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New York – Citigroup Inc. today reported net income for the third quarter 2018 of $4.6 billion, or $1.73 per diluted share, on revenues of $18.4 billion. This compared to net income of $4.1 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share, on revenues of $18.4 billion for the third quarter 2017.

Revenues were largely unchanged from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting the net impact of a gain on sale (approximately $580 million) of a fixed income analytics business in the prior-year period and a gain on sale (approximately $250 million) of an asset management business in Mexico in Global Consumer Banking (GCB) in the current period, as well as the impact of foreign exchange translation⁶. Excluding these items, revenues grew 4% driven by growth in the Institutional Clients Group (ICG). Net income of $4.6 billion increased 12%, primarily reflecting a lower effective tax rate as well as lower expenses and cost of credit, as the revenues remained largely unchanged. Earnings per share of $1.73 increased 22% from $1.42 per diluted share in the prior-year period, driven by the growth in net income and an 8% reduction in average diluted shares outstanding.

Percentage comparisons throughout this press release are calculated for the third quarter 2018 versus the third quarter 2017, unless otherwise specified.

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Citigroup

Citigroup revenues of $18.4 billion in the third quarter 2018 were largely unchanged. Excluding the previously mentioned gains on sale as well as the impact of foreign exchange translation, revenues increased 4%, driven by growth in ICG.

Citigroup's operating expenses of $10.3 billion in the third quarter 2018 decreased 1%, as higher volume-related expenses and investments were more than offset by efficiency savings and the wind-down of legacy assets.

Citigroup's cost of credit in the third quarter 2018 was $2.0 billion, a 1% decrease, primarily driven by lower reserve builds in Citi Retail Services and Citi-Branded Cards in North America GCB, partially offset by a net reserve build in ICG.

Citigroup's net income increased to $4.6 billion in the third quarter 2018, primarily driven by the lower effective tax rate as well as the lower expenses and cost of credit, as the revenues remained largely unchanged. Citigroup's effective tax rate was 24% in the current quarter compared to 31% in the third quarter 2017.

Citigroup's allowance for loan losses was $12.3 billion at quarter end, or 1.84% of total loans, compared to $12.4 billion, or 1.91% of total loans, at the end of the prior-year period. Total non-accrual assets declined 19% from the prior-year period to $4.0 billion. Consumer non-accrual loans declined 15% to $2.4 billion and corporate non-accrual loans decreased 25% to $1.5 billion.

Citigroup's end-of-period loans were $675 billion as of quarter end, up 3% from the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange translation, Citigroup's end-of-period loans grew 4%, as 6% aggregate growth in ICG and GCB was partially offset by the continued wind-down of legacy assets in Corporate / Other.

Citigroup's end-of-period deposits were $1.0 trillion as of quarter end, an increase of 4% from the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange translation, Citigroup's end-of-period deposits grew 5%, driven by 8% growth in ICG.

Citigroup's book value per share of $72.88 and tangible book value per share of $61.91, both as of quarter end, increased 1% sequentially, as the benefit of a lower share count and higher net income more than offset common share repurchases and dividends. At quarter end, Citigroup's CET1 Capital ratio was 11.8%, down from 12.1% in the prior quarter as net income was more than offset by common share repurchases and dividends, and risk-weighted assets increased due to client activity. Citigroup's SLR for the third quarter 2018 was 6.5%, down from 6.6% in the prior quarter. During the third quarter 2018, Citigroup repurchased 75 million common shares and returned a total of $6.4 billion to common shareholders in the form of common share repurchases and dividends.

Global Consumer Banking

GCB revenues of $8.7 billion increased 2% on a reported basis and 3% in constant dollars, driven primarily by strength in Latin America GCB, as well as the previously mentioned gain on sale.

North America GCB revenues of $5.1 billion decreased 1%, as higher revenues in Citi Retail Services were more than offset by lower revenues in Citi-Branded Cards and Retail Banking. Retail Banking revenues of $1.3 billion decreased 3%. Excluding mortgage, Retail Banking revenues increased 1%, driven by continued growth in deposit margins and investments, largely offset by lower episodic transaction activity in commercial banking. Citi-Branded Cards revenues of $2.1 billion decreased 3%, as growth in interest-earning balances was more than offset by the impact of the Hilton portfolio sale as well as previously disclosed partnership terms. Citi Retail Services revenues of $1.7 billion increased 2%, primarily reflecting organic loan growth and the benefit of the L.L.Bean portfolio acquisition, partially offset by higher partner payments.

Latin America GCB revenues increased 20% to $1.7 billion, including the gain on sale. In constant dollars, revenues increased 8% excluding the gain on sale driven by continued volume growth across commercial, mortgage and card loans, as well as deposits.

Asia GCB revenues decreased 2% to $1.9 billion. In constant dollars, revenues increased 1%, as continued growth in deposit, lending and insurance revenues was largely offset by lower investment revenues due to weaker market sentiment.

GCB operating expenses increased 5% to $4.7 billion. In constant dollars, expenses increased 6% driven by the timing of investment spending versus the prior year.

GCB cost of credit decreased 13% to $1.9 billion. In constant dollars, cost of credit decreased 12%, driven by a 60% decrease in loan loss reserve builds, primarily in Citi Retail Services and Citi-Branded Cards in North America GCB, partially offset by volume growth and seasoning in International GCB.

GCB net income of $1.6 billion increased 34% on a reported basis and 36% in constant dollars, driven primarily by the lower cost of credit, the lower effective tax rate and the gain on sale, which more than offset the higher expenses.

