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Citigroup (C) explained: how it makes money, how it's doing, what protects it

A plain-English guide to the bank that moves money for the world's big companies. See what it does, where the money goes, who it competes with and what keeps clients.

⚡What does Citigroup do, in 30 seconds?

Citigroup is a global bank that does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions 29. It moves money for big companies, trades for investors and advises on deals 3 2 7. It also manages wealth and issues US credit cards 6 5. In FY2025 its revenue, after paying interest to savers, was $85.2bn ✓, and it kept $14.3bn ✓ as profit.

Revenue, FY2025
$85.2bn✓
Profit, FY2025
$14.3bn✓
Revenue growth, 4 quarters to 31 Dec 2025
5.6%✓
Shareholders' equity, 31 Dec 2025
$212.3bn✓
Headquarters
388 Greenwich Street, New York 29
Employees
About 226,000 at 31 Dec 2025 23
CEO
Jane Fraser, since February 2021 32
Founded
Roots go back to the City Bank of New York in 1812 29
Reach
Nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions 29
Fiscal year ends
31 December 29

📱What does Citigroup sell?

In 2025 Citi ran five businesses, with everything else in All Other 29. From the first quarter of 2026 it moved Retail Banking into Wealth and put its card units into a new U.S. Consumer Cards segment 933. The figures below use the 2025 layout, so they do not line up with the new 2026 segments.

📊

Markets

The biggest unit in FY2025, with $22.0bn ✓ of revenue. It trades stocks, currencies, interest rate products, bonds and commodities for clients 2. It also makes markets, manages risk, lends to investors and runs prime brokerage 2. It has trading floors in nearly 80 countries 2.

👥 Companies, big investors and public sector bodies 2.

🌐

Services

This unit moves and looks after money for big clients, with $21.3bn ✓ of revenue in FY2025. Treasury and Trade Solutions handles cash, payments and trade 3. Securities Services keeps investors' assets safe and settles their trades 3. It held or ran about $35 trillion of client assets at the end of September 2026 4.

👥 Multinational companies, other banks and public sector bodies 3, in over 90 countries 3.

💳

US Personal Banking

Citi's US cards and branches, with $21.0bn ✓ of revenue in FY2025. In 2025 it included Citi's own cards, co-branded cards such as Costco and American Airlines, store cards for retailers such as The Home Depot, and Retail Banking 5. It earns mainly interest on consumer loans, such as cards and mortgages, and on deposits 5. Card fees add more, minus rewards and payments to card partners 5.

👥 US consumers, including customers of partner retailers and airlines 5.

💼

Wealth

This unit looks after rich and well-off clients, with $8.6bn ✓ of revenue in FY2025. It works through the Private Bank, Citigold and Wealth at Work in about 20 countries 6. Its clients had $670 billion of investment assets at the end of 2025, up 14% from a year earlier 6.

👥 Very rich families, well-off savers and staff at firms such as law firms 6.

🏢

Banking

Citi's deal-making and lending arm, with $8.2bn ✓ of revenue in FY2025. It helps companies raise money by selling shares and bonds, and advises on mergers 7. It also lends to companies, with bankers covering over 90 countries 7.

👥 Corporate and commercial clients 7.

🏛️

All other

This is what is left of total revenue after the five businesses: $4.3bn ✓ in FY2025. It holds Legacy Franchises, mainly the Banamex consumer bank in Mexico, plus a Korea consumer bank being wound down 910. It also holds Citi's treasury and costs not given to a business 910. Citi had sold 49% of Banamex by the third quarter of 2026 91011.

👥 Banamex customers in Mexico, plus Citi's own treasury 910.

How the mix has shifted

Revenue mix by productFY2024Markets: $19.8bn (25%)Markets 25%Services: $19.6bn (24%)Services 24%US Personal Banking: $20.1bn (25%)US Personal Banking 25%Wealth: $7.5bn (9%)Wealth 9%Banking: $6.2bn (8%)All other: $7.5bn (9%)All other 9%FY2025Markets: $22.0bn (26%)Markets 26%Services: $21.3bn (25%)Services 25%US Personal Banking: $21.0bn (25%)US Personal Banking 25%Wealth: $8.6bn (10%)Wealth 10%Banking: $8.2bn (10%)Banking 10%All other: $4.3bn (5%)
Revenue mix by productFY24Markets: $19.8bn (25%)25%Services: $19.6bn (24%)24%US Personal Banking: $20.1bn (25%)25%Wealth: $7.5bn (9%)Banking: $6.2bn (8%)All other: $7.5bn (9%)FY25Markets: $22.0bn (26%)26%Services: $21.3bn (25%)25%US Personal Banking: $21.0bn (25%)25%Wealth: $8.6bn (10%)Banking: $8.2bn (10%)All other: $4.3bn (5%)MarketsServicesUS Personal BankingWealthBankingAll other
Share of revenue by business line, by fiscal year. Source: CITIGROUP INC 10-K filed 2026-02-20.

