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Reports on the plan by Citigroup to open around 400 branches in North America in 2005 to increase its profit margins through consumer finance business focusing on adding units in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Reports on the plan of Citigroup Inc. to build a call center in South Carolina for the company's CitiFinancial consumer-credit business.

Citigroup is closing 330 branches of its consumer finance business as part of an overhaul aimed at finding a buyer for the unit, the bank said on Tuesday. The branch closings at the unit, called CitiFinancial, will result in about 500 to 600 jobs being eliminated across 48 states, the bank said. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports that Citigroup has stopped doing business with some independent loan brokers at its Associates Home Equity Services unit, citing ethical and legal concerns. Citigroup's acquisition of Associates First Capital; How Associates First Capital has been denounced for predatory lending practices; Attempts of Citigroup to improve the lending practices of the consumer loan unit; Response of consumer advocacy groups.

Reports on the planned acquisition of the Associates First Capital Corporation by Citigroup. Comments of Sanford I. Weill, chief executive of Citigroup, who is responsible for the acquisition; Growth of the consumer finance company; Discussion of the stock shares in Citigroup which are expected to rise.