Institutional Clients Group

ICG revenues of $9.2 billion decreased 2%. Excluding the previously mentioned gain on sale in the prior-year period, revenues grew 4%, driven by growth in Markets and Securities Services as well as Banking.

Banking revenues of $4.8 billion increased 1% (including gain / (loss) on loan hedges)⁷, as continued growth across businesses more than offset a decline in Investment Banking. Treasury and Trade Solutions revenues of $2.3 billion increased 4% on a reported basis and 8% in constant dollars, reflecting continued growth in transaction volumes, loans and deposits. Investment Banking revenues of $1.2 billion were down 8% versus the prior-year period, as growth in advisory was more than offset by a decline in underwriting fees, reflecting lower market activity. Advisory revenues increased 9% to $262 million, equity underwriting revenues decreased 17% to $259 million and debt underwriting revenues decreased 9% to $660 million. Private Bank revenues increased 7% to $849 million, driven by growth in loans and investments, as well as improved deposit spreads. Corporate Lending revenues of $563 million increased 11% (excluding gain / (loss) on loan hedges), reflecting loan growth as well as lower hedging costs.

Markets and Securities Services revenues of $4.5 billion decreased 5%. Excluding the gain on sale in the prior-year period, revenues increased 8% driven by strong revenue growth in Fixed Income Markets and Securities Services. Fixed Income Markets revenues of $3.2 billion in the third quarter 2018 increased 9%, with contribution from both rates and currencies as well as spread products. Equity Markets revenues of $792 million increased 1%, as strength in prime finance and derivatives was largely offset by lower revenues in cash equities, reflecting a more challenging trading environment and lower commissions. Securities Services revenues of $672 million increased 11%, driven by continued growth in client volumes and higher net interest revenue.

ICG net income of $3.1 billion increased 2%, driven primarily by the lower effective tax rate which more than offset the lower revenues as well as the higher cost of credit and expenses. ICG operating expenses increased 1% to $5.2 billion, driven by an increase in compensation costs, volume-related expenses and investments, partially offset by efficiency savings. ICG cost of credit increased due to a net reserve build of $48 million in the current quarter, compared to a net reserve release of $208 million in the prior-year period.

Corporate / Other

Corporate / Other revenues of $494 million decreased 5% from the prior-year period, driven by the wind-down of legacy assets.

Corporate / Other expenses of $459 million decreased 44% from the prior-year period, driven by the wind-down of legacy assets and lower infrastructure costs.

Corporate / Other income from continuing operations before taxes of $65 million increased from a loss of $258 million in the prior-year period, as the lower expenses more than offset the lower revenues.

Citigroup will host a conference call today at 11:30 a.m. (ET). A live webcast of the presentation, as well as financial results and presentation materials, will be available at https://www.citigroup.com/global/investors. Dial-in numbers for the conference call are as follows: (866) 516-9582 in the U.S. and Canada; (973) 409-9210 outside of the U.S. and Canada. The conference code for both numbers is 83786410.

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Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

Additional financial, statistical, and business-related information, as well as business and segment trends, is included in a Quarterly Financial Data Supplement. Both this earnings release and Citigroup's Third Quarter 2018 Quarterly Financial Data Supplement are available on Citigroup's website at www.citigroup.com.

Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. Actual results and capital and other financial condition may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including, among others, the efficacy of Citi's business strategies and execution of those strategies, such as those relating to its key investment, efficiency and capital optimization initiatives, governmental and regulatory actions or approvals, geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, challenges and conditions, such as the level of interest rates, and the precautionary statements included in this release and those contained in Citigroup's filings with the SEC, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of Citigroup's 2017 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Citigroup speak only as to the date they are made, and Citi does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.

Contacts:
Press: Mark Costiglio (212) 559-4114
Investors: Susan Kendall (212) 559-2718
Fixed Income Investors: Thomas Rogers (212) 559-5091

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¹ Citigroup's total expenses divided by total revenues.

² Preliminary. Citigroup's return on average tangible common equity (RoTCE) is a non-GAAP financial measure. RoTCE represents annualized net income available to common shareholders as a percentage of average tangible common equity (TCE). For the components of the calculation, see Appendix A.

³ Ratios as of September 30, 2018 are preliminary. Citigroup's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) Capital ratio and Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) reflect full implementation of the U.S. Basel III rules for all periods. As of December 31, 2017 and for all prior periods, these ratios are non-GAAP financial measures, which reflect full implementation of regulatory capital adjustments and deductions prior to the effective date of January 1, 2018. For the composition of Citigroup's CET1 Capital and ratio, see Appendix C. For the composition of Citigroup's SLR, see Appendix D.

⁴ Citigroup's payout ratio is the sum of common dividends and common share repurchases divided by net income available to common shareholders. For the components of the calculation, see Appendix A.

⁵ Citigroup's tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of this measure to reported results, see Appendix E.

⁶ Results of operations excluding the impact of foreign exchange translation (constant dollar basis) are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of these measures to reported results, see Appendix B.

⁷ Credit derivatives are used to economically hedge a portion of the corporate loan portfolio that includes both accrual loans and loans at fair value. Gains / (losses) on loan hedges includes the mark-to-market on the credit derivatives and the mark-to-market on the loans in the portfolio that are at fair value. The fixed premium costs of these hedges are netted against the corporate lending revenues to reflect the cost of credit protection. Citigroup's results of operations excluding the impact of gains / (losses) on loan hedges are non-GAAP financial measures.