COMPANIES

Citigroup

Office address: 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013
Website: citigroup.com
Year established: 1812
Company type: banking
Employees: 229,000+ (global)
Expertise: investment banking, capital markets and advisory, securities services and custody, wealth and private banking, asset management and alternatives, treasury and trade solutions, foreign exchange and derivatives, corporate and commercial lending
Parent company: N/A
Key people: Jane Fraser (CEO), Nadir Darrah (chief auditor), Sunil Garg (head of NA), Mark Mason (CFO), Anand Selvakesari (COO), Andy Sieg (head of wealth), Sara Wechter (CHRO)
Financing status: shareholder-owned company

Citigroup is a major bank based in New York that serves companies, governments, and investors. It runs trading, capital markets, and investment banking businesses across 94 markets worldwide. Citi moves nearly $5 trillion daily, while managing wealth for institutional and US personal clients.

History of Citigroup

Citigroup's origins began in 1812 after City Bank of New York was chartered to help the city rival older financial centers. The charter followed a long political battle involving merchants aligned with President James Madison and supporters of Vice President George Clinton.

Samuel Osgood became the first president, and Clinton's allies held almost half the board seats. That small New York bank later evolved over 200 years into the institution now known as Citi.

Growing beyond New York

The bank opened a branch in Panama in 1904 at the US government's request and then expanded further. The National City Company sold bonds to ordinary investors, which helped fund companies and governments beyond Wall Street.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the bank built a broad New York branch network. It helped customers through the Great Depression and World War II, when women made up 43 percent of its almost 10,000 employees.

Citigroup's postwar and modern development

After 1945, the bank backed European rebuilding, financed major transport projects and expanded into the Middle East and Africa. In the 1960s and 1970s, it launched negotiable CDs, grew consumer banking and introduced ATMs for 24‑hour access.

From the 1980s, Citi expanded wealth and private banking services, including Citigold in Hong Kong. In 1998, a major merger created Citigroup, which later managed through the 2007–2008 crisis and reshaped its business mix.

It also supported the International Paralympic Committee through global sport partnerships. In 2021, Jane Fraser became Citi's CEO.

Investment banking and China growth

Citi has recently renewed its focus on investment banking under Viswas "Vis" Raghavan as head of banking. Since his arrival, the firm has hired at least 10 senior JPMorgan deal‑makers to strengthen M&A, equity capital markets, and technology coverage. This supports Jane Fraser's broader restructuring plans.

At the same time, Citigroup is pushing for growth in China as cross‑border activity increases. It has trimmed some consumer and technology roles, yet remains focused on Chinese companies expanding overseas and international clients. It's also pursuing a securities license and building on its existing capital markets permissions.

Citigroup's products and services

Citi offers a wide range of investment solutions that combine global reach and institutional‑grade platforms:

Institutional and corporate investment solutions

  • investment banking advisory
  • debt capital markets
  • equity capital markets
  • structured finance
  • foreign exchange and rates trading
  • treasury and trade solutions (TTS)

Securities services and investor support

  • global custody
  • fund services
  • securities finance
  • collateral management
  • transfer agency
  • trustee and depositary services

Wealth and private client investments

  • Citi Global Wealth Investments
  • Citi Investment Management
  • alternative investments
  • discretionary portfolio management
  • capital markets access for individuals

Citigroup also supports clients through its liquidity, risk, and cross‑border solutions that link investing to daily operations. Its global network and platforms help institutions and wealthy clients manage complex portfolios across markets.

Culture and corporate values

Citigroup says that it aims to be a merit‑based workplace where people feel included and engaged. The bank says this culture supports its vision, expressed through these core fundamentals:

  • thinking global
  • simplifying the bank
  • increasing connectivity
  • investing in its team

According to Citigroup, the firm offers benefits that support personal, professional and financial well‑being. Global opportunities, flexible work, and other resources help employees thrive in daily life:

  • global opportunities: build careers locally or in overseas roles
  • hybrid work: mix office collaboration with remote flexibility
  • professional development: access training, mentorship and skills programs
  • employee wellness: medical coverage plus mental health support resources
  • retirement planning: retirement contributions and investment choices for savings
  • parental and family support: parental leave, childcare help, and family programs
  • well‑being initiatives: programs that encourage healthy, balanced lifestyles
  • localized benefits: benefits tailored to each country's local needs

Citigroup also has a $1 trillion sustainable finance goal through 2030 to support a low‑carbon, inclusive economy. It also targets net zero emissions by 2050 while helping clients with their own transitions.

About CEO Jane Fraser and key people

Jane Fraser is chair of the board and CEO of Citigroup Inc. Fraser has spent more than 20 years at Citi in senior roles across its consumer and institutional businesses. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MA in economics from Cambridge University.

