Bailed out insurance giant American International Group, Inc. Wednesday announced its latest payment of almost US$1 billion back to the U.S. government.

The firm said that it has paid the U.S. Treasury another US$972 million towards one of the special purpose vehicles created as part of the government’s assistance to the firm. The payment reduces the Treasury’s interest in the SPV, known as AIA Aurora LLC to approximately US$8.4 billion (it was initially US$16 billion).

The payment came primarily from funds released from the escrow held in connection with AIG’s sale of American Life Insurance Company to MetLife, Inc. last year. So far this year, the firm has repaid approximately US$45 billion to the US government.

“We continue to make steady progress toward our goal of America’s taxpayers recouping their entire investment in AIG,” said AIG president and CEO, Robert Benmosche. “I am confident that AIG’s employees will continue to work hard so we can achieve this goal.”