Citibank, rediff.com in e-commerce alliance
Mumbai, October 15, 199

Internet shopping at rediff.com offers an exceptional e-shopping experience for Citibank card members

In a path-breaking business-to-consumer e-commerce initiative expected to give a boost to this nascent industry in India, rediff.com, the pioneer in e-shopping has entered into a marketing agreement with Citibank, the largest credit card issuer in the world. Over a million Citibank card holders in India will receive discounts and guaranteed gifts during the festival season when they shop for the first time on the rediff.com site, a specially designed offer for Citibank card members.

Credit cards are the preferred mode of payment in business-to-consumer e-commerce. To reward Citibank credit card usage on the net, free gifts of chocolates, music cassettes and gold pendants will be sent to all Citibank card members to mark their first online shopping experience at rediff.com. Citibank Gold, Classic and Diners Club members will also be eligible to participate in a slogan contest with grand prizes which include a trip to Disneyland, a multi-media home PC or a Palm Pilot V. Additionally, ten prizes will be given daily to lucky shoppers. Furthermore, anyone wishing to avail of these great deals and discounts can apply for Citibank cards online at www.rediff.com or www.citibank.com/india.

Online shopping at rediff.com includes personal care brands such as Gillette and Nivea, Swiss chocolates from Lindt and pearl and diamond jewellery. A large selection of books, music, flowers, handicrafts, Indian sweets, international magazines, apparel items such as sarees and T-shirts are also available. And computer buffs can avail of a choice of online computer education modules and CD-ROMs.

Rediff.com and Citibank will shortly launch a privileged program for their overseas Non Resident Indian (NRI) customers. NRIs who have Rupee Checking Accounts with Citibank will be able to buy products at special discounts for themselves and their loved ones in India. Overseas rediff.com users can also apply online for the Citibank Rupee Checking Account.

Says M. N. Murali, business manager, Citibank Cards, "Consumers the world over are discovering the joys and convenience of e-commerce. We are committed to offering unmatched convenience and value to our card-members and are confident that our tie up with rediff.com will motivate our card members to discover the convenience of online shopping, while availing of a wide range of products specially discounted for them. This also demonstrates that e-shopping can be as much fun and value for card-members as brick and mortar shopping ".

Ajit Balakrishnan, founder, chairman and ceo, rediff.com, adds, "Our alliance with Citibank in India and overseas is designed to provide our customers a fine e-shopping experience. We at rediff.com are delighted with our association with Citibank and we will endeavor to continue providing attractive offers to our customers."

Founded in 1996, rediff.com is India's favourite website with unrivalled monthly hits in excess of 90 million. Its news service is updated round the clock and its free email service, Rediffmail, is one of the fastest available on the web today. A search engine giving access to a database of 110 million documents and channels such as Education, Shopping and Tech Jobs provide the user a complete online experience. The site can be found at www.rediff.com .
Citibank is the leading card issuer in the world and in India. Since 1990, Citibank has introduced pioneering benefits for its card members, which have become industry standards today. These include rewards programs, automatic insurance and a whole range of other benefits of which the e-commerce initiative is the latest.
Citibank has been the first bank to introduce Internet Banking for its customers in India. Citibank India is also among the first in the world to introduce an online card application facility. In fact, Citibank's NRI customers with a Rupee Checking Account carry out all transactions through the Internet. The Citibank official site can be found at www.citibank.com/india.