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Business Owner and Local Protesters to Rally Against Banking Giant Citibank Wednesday

PASADENA, Calif., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Small Business Owner Goodgracious Joseph, CEO and founder of Maxum Marketing, LLC, will lead a protest march from the steps of Pasadena City Hall to Citibank Financial Centers located on Colorado Blvd, Lake Avenue and California Blvd in protest of violation of privacy and false accusations by banking employees according to the lawsuit filed July 16, 2009. More than twenty protesters are expected to march the distance between Pasadena's government center to local Citibank branch locations.

Mr. Joseph, who has had a seven year relationship with Citibank, made six wire transactions from his business account to business associates on July 8. He said that he left the bank confident the wires went through as he received receipts for those transactions. Only later did Mr. Joseph find that Citibank had not completed the wires and he was unable to complete Maxum's day-to-day business.

Upon learning of the stopped wires, Mr. Joseph said he returned to his bank where he was met with verbal accusations by bank manager, Dianne Ramirez. He, along with at least two other witnesses said that Ms. Ramirez publicly accused Mr. Joseph of committing illegal activities while he was in the Citibank Lobby with as many as seven bank employees and customers present. Ms. Ramirez's accusations are unfounded, malicious and ill-intended as stated in the legal document charging Citibank, Ms. Ramirez and another bank employee.

Mr. Joseph contends he conducts business in a fair and ethical way. He said that he was humiliated by Ms. Ramirez's statements as other bank patrons and banking employees looked on. Ms. Ramirez's accusations came as a surprise to the small business owner and no proof was offered to substantiate the claims.

With further investigation, Mr. Joseph says that he has since learned that his accounts are being manually processed resulting in banking delays and improper balancing. He said he also found that the bank manager, Dianne Ramirez, has been personally monitoring his transactions.

Business associates of the small firm also have reported that they are being questioned about their relationship with Mr. Joseph and his business when conducting business with the bank. Business associates have made sworn statements that Citibank employees shared private information about Mr. Joseph's accounts during their banking transactions.

Since the failed wires, Mr. Joseph has held daily protests at Pasadena, Glendale and Alhambra banking locations during the banking business hours. Wednesday's protest rally is scheduled as a day-long event where marchers will gather and march to the local banking branch locations. The event will being at 10 AM.

For more information about the rally and how to participate please visit: www.saynotocitibank.com.

Maxum Marketing, LLC is represented by John C Torjensen, Esq. (310) 440-0005.

Citbank's PR department can be reached at (415) 658-4310.

SOURCE Maxum Marketing, LLC