💸How does Citigroup make money?

Follow the money from left to rightfrom top to bottom: what comes in (after paying interest to savers and lenders), what it costs to run, what is lost on bad loans, and what is left as profit.

Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitMarkets → Revenue: $22.0bnServices → Revenue: $21.3bnUS Personal Banking → Revenue: $21.0bnWealth → Revenue: $8.6bnBanking → Revenue: $8.2bnAll other → Revenue: $4.3bnRevenue → Pretax profit: $19.8bnRevenue → Running costs: $55.1bnRevenue → Loan losses: $9.6bnRevenue → Other costs: $0.7bnPretax profit → Net income: $14.3bnPretax profit → Income tax: $5.4bnPretax profit → Other items: $0.1bnMarkets$22.0bn · 26%Services$21.3bn · 25%US Personal Banking$21.0bn · 25%Wealth$8.6bn · 10%Banking$8.2bn · 10%All other$4.3bn · 5%Revenue$85.2bnPretax profit$19.8bn · 23%Running costs$55.1bn · 65%Loan losses$9.6bn · 11%Other costs$0.7bn · 1%Net income$14.3bn · 17%Income tax$5.4bn · 6%Other items$0.1bn · <1%
Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitMarkets: $22.0bnServices: $21.3bnUS Personal Banking: $21.0bnWealth: $8.6bnBanking: $8.2bnAll other: $4.3bnMarkets$22.0bn · 26%Services$21.3bn · 25%US Personal Banking$21.0bn · 25%Wealth$8.6bn · 10%Banking$8.2bn · 10%All other$4.3bn · 5%Revenue: $85.2bnRevenue$85.2bn · 100%Pretax profit: $19.8bnRunning costs: $55.1bnLoan losses: $9.6bnOther costs: $0.7bnPretax profit$19.8bn · 23%Running costs$55.1bn · 65%Loan losses$9.6bn · 11%Other costs$0.7bn · 1%Net income: $14.3bnIncome tax: $5.4bnOther items: $0.1bnNet income$14.3bn · 17%Income tax$5.4bn · 6%Other items$0.1bn · <1%
Money map (a Sankey diagram): band widths are to scale. Hover a band for the amount. Source: CITIGROUP INC 10-K filings.

For a bank, revenue means what is left after paying interest to savers. Citi's revenue was $85.2bn ✓ in FY2025. Services earns mainly on client deposits and loans, plus fees for moving money and holding assets 3. US Personal Banking earns mainly interest on consumer loans, such as cards and mortgages, plus card fees 5.

Deposits are the money people and companies keep at the bank, and they help fund its loans. Citi held $1.40 trillion of deposits at the end of 2025 32752122. They rose $119 billion, or 9%, in 2025, driven by balances that Services clients keep at Citi to run their payments 213.

Running costs, such as pay, technology and offices, took $55.1bn ✓. Next, Citi set aside $9.6bn ✓ for loans that may not be repaid. Other costs took $0.7bn ✓. That left $19.8bn ✓ of pretax profit. Other items came to -$0.1bn ✓, and tax took $5.4bn ✓. Citi kept $14.3bn ✓ as profit.

Out of every $100 of revenue, about $65 ✓ went on running costs and $11 ✓ on loan losses. Other costs took $1 ✓ and tax $6 ✓. Citi kept $17 ✓.

Out of every $100 of revenue in FY2025…

Running costs (staff, offices, technology) $65Loan losses $11Other costs $1Income tax $6Profit kept $17
💡
In the third quarter of 2026, Services earned the most on its capital of any Citi business 4. Its return on tangible common equity was 31.2%, against 21.8% for U.S. Consumer Cards 4. For Citi as a whole it was 11.5% 4.

⏱️ Citigroup by the clock

Spread the FY2025 totals evenly over its 365 days and you get this. Source: CITIGROUP INC 10-K [8].

🛒
$233m
in revenue every day
⏱️
$454
of profit every second
🎁
$51m
handed to shareholders every day

📈How is Citigroup doing?

