Downtrodden Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), which received its walking papers from Dow Jones on Monday, has informed five of its former executives that they'll no longer be receiving severance payouts. According to a report today in The Wall Street Journal [subscription required], recently departed executives Kevin Kessinger and Michael Klein will be among those affected by the decision.

Already, Citi has doled out approximately half of the $100 million it pledged to these former execs. The U.S. Treasury hasn't demanded that the severance payments be halted, but sources close to the bailed-out bank say that Citi's top brass "[want] to avoid even the possibility of a public backlash over the money."

Even though it would seem that Citi is finally getting a handle on the concept of money management -- or public relations, at the very least -- investors are hardly cheering. The stock has given up more than 3% today, extending its year-to-date drop of 45%. In fact, the shares are currently in position to finish the session below their 10-day and 20-day moving averages, which would mark the first breach of this double-barreled support since May 1.