Citi's, CEO Vikram Pandit extended his heartfelt gratitude to US taxpayers for the $45 billion gift the bank got in 2008 that helped save the company. "This investment built a bridge over the crisis to a sound footing on the other side, and it came from the American people," Pandit told the panel responsible for overseeing the government's aid.

The New York-based bank got the largest chunk 'distributed' among financial firms and the government currently holds a 27 per cent stake, after Citigroup repaid $20 billion a month back. "We look forward to helping them make money on that investment," Mr. Pandit added.

Pandit, who faced a volley of tough question from panel's chairwoman, Elizabeth Warren said the bank is now well capitalized and there is no question of further aid. Warren said that it appears that the 'Too-big-to-fail' banks assume that there exists a guarantee that the government would step in to prevent their failure, however, Herbert Allison, who oversees the financial-rescue plan disagreed and that there is no such guarantee.