Business Profile
Citi has the longest presence in the Greek market of any foreign bank, dating back to 1964 and it is currently considered the largest foreign bank in Greece. Citi Greece employs more than 1,200 people and operates two core Greek Corporate and Shipping offices, as well as a solid Consumer bank network with over 700,000 customers.
The Institutional Clients Group is a leader in the local market:
- Active partner to the Greek State in Advisory, with long track record in privatizations, as well as in Debt & Equity Capital Markets and Credit extension
- Adviser of choice to Greek banks and corporates
- Participated in leading positions in most landmark equity and debt capital market transactions in the country
- Pioneered Syndicated Loans, High Yield Bond and Asset Backed Securities in Greek Market, introducing Greek corporates to foreign investors
- Actively engaged in soliciting foreign investor interest for investments in Greece
- Awarded best domestic Cash Management bank (2009), #1 European Clearing and Settlement house (2009), Greek Investment Bank and Equity house of the year and participated as joint book runner in the European Equity deal of the year (2007)
- The largest recipient of institutional investor flows for trades on the Athens Stock Exchange
Citi’s has also an established and highly regarded retail franchise, which has often been a reference for the modern Greek banking industry. Customers currently enjoy access to 37 full service branches, a strong telephone and e-banking platform, as well as mobile banking. Citi’s Greek Consumer bank is among the largest card issuers and acquirers, the biggest co-brand and private label partner and one of the first to introduce investment products to the Greek market. Noteworthy innovations include:
- Introductions of ATMs in the Greek market (1985)
- International ATM Citicard (1987)
- 24x7 telephone banking services (1990)
- First Co-branded card in Greece–Diners/Panafon (1997) – now Diners/Vodafone
- SMS and e-mail transaction notification – Citi Alerts (2008)
- Open Architecture for investments (2001)
Key Business/Policy Priorities
Citi has been a long-standing partner to the Hellenic Republic and has remained a trusted advisor throughout the current macroeconomic turmoil. The Institutional Clients Group has committed resources to develop efficient and innovative solutions to address Government’s needs in the advisory, capital markets, liability management, market risks hedging, trade and transaction efficiencies space.
From Citi’s public sector transaction portfolio, notable cases that stand out and depict Citi’s commitment to provide value added services to the Hellenic Republic are the financial advisory mandates for the privatization of “Hellinikon”, Athens’ old airport, the most ambitious real estate project in the country and Regional Airports.
In parallel, with Citi’s domestic dialogue with the Greek State, Citi has been engaged in soliciting foreign investors’ interest in Greece leveraging Government’s strategic investor plans.
Finally, there is an ongoing dialogue across Citi’s entire product range to deliver innovative, “out of the box”, solutions and to assist the Hellenic Republic to navigate in the current challenging market environment.
Citi’s Community Outreach in Greece
Citi Greece’s Community work is developing under 3 pillars:
- Financial Education: It has been the focus of Citi Greece community work comprising of different educational programs funded by Citi Foundation. In the past 8 years, 50,000 elementary school children (of ages 6-12 years old) have participated in the educational program “Economy: Knowledge with value” that is implemented in school classes by the Hellenic Children Museum, under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Education. Citi Greece also supports the Junior Achievement Greece for the implementation of the educational & training programs: Company Program, Job Shadow and Banks in Action.
- Volunteerism: Employees in Greece believe in the value of volunteerism. There is high participation at Global Community Day activities, during financial education programs, as well as in other ad hoc initiatives, like the Annual Food Drive for the Poor.
- Environment: The internal waste management system, reduction in energy consumption, employees’ awareness on environmental issues and standard annual tree-planting & forest cleanup activities confirm Citi Greece’s belief in Citi’s worldwide environmental commitments.
- Philanthropy: Citibank Cards through co-brands and specific programs , have supported the causes of various local (ELPIDA, ELEPAP) non-profit organizations with over 600,000 USD since 2009 contributing in building the first oncology hospital for children and providing the cost for therapeutic swimming for 250 children in the past 2 years. In addition through Diners Club Unicef card, Citi Greece has offered vaccines to 11million children in Africa through UNICEF since 2001.
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