Citigroup Nears Deal to Return Billions in Bailout Funds

Citigroup is the last of the Wall Street banks to exit the government's bailout program. President Obama is meeting with bank executives to speed up the process, in hopes to stimulate lending to small businesses and homeowners. Obama will also address the size and salaries of bank executives (for all banks), an ongoing issue throughout the crisis. Obama's goal is job creation. If big banks begin lending again, small business can fuel our recovery by hiring and rehiring employees. Though Citigroup is close to repayment, the company hasn't posted profits in seven quarters and it is unlikely to happen in 2010 as well.