“The giant insurance company that became the recipient of one of the biggest—and least popular—bailouts in history has a message for the American taxpayer: Hey, thanks a lot!

“Just weeks after the Treasury sold off its final stake in AIG and closed out one of the ugliest chapters of the 2008 financial crisis, the recipient of  $180 billion in capital injections and loans is launching a new public relations offensive to try to rebuild a, shall we say, strained relationship with the American public.

“The advertising campaign is titled “Thank You America,” the company said in a news release Monday, and it debuts New Year’s Day. It spotlights the insurers’ employees “telling AIG’s story and sharing their pride in the company,” and showing how the company has helped America rebuild after devastation, such as in Joplin, Mo. after a devastating tornado and in the aftermath of  Hurricane Sandy. Look for the ads in college football bowl games, NFL playoff games, and news shows including The Today Show, Good Morning America, and 60 Minutes.”

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