Citi Partners with DOMO to Expand UniKasa Cash Payment Network

Citibank Romania announced today that it has expanded its UniKasa cash payment network by partnering with one of the biggest consumer electronics, domestic electrical appliances and  IT retailers, DOMO.  As a result of this partnership, consumers can now make payments conveniently and quickly in 13 DOMO stores from Bucharest, Bacau and Constanta in addition to the 20 Agip gas stations from Bucharest, Targu Jiu, Pitesti, Craiova, Timisoara and Targoviste where the service was already available.  UniKasa is scheduled to be offered in 40 DOMO stores by the end of 2007.

"By this partnership, Citi takes a new step in developing the payment center concept. By strategic alliances with partners like DOMO, Citi will continue to expand its UniKasa network, and bring the highest level of user-friendly and convenient services to individuals throughout the country, be they Citi customers or not" says Cristela Georgescu, Deputy General Director, Citibank Romania.

"As our customers already know, DOMO stores always come with a complex offering, starting with our products and prices, and reaching services such as UniKasa, that helps them save time and make their life easier. This time, we provide a service that apparently has no connection with home appliances retail, which underlines once again our retail concept - the attention that we give to our clients, the care we treat them with and our desire to make life easier for them.  We wish to offer our clients an extra comfort," states Gabriela Mandrea, Marketing Manager DOMO.

UniKasa allows individuals to pay Vodafone, Avon, Romtelecom, Electrica (Bucuresti and Ilfov) and Zapp bills in a convenient and simple manner. The payer simply has to show the invoice to the UniKasa cashier.  The cashier then scans the invoice's bar code, the payment is registered in the system and confirmed through a receipt.  The UniKasa system is free of charge, convenient, as it is available during the extended hours of the retail locations, and quicker than other payment methods.  UniKasa is available to anyone and the payer does not need to be a Citi client.

Citi launched UniKasa in 2004 in Poland and has since rolled out the service to Romania and Slovakia.  UniKasa is Citi Romania's second initiative involving the development of cash payment centers.  In 2000, Citi launched Easy Payments, an integrated, automatic cash payment solution to pay suppliers from the public utilities sector, insurance, and telecom industries.  This system allows people to pay their current bills at Citibank Easy Payments machines at any time on any day of the week.