UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 25, 2003
         ---------------------------------------------------------------

                                 CIT GROUP INC.
                                 --------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware              001-31369              65-1051192
             ------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other          (Commission           (IRS Employer
         jurisdiction of          File Number)       Identification No.)
         incorporation)

                                   1 CIT Drive
                          Livingston, New Jersey 07039
                          ----------------------------
              (Address of registrant's principal executive office)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (973) 740-5000
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              -----------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




Item 5. Other Events.

This Current Report on Form 8-K includes as an exhibit a press release, dated
March 25, 2003, reporting the financing relationship of CIT Group Inc. and its
subsidiaries with Avianca Airlines. CIT's financing relationship with Avianca
includes financing and leasing transactions outstanding at the time Avianca
filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

      (c) Exhibits.

99.1  Press release issued by CIT Group Inc. on March 25, 2003.


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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                         CIT GROUP INC.
                                         (Registrant)

                                         By: /s/ William J. Taylor
                                             ------------------------
                                                 William J. Taylor
                                                 Executive Vice President &
                                                 Controller

Dated: April 11, 2003


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