Hola from El Salvador

 

Citi opened its first franchise in El Salvador on March 19, 1964, with 100 employees dedicated solely to corporate banking. As part of its commitment to the country's development, Citi sponsored the purchase of the national airlines' first fleet of planes and helped finance the growth of the cotton industry in the country.

 

In 2007, Citi bought Banco Cuscatlán and Grupo Financiero Uno, opening the door to its commercial, credit card, pension fund (Confía) and insurance (SISA) businesses in the Salvadoran market. In all these sectors, Citi works to help Salvadorans accomplish their dreams with innovative products and services, such as the country's first chip credit cards and online banking for mobile devices.

 

Citi currently has investments totaling $1.8 billion in El Salvador, more than 3,200 employees and 25 branches around the country. Throughout its history, Citi has been characterized by its solidity, innovation and forward-looking leadership.

 

Citi has offices in San Salvador, as well as five business centers and 25 branches across the country. Our central offices are in Edificio Pirámide on the outskirts of Santa Tecla. Edificio Pirámide is a well-known landmark thanks to its distinctive pyramid shape making Citi the ideal place for companies to centralize their banking services. Two other Citi buildings, Edificio Venezuela and Edifico San Marcos, house Citi's operations in El Salvador.

 

Official language: Spanish. English is spoken in almost all tourist destinations while some indigenous communities speak Náhuatl.

 

Capital: San Salvador

 

Currency: U.S. Dollar

 

Population: Approximately 6.7 million inhabitants

 

Climate: El Salvador enjoys a warm climate most of the year and this is perfect for visiting its gorgeous Pacific beaches. Higher elevations, such as Chalatenango La Palma, have a cooler mountain climate. Winter months are May through August when the landscape blooms, thanks to abundant rain.

 

Salvadoran Cuisine: El Salvador is famous for a number of traditional dishes, including the pupusa, a handmade corn flour or rice flour tortilla stuffed with cheese, chicharrón (cooked pork meat ground to a paste consistency), refried beans and/or loroco (a vine flower bud native to Central America). An emphasis on flavor and fresh and varied ingredients make Salvadoran cuisine a uniquely delicious experience.

 

Top Restaurants: El Salvador is home to countless high-quality restaurants offering traditional delicacies that reflect the country's colorful and joyous culture. An especially entertaining place is the Planes de Renderos recreational space, which houses tourist attractions, parks and restaurants. Salvadorian cuisine includes pupusas, empanadas, tamalaes, tropical fruit desserts and many other dishes.

 

 

• Archaeological Sites: Joya de Cerén, which is known for its pottery, is 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of San Salvador. Visitors interested in learning more about the country's pre-Columbian cultures and the gradual fusion with Spanish customs. Visitors to El Salvador should visit Ilobasco, Nahuizalco and La Palma. Many Salvadoran handcrafts incorporate ceramics and terracotta in decorative and practical objects that represent facets of local culture.

 

• Beaches: The Salvadoran coast is the ideal vacation spot, thanks to its warm climate, variety of points of interest and abundant hotels and restaurants. El Salvador's beaches are a popular surfing destination. Well-known beaches include La Costa de Sol and El Puerto de La Libertad.

 

• Mountains: El Imposible, El Trifinio, El Pital and Montecristo are among the country's outstanding peaks and are home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Thanks to its small size and diverse geography, El Salvador offers a range of tourism options within less than an hour of each other.

 

Why I like living in El Salvador: One of the advantages of El Salvador is how easy it is to enjoy a variety of activities: the nearest beaches and mountains are less than an hour away from the capital, making the country the perfect place to spend time in nature. A warm, open culture and friendly people round out the unique benefits El Salvador has to offer.