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Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C)
November 15, 2005
Poland: Citigroup CEO Prince Celebrates 135th Anniversary of Bank Handlowy
Warsaw – Bank Handlowy w Warszawie SA, the oldest continuously operating bank in Poland, celebrates its 135th anniversary this year. On this occasion Citigroup CEO Charles Prince made a special visit to Poland. During his visit in Poland, Prince delivered a speech at the Belvedere Palace, met the employees and took part in a festive Gala.
“Bank Handlowy's 135th anniversary is a very important event to us. Charles Prince’s presence confirms the important role that our bank plays in Citigroup and its activity on the Polish market. Today Bank Handlowy, operating under the brand of Citibank Handlowy, combines the best traditions of Polish banking with modern financial management. We offer our clients the advantages of a global financial institution and local solutions,” said Slawomir S. Sikora, President of the Management Board of Bank Handlowy w Warszawie SA.
At the beginning of his visit in Poland, Charles Prince delivered a speech at the Belvedere Palace concerning the development directions of the financial sector worldwide. Prince spoke about risk management across global networks, meeting the global clients' needs and conditions necessary for the company's development. He also presented his views on the financial institutions' relations with their communities. Presidents of the largest Polish banks, regulators, bank clients and the media took part in the meeting with Prince.
“Globalization is the driving force of economy. Consolidation combined with innovation enables the company to provide better services, new, better products and the ability to make better profits. Financial institutions are responsible for ensuring a fair share in global economy for the newly emerging middle classes,” said Charles Prince during his lecture.
At the Town Hall Charles Prince told Citibank Handlowy's employees about Citigroup's plans for the following years, and the group's most important activities, objectives and priorities. In the latter part of the meeting Prince answered questions from the floor; with a video conference enabling employees of Citibank Handlowy's local branches to ask their questions.
The first day of Prince's visit ended with a festive gala on the occasion of Bank Handlowy's 135th anniversary. The jubilee took place in the Warsaw Philharmonic – an institution related to the bank from its beginning (one of the Philharmonic's founders was the son of the Bank founder – Leopold Julian Kronenberg).
“Bank Handlowy is certainly one of the oldest pillars of our storied past, having been founded in 1870, only 60 years after the City Bank of New York first opened it doors. But it represents far more than our past. With 5,800 employees and 185 branches, Bank Handlowy represents our present and future as well. It is very much a part of one attribute that makes Citigroup the leading financial services company in the world – our unmatched geographic presence. As we look to the future, Poland is clearly a priority market for us and will play a key role in our growth strategy. We expect to continue achieving great things here in Poland to serve our clients with excellence and with distinction,” – said Mr. Prince.
The jubilee was celebrated with a performance by Rafal Blechacz – the laureate of the 15th Chopin International Piano Competition – and a concert of Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Prof. Antoni Wit. Attendees at the Gala included bank clients, representatives of important financial institutions, regulators and Bank Handlowy's employees.
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Bank Handlowy w Warszawie SA
Bank Handlowy w Warszawie SA is one of the largest financial institutions in Poland, offering under the Citibank Handlowy logo a comprehensive and modern range of products and services for corporate, investment and retail banking. Bank Handlowy serves 20,000 corporate clients and 800,000 private customers through its modern distribution channels and a network of over 150 branches. The bank's capital group includes, among others, institutions such as: Bank Handlowy Brokerage House, Bank Handlowy Investment Fund Company, Handlowy Asset Management and Handlowy Leasing. As part of Citigroup, the largest financial institution in the world, guarantees Bank Handlowy customers access to financial services in over 100 countries. Additional information may be found on the internet at: www.citibankhandlowy.pl.
Citigroup
Citigroup is the largest global company offering financial services. It serves about 200 million private, corporate, government and institutional clients in over 100 countries. It provides a comprehensive range of financial products and services, such as commercial an investment banking, retail banking, lending, insurance, services for the securities market, and asset management. Major brand names under the Citigroup logo include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com