OREANDA-NEWS. November 16, 2010. ZAO Citibank announced the launch of a joint project with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on restoration of pine-broadleaved forests in the South-West of the Primorye Region (Russian Far East). In 2010, the number of the bank’s clients has exceeded 1,000,000 Russians, reported the press-centre of Citibank.

To celebrate this milestone, 1,000,000 Korean pine and needle fir seedlings will be purchased in November. In the spring of 2011, WWF volunteers will plant the trees in Russia’s Far East and will organize for one-year special care of the newly planted cedars.

"We are extremely proud of our 1 million clients’ milestone and are very thankful to our customers for their trust and loyalty, says Zdenek Turek, President ZAO Citibank, Head of Citi in Russia & CIS. – It is a testimony to our commitment to Russia where we have been building our retail business organically since 2002. We believe that our project with WWF will be well received by both our clients and the broader population as this is a real contribution for the long-term benefit of Russia, the country where we all live and work."

Amit Sah, Consumer Banking Head, notes: "One million customers implies 38 bank transactions every minute as our clients make purchases at the shops, or make online money transfers, or pay for their communal services, or engage in other consumer activities. This is an impressive number for a bank as young as Citibank in Russia that we hope will grow in the years ahead as we will continue to strengthen our range of products and build on client excellence."

In 2010, Citibank’s clients saved about USD 12 mln through the bank’s co-brand projects, cash back card, as well as discount programs with Citibank’s over 1,000 partner merchants with more than 2,500 points of sales across Russia. In mid-2010, the bank started to offer mobile bank services. Also, the 3D Secure technology was launched that enabled the bank’s clients to make online payments with their debit cards. In June 2009, the bank opened a special loan mitigation program. Over 6,000 borrowers with the aggregate debt exceeding RUB 1bn have taken advantage of the opportunity to restructure their loans.

"Forests are part of Russia’s national heritage, and cedar forests are vital. They belong to one of the world’s 200 ecoregions that play a key role from the biodiversity perspective, says Evgeny Schwarz, Director for Nature Conservation Policy at WWF, co-Chairman of the Public Ecological Committee under the Russian Federal Forestry Agency. – Illegal logging and fires have become pandemic in Russia. All programs aimed at preserving of the unique forest resources are important and timely."

The Land of Tiger and Leopard has been earmarked for the Citibank-WWF cedar project. This is the main habitat for the tiger whose population in this country has only 500 specimens left, as well as the Far East Leopard who is also on the verge of extinction.