industry-education course in which marketing students from five schools around the country will participate and, therefore, promote responsible money management to their fellow students on campus.

The five schools participating in the Citibank/EdVenture Credit-ED pilot program are: Northeastern University; Boston University; Arizona State University; University of California, Berkeley; and the State University of New York, Binghamton.

Credit Education: A Pre-requisite to Life After College

The college campus is the ideal environment to teach young adults about the need for responsible money management. And who better to talk to students about credit card basics and creating a budget than...other students?

The Citibank/EdVenture Credit-ED program provides students with the rare opportunity to apply classroom teachings to real-world business practices. Students at each of the five participating schools will form a "marketing agency." The goal of the course is to design and implement an on-campus marketing campaign aimed at educating college students about the importance of fiscal responsibility.

"We are excited about offering this opportunity to the students," explains Gina Doynow, Citibank's Vice President of College Marketing. "Research tells us that students want to be responsible and learn the ABC's of credit, yet many of them may not know where to turn. We are pleased to have the students themselves help us accomplish this. We're looking forward to seeing their campaigns as well as the impact made in the student community."

The students will spend the first half of the semester formulating their marketing strategy recommendations and campaign idea. After presenting their concept to Citibank, they will execute their campaign on campus as well as track and analyze its results.

Beyond Students: Educating College Administrators and Parents Too

Many college students arrive on campus lacking the fundamentals for managing their own finances wisely. Surprisingly, it's a subject often overlooked by parents and high schools. Citibank believes that young adults should not have to learn the vital lesson of financial responsibility the hard way -- through trial and error.

A pioneer in Credit Education, Citibank is changing this "learning" process.

"We are dedicated to helping students acquire crucial money management skills early so they can spend wisely, minimize debt and build a good credit history for life after college," says Doynow.

Citibank's Credit-ED program provides the utmost financial tools and resources not only to college students, but also campus administrators and parents. The program offers easy, convenient access to a wide range of free resources that include:

- The "Credit Matters" page at http://credit-ed.citibank.com . This resource
allows students - and parents - to learn and understand the fundamentals of
money management. The site features a range of free credit-related tools,
information and additional financial education materials, such as:

- "Start Right" -- a 30-minute video of students talking to students about
money

- Credit Minder - a credit card register that helps track spending

- "The Adventures of Anita Future and Les Foresight" comic book

- a humorous comic strip series that sheds light on credit

card matters and money management

- Credit-ED bulletins - a series of guides on managing and

understanding credit

- Information covering a variety of personal financial

management issues

- Links to other useful Web sites.

- An innovative Web site Citibank created specifically for college

and university administrators across the country:

www.credit-edadministrator.com. Here, administrators can help

guide their students to financial "smarts" by accessing all the

free Credit-ED financial education materials and resources, many

of which can be downloaded and customized with a college or

university logo.

- Monthly statements and on-line account management provided to

cardholders to help students track spending and manage their

budgets.

Citibank is part of Citigroup (NYSE:C), the preeminent global financial services company, providing some 120 million consumers, corporations, governments and institutions in more than 100 countries with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark umbrella are Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Salomon Smith Barney, and Travelers. Additional information may be found at: www.citigroup.com.

EdVenture Partners, an education marketing company based in Berkeley, California, has designed unique industry-education partnerships at over 300 campuses across the United States. EdVenture Partners provides each student agency with ongoing resources, guidance, and a $2,500 project budget to implement their marketing campaign.