We've suggested that executives in TARP banks could build some credibility by investing their own money in their own stock. At Citigroup, four top executives have done just that. Bloomberg reports that these executives last week generated a $2.2 million paper profit within nine days of buying the stock. That was right before CEO Vikram Pandit issued his memo, a carefully orchestrated PR move, that revealed the bank was profitable in January and February.

The four executives are non-executive chair of Banamex director Robert Hernandez, Latin America CEO Manuel Medina-Morre, Vice Chairman Lewis Kaden and Comptroller Gerspach. You have to wonder if Pandit is buying. A massive purchase with his own money--a significant portion of his personal net worth--would send a message. There was a day when insider purchases were seen as a buy indicator. 

For more:
- here's the Bloomberg article

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