Back in the United States, two former top executives with the financial giant Citigroup appeared Thursday before a government panel investigating the roots of the nation’s economic crisis. Former chief executive Charles Prince opened his remarks to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission with an apology for the business dealings that led Citigroup to near-collapse and on the receiving end of a more than $45 billion taxpayer bailout.

Charles Prince: “Let me start by saying I’m sorry. I’m sorry that the financial crisis has had such a devastating impact on our country. I’m sorry for the millions of people, average Americans, who have lost their homes. And I’m sorry that our management team, starting with me, like so many others, could not see the unprecedented market collapse that lay before us.”

Also testifying was Robert Rubin, a former Citigroup director and Treasury Secretary during the Clinton administration. Rubin was less conciliatory, rejecting any personal responsibility for Citigroup’s woes. Rubin joined Citigroup after overseeing a major deregulatory effort that allowed banks to merge with insurance companies. The overhaul helped Citigroup become the nation’s largest financial institution. Rubin left Citigroup after collecting more than $100 million in compensation. Rubin’s testimony came one day after former Citigroup executive Richard Bowen said Rubin and other top executives had ignored repeated warnings over Citigroup’s business practices.

Richard Bowen: “I specifically warned Mr. Rubin about the extreme risks and unrecognized financial losses that existed within my business unit. I witnessed business risk practices which made a mockery of Citi credit policy.”