Media contact:				Charles Keller
				612-678-7786
				charles.r.keller@ampf.com
Stockholder contact:				Gary Terpening
				212-850-1533
				gary.a.terpening@ampf.com

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
ANNOUNCES RECORD AND MEETING DATES FOR
81^st ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, January 14, 2011 — Tri-Continental Corporation (the “Corporation”) (NYSE: TY) today announced that it will hold its 81^st Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 14, 2011 (the “Meeting”) in Minneapolis, MN. The close of business on February 16, 2011 has been fixed by the Corporation’s Board of Directors as the record date for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

At the Meeting, Stockholders will be asked to elect three directors, each to hold office until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and all until their successors are elected and qualify, to consider the ratification of the Board’s selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm, to consider a proposal to amend the Corporation’s policy on securities lending, and to consider such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. This and other information relating to the Meeting, including additional details of the Meeting place and time, will be described in a notice of meeting and proxy statement that the Corporation intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.