Citigroup's executive management team includes these key leaders and roles:

  • Nadir Darrah is chief auditor, overseeing Citigroup’s internal audit function and key risk reviews
  • Sunil Garg is CEO of Citibank NA and head of NA, leading North America-wide client franchises
  • Mark Mason is CFO, managing Citi’s financial strategy, reporting, and capital planning
  • Anand Selvakesari is COO, overseeing firmwide operations, technology, and transformation programs globally
  • Andy Sieg is head of Wealth, leading Citi’s global wealth business serving affluent and ultra-wealthy clients
  • Sara Wechter is CHRO, directing HR, talent strategy, and culture initiatives worldwide

Together, these executives guide Citigroup's strategy, people, and day‑to‑day operations. Their decisions shape client service and long‑term shareholder returns.

The future at Citigroup

Citigroup is using its global wealth arm to spot rich clients shifting assets from the US to the UK. Citi US stays central because those clients still need cross‑border advice, lending and portfolio management between American and British markets. This shift helps the bank grow international wealth revenue and refine its strategy for serving mobile, ultra‑wealthy families.

Elsewhere in Citi's ongoing transformation story, Citigroup hired outside counsel to review concerns about Andy Sieg, its head of Wealth. After the probe, the bank kept him in the role.

CEO Jane Fraser links that decision to strong results in the wealth unit and a broader turnaround that’s nearing its final phase. The bank also continues flexible work policies and sees clients more active in capital markets, which supports its long‑term wealth growth plans.

The latest Citigroup news

Displaying 1654 results
WIREHOUSES MAY 08, 2007
Citigroup's all about the green

Citigroup Inc. today announced that it will spend $50 billion over the 10 years to address global climate change, the largest such move ever by Wall Street firm.

Financial services companies open purse strings for top execs

Many top executives at large financial services companies saw a big jump in pay last year.

Citigroup launches global ad campaign

Citigroup Inc. is looking to connect with its clients in a new ad campaign.

ETFS APR 30, 2007
Smith Barney creates ETF model portfolios

New York-based Smith Barney’s Consulting Group has launched eight model portfolios that invest in exchange traded funds: the CG Select ETF Allocations.

RIA NEWS APR 30, 2007
‘Finance 101’ courses target the wealthy

The booming wealth management business has spawned a thriving cottage industry: financial-literacy courses for wealthy families and their children.

WIREHOUSES APR 27, 2007
Citigroup clinches Nikko takeover

With a $13.4 billion offer, Citigroup Inc. yesterday closed on the largest foreign takeover of a Japanese company, Nikko Cordial Corp., according to published reports.

ETFS APR 26, 2007
State Street unveils two more ETFs

State Street Global Advisors of Boston today announced the launch of two new international exchange traded funds: the SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF and the SPDR S&P World-ex-US ETF.

RIA NEWS APR 26, 2007
Nuveen launches $900M IPO

Nuveen Investments Inc. today announced the initial public offering of the Nuveen Multi-Currency Short-Term Government Income Fund.

FPA hopes to leverage court ruling

The Financial Planning Association is hoping that the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling overturning the broker-dealer exemption rule will jump-start the trade group’s initiative to reach out to large financial services firms.

WIREHOUSES APR 23, 2007
Smith Barney reps ecstatic over cost cuts

IRVINE, Calif. — Smith Barney reps are supportive of the cost-cutting plan New York-based Citigroup Inc. announced April 11.

WIREHOUSES APR 19, 2007
Citigroup hedge funds chief resigns

Less than a week after Citigroup Inc. agreed to purchase Old Lane LP and tap Vikram Pandit, its founder, to become head of Citi Alternative Investments, Citigroup’s Dean Barr has resigned as head of liquid markets.

WIREHOUSES APR 18, 2007
Knight Capital's profits plunge

Knight Capital Group Inc. posted a 35% drop in first-quarter profits on lower revenues and a loss from discontinued operations, falling short of analysts estimates.

WIREHOUSES APR 16, 2007
Smith Barney not for sale, executive says

Along with the layoffs and cost cutting unveiled last week by Citigroup Inc. came rumors that the company’s Smith Barney brokerage unit was destined for a spinoff.

ALTERNATIVES APR 09, 2007
Citigroup negotiates for hedge fund

Citigroup Inc. is in talks to purchase Old Lane LP, a hedge fund run by former Morgan Stanley executive Vikram Pandit for more than $600 million, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

RIA NEWS APR 09, 2007
Scaturro’s exit from U.S. Trust leaves B of A holding the bag

Peter Scaturro’s impending departure as chief executive of U.S. Trust has left Bank of America Corp., the venerable wealth manager’s prospective new owner, with a big mess on its hands.