You may have read in the news about Citi sending a small number of U.S. Consumer Bank clients 1099-MISC tax forms as a result of signing up for a airline miles giveaway promotion for opening a checking account. We want to make sure you know that rewards and airline miles that are provided in connection with a purchase on a credit card are routinely not subject to individual income tax reporting. However, if you receive a gift for opening a bank account - whether cash or airline miles - the value of that gift is generally treated as income and subject to reporting. This is separate and distinct from miles or points earned by our credit card customers for their purchases. To be sure there is clarity on this matter, we are pleased to share the following guest blog entry from the tax filings experts, H&R Block.

This past December I had the pleasure of joining 75 education leaders to develop action plans for "Building College Readiness, Access and Success in New York City in the next 365 Days." This one-and-a-half day conference, which used the innovative Open Space Technology meeting model, was sponsored by Citi Community Development (CCD) and presented in partnership with the Options Center of Goddard Riverside Community Center.

As part of our 200 Years Citi celebration, we're partnering with the Financial Times to bring together senior strategists and thought leaders around the world for a series of debates on key challenges facing the world in the decades to come.

Last week, Citi hosted a sled hockey demonstration at Citi Pond with the Wheelchair Sports Federation (WSF). The group includes several previous and hopeful Paralympians as well as Wounded Warriors. Following the demo, the general public was invited to get in a sled and try sled hockey. People of all ages and abilities were excited to get on the ice.

January is almost over - is one of your New Year's resolutions to focus on saving? Looking for some ideas and tips? Whether your goals are long term or you're in search of every day deals, we have some great news for you! Citi's Women & Co., along with partners Fabulous and Frugal and Savings.com, is throwing a Twitter party on Thursday, February 2nd at 9 PM EST / 6 PM PST and you're invited.

While experts agree about the critical role banks play in a thriving economic system, many also think more can be done to go beyond this fundamental role and embed delivering social value into the core business of banks.

These views were expressed in a new report released by the Center for Responsible Business at the Haas School of Business, University of California-Berkeley and research consultancy GlobeScan who interviewed 60 experts inside and outside the financial services industry to explore how the industry will evolve over the next decade.

This year Citigroup is celebrating its 200th Anniversary.  In honor of this unique milestone, we have published an anniversary book chronicling two centuries of providing the best in financial services--from our beginnings in New York in 1812 to our current status as America's global bank. There are countless stories to tell--from financing the Panama Canal and the Space Shuttle to helping pioneer the negotiable certificate of deposit and the ATM.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and others have several efforts underway aimed at helping consumers better understand the terms, risks and pricing of various financial products. In a previous post, we mentioned the CFPB's "Know Before You Owe" initiative as relates to mortgage disclosures. This initiative is broadly focused on making potentially complex lending agreements more transparent and understandable for consumers. Recently, the CFPB released a simplified credit card agreement and is seeking consumer and card issuer feedback.

According to a 2011 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 62% of workers ages 45 to 54 had $50,000 or less in total savings and investments. Meanwhile, among workers age 55 and older, 50% fell into that camp.

Even if your nest egg is above these levels, you may not have nearly enough set aside for retirement--and it may be time to play catch-up.