Citi’s Mortgage Workouts Outnumber Foreclosures in Missouri by 9 to 1

For Missouri borrowers, nearly nine times as many loans serviced by Citigroup (C: 3.40 +6.25%) avoided foreclosure than those that foreclosed in Q309.

The ratio in the third quarter of 2008 was 3.4 to 1. Since the beginning of the mortgage crisis in early 2007, Citi found financial solutions for 715,000 homeowners, representing $79bn in underlying mortgages.

As of September 30, 2009, CitiMortgage, Citi’s servicing division, had started modifications on 33% of its eligible portfolio under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), through which the US Treasury Department allocates capped incentives to participating servicers.

The data on Citi’s workout efforts comes as part of preliminary results of a forthcoming quarterly report. Citi releases data on its foreclosure preventionefforts in 22 states every quarter. The latest edition will be released in the coming weeks.

“We are committed to working with community leaders, elected officials and organizations throughout Missouri and the country to identify how we can together best help provide assistance and relieve the economic pressures homeowners face,” said Vikram Pandit, Citi’s CEO. “Citi recognizes the obligation we have to use our global strength to help fuel the economic recovery through responsible programs and actions that support American families, communities and businesses. We intend to deliver on that obligation.”

Write to Jon Prior.