Citi Announces Agreement to Sell Onshore Consumer Wealth Portfolio in China

SHANGHAI - Citi today announced that it has agreed to sell its onshore consumer wealth portfolio in China, including clients, assets under management (AUM) and deposits to HSBC Bank China.  HSBC plans to extend offers to in-scope employees supporting Citi's local consumer wealth business in China. 

The transaction covers total deposits and investment AUMs of approximately US$3.6 billion. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2024. 

Today’s announcement progresses the wind-down of Citi’s consumer banking business in China, which was announced in December 2022.  Citi first announced its plan to exit China consumer banking in April 2021 as part of the firm’s broader global strategy refresh.

This announcement does not include Citi’s institutional businesses in China, where the bank has a leading position. 

Citi will continue to serve the needs of affluent to ultra-high net worth Chinese individuals through its regional wealth hubs in Singapore and Hong Kong leveraging its International Personal Bank and Citi Private Bank businesses.  

Citi first opened in China in 1902 and became one of the first global banks to incorporate locally in 2007. Today, Citi serves 70% of Fortune 500 companies in the market, as well as over 300 leading local enterprises and many more emerging new economy companies. 

Titi Cole, Citi's Head of Legacy Franchises, said: “We are taking important steps forward in exiting our consumer banking business in China and continue to make progress in our divestitures as part of our strategy to simplify Citi. This is an excellent outcome for our local consumer wealth colleagues and clients in China.”

Christine Lam, Citi China Country Officer and President of Citibank (China) Co., Ltd., said: “This transaction serves the interest of our clients, colleagues and all parties involved. Citi is proud to have a long history in China. We are deeply rooted in this market. We look forward to continuing to support our institutional clients in China as their preeminent banking partner for cross-border needs.”

Since announcing its intention to exit consumer banking across 14 markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Mexico as part of its strategic refresh, Citi has now closed sales in eight markets including Australia, Bahrain, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Citi plans to complete the sale of its Indonesia consumer business later this year. In addition to China, the previously announced wind-downs of Citi’s consumer business in Korea and overall presence in Russia are in progress. Citi also announced that it will pursue an IPO of its consumer, small business and middle market banking operations in Mexico. 

About Citi 

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

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Media Contacts

Hong Kong: James Griffiths, 852 2868 7668,  james.a.griffiths@citi.com

New York: Danielle Romero-Apsilos, 212 816 2264, danielle.romeroapsilos@citi.com

Investors Contact

Jennifer Landis, 212 559 2718,  jennifer.am.landis@citi.com

Certain statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. Actual results and capital and other financial conditions may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors. These factors include, among others, macroeconomic and local market conditions; satisfaction of closing conditions; governmental or regulatory requirements and actions; the imposition of additional sanctions and export controls; and the precautionary statements included in this release. These factors also consist of those contained in Citi’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the “Risk Factors” section of Citi’s 2022 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Citi speak only as to the date they are made, and Citi does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.