Though it was born from the 1998 merger between Citicorp and Travelers Group, Citigroup's origins go as far back as 1864. With 2,600 agencies in 100 countries, the company can boast an exhaustive range of financial services, as well as a strong presence in the national credit card market. The group's activities are divided over five divisions. The biggest is Global Corporate and Investment Bank, is dedicated to key account customers, offering brokerage, financial planning and banking services.

The second division, Global Consumer, is responsible for activities aimed at private customers and the insurance sector, with commercial bank services, credit cards, management services, savings and insurance policy offers. The third, Global Investment Management and Private Banking, which provides asset management services. Smith Barney, the global private wealth management an equity research unit of Citigroup provides comprehensive financial planning an advisory services to many institutionals and private customers. Last but not least Citigroup International through Citibank dedicated to the international. Venturing into world of Internet, Citigroup also has a system of on-line payment and an on-line commercial bank known simply as Citibank On-line.