Citibank, N.A.- Sofia Presents CitiDirect® Online Banking - Internet Banking for Corporate Clients
Service Now Available in 21 Languages and more than 90 Countries
February 3, 2004 – Sofia,
Bulgaria– Citibank, N.A.- Sofia, a member of Citigroup, today
presented CitiDirect® Online Banking, the bank’s
online banking service for corporate clients. CitiDirect®
is available in more than 90 countries and in 21 languages. It has
more than 150,000 users within 25,000 corporate clients.
CitiDirect® Online Banking is Citigroup’s web-based
delivery platform that offers seamless global access to an expanding
array of corporate banking services through a single application,
allowing customers to be more efficient, flexible and in control
of their banking transactions. Whether or not companies are already
transacting business on the web, they can take advantage of Internet
technology and get an enhanced banking experience through CitiDirect®.
The crucial advantage of CitiDirect® is the state-of-the-art
security based on the dynamic passwords and encrypted connection.
The information is real time updated and 24-hours accessible. Through
CitiDirect® the clients can operate not only with their
accounts in Bulgaria but in every country wherever Citigroup is
present. The program allows usage of payment preformats that save
even more time in the completion of payment orders. CitiDirect®
is unique in allowing interface with other accounting systems for
automatic payments and reconciliation.
Ani Filipova, Head of Global Transaction Services Department in
Citibank, N.A.- Sofia said, “CitiDirect® enables
customers in Bulgaria and the world at large, to access information
reporting through the web. CitiDirect® offers Bulgarian
companies the ability to track and make transactions, view account
balances in detail and make online inquiries. Using their own customized
selection criteria, customers can retrieve reports easily and reliably,
including intra-day, real-time status of their accounts.”
With CitiDirect®, Citigroup is building the infrastructure
that will also serve as a foundation for many of the value-added
services that the bank is developing on the Internet.
Plamen Iltchev, Citigroup Country Officer for Bulgaria said, “Citigroup
is a leading provider of cash management and trade services in Bulgaria
and Eastern Europe at large. CitiDirect® is particularly
important for treasury centers of multinational corporations and
banks whose branches and subsidiaries are serviced by Citigroup
in Bulgaria and around the world. CitiDirect® adds an
Internet banking facility for these companies, allowing them to
put all their banking functions in one place and control cash flows
and liquidity of their company network in different countries and
regions.”
Other services that customers in other geographic markets are accessing
through CitiDirect® Online Banking include trade operations
and netting which enable companies to settle their intracompany
obligations from a central point. These services, as well as many
other corporate banking services, will become available in Bulgaria
in future releases of CitiDirect® that will also add
to the range of countries and languages.
CitiDirect® has been recognized by a number of reputable
international publications because of the valuable efficiency and
exceptionally user-friendly interface. At the end of 2003 Citigroup
was presented with “World’s Best Bank for Cash Management
& Payments (2003 and 2002)” from Euromoney & Euromoney.com.
In October 2003 the product was named “Best of the Web”
by Forbes.com and Citigroup received top honor as the “World’s
Best Internet Bank” from Global Finance magazine. Additional
information about CitiDirect® Online Banking may be found
at: www.citidirect.com.
About Citigroup
Citigroup (NYSE: C), the preeminent global financial services company
with some 200 million customer accounts in more than 100 countries,
provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions 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 red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica,
Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. Additional
information may be found at: www.citigroup.com.
