Citibank workers build housing for needy

Citibank Korea workers pose during the bank's volunteer activity at a construction site in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, July 23. / Courtesy of Citibank Korea

Citibank Korea workers built homes for the needy as part of its partnership with Habitat for Humanity Korea, a nonprofit charity organization, a Citibank Korea official said Sunday.

Citibank Korea workers have continued “Shelter for Hope,” the bank's home-building volunteer program, since 1998. This is the 22nd year where not only the bank workers but also their families participated.

This year, about 100 Citibank workers and their family members visited a charity construction site in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, for four days from July 23. They also donated money to Habitat for Humanity Korea.

“We are very happy to participate in the charity event to help the needy in rural areas,” a Citibank Korea official said.

“We have also expanded our home-building volunteer activities abroad this year.”

A total of 1,700 employees and their family members have joined the charity program since 1998 to build 34 homes for those in rural areas across the country.

They have also donated 3.24 billion won ($2.73 million) to Habitat for Humanity Korea.

Under the partnership with the organization, Citibank Korea has built homes in nine cities including Gunsan, Samcheok, Daegu, Daejeon, Inje, Sokcho and Chuncheon.

Separate from its home-building activities with the charity organization, Citibank Korea workers also visited Krong Siem Reap in Cambodia earlier this month for a week to improve the residential environment there.

Last month, Citibank Korea CEO Park Jin-hei and bank employees cleaned Cheonggye Stream to celebrate World Environment Day. This was also a part of the bank's “green campaign” to improve the environment.

Citibank has also conducted various education programs including talent donation and student education. Of them, the bank's “Think Money” program has taught 520,000 students about the basics of finance since its launch in 2006.

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