Citi has grown slowly for a decade. From FY2015 to FY2025, revenue grew 1.1% ✓ a year on average, from $76.4bn ✓ to $85.2bn ✓. It rose in 8 ✓ of those 10 ✓ years. Profit fell from $17.2bn ✓ in FY2015 to $14.3bn ✓ in FY2025. The share of revenue left as pretax profit fell from 32.5% ✓ to 23.3% ✓.

The latest year was better. Revenue grew 5.6% ✓ in FY2025. Citi says revenue rose 6% in 2025 while expenses rose 3%, and all five businesses grew revenue faster than costs 21. In the third quarter of 2026, profit was $5.2 billion on revenue of $23.8 billion, up from $3.8 billion on $22.1 billion a year earlier 4.

📝 The report card

Citi earns a top mark for steadiness but weak marks for growth, profit and its equity cushion. Cash generation is not graded ✓ for banks. Every company is graded on the same fixed scale, so an A means the same thing on every page. The strip shows where Citigroup (orange) and its 5 peers land; further right is better.

D

Growth

Revenue growth per year, last 3 fiscal years
4.2% · peer median 7.2%
#5 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 5.0%D ≥ 0.0%F below 0.0%

Citi's revenue grew 4.2% ✓ a year over its last three fiscal years, which earns a D ✓. That ranked number 5 of the six banks ✓, below the 7.2% ✓ peer median. JPMorgan, at 12.3% ✓, earns a B ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Growing revenue is the engine of a business. For a bank, revenue is what it earns after paying interest to savers and lenders; for an insurer, it is mostly premiums. Mature giants rarely grow fast, so 5% a year already earns a C.

F

Profitability

Return on equity (profit ÷ shareholders' equity), last 3 years combined
5.8% · peer median 11.0%
#6 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 12.0%C ≥ 9.0%D ≥ 6.0%F below 6.0%

Over the last three years combined, Citi earned 5.8% ✓ profit on its owners' money, which gets an F ✓, just under the 6% needed for a D. It ranked number 6 of the six banks ✓, well below the 11.0% ✓ peer median.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Banks and insurers work with other people's money, so profit margins on revenue say little. Return on equity shows how much profit they make on the owners' money; above 15% is excellent for a big bank or insurer.

–

Cash generation

Not graded

Not graded for banks and insurers: their cash flow mostly moves customers' money (deposits, loans, premiums), so it says little about the business.

Cash generation is not graded ✓ for banks. A bank's cash flow mostly shows customers' money moving in and out. Citi's operating cash flow swung from $25.1bn ✓ in FY2022 to -$67.6bn ✓ in FY2025, which says little about how the business did.

D

Balance sheet

Shareholders' equity as a share of total assets
7.99% · peer median 8.2%
#4 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 12.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 8.0%D ≥ 6.0%F below 6.0%

Shareholders' equity was 7.99% ✓ of everything Citi owned at the end of FY2025, which earns a D ✓. That is just under the 8.0% line for a C, and a little below the 8.2% ✓ peer median. Regulators use a different test called CET1, where Citi had 12.8% in the third quarter of 2026 4.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Owners' equity is the cushion that absorbs losses before customers' money is at risk. The thicker the cushion compared with everything the company owns, the safer it is.

A

Steadiness

How much yearly revenue growth swings (standard deviation, up to 10 years)
4.4% · peer median 6.8%
#2 of 6 in the peer group
A ≤ 5.0%B ≤ 8.0%C ≤ 12.0%D ≤ 18.0%F above 18.0%

Citi's yearly growth swings by just 4.4% ✓, measured as a standard deviation, which earns an A ✓. That ranked number 2 of the six banks ✓, behind Bank of America at 3.8% ✓. Goldman Sachs, at 15.5% ✓, gets a D ✓.

Why this measure? (lower is better)

Steady growers are easier to plan around. Big swings mean revenue depends on interest rates, markets or one-off events.

🧑‍🏫 How the grades work
  1. Same scale for everyone. Each measure has fixed cut-offs (shown under each strip). Clear the A line and you get an A, whatever your peers do.
  2. Three years together. Profitability and cash generation add up the last three fiscal years before dividing, so one unusual year counts for less than it would on its own (a year much bigger than the others still weighs most).
  3. Banks and insurers are graded differently. They lend or invest customers' money, so profitability uses return on equity, the balance sheet uses the owners' share of total assets, and cash generation is not graded. They are compared only with other banks and insurers.
  4. Peers for context. The rank shows how Citigroup compares with the group. Companies within 0.1 percentage point share a rank.
  5. Same source. Every company's figures come from its own latest annual report (10-K), so fiscal years end in different months.
  6. Judgement, openly stated. The cut-offs are QuantVantage.ai's view of what good looks like for a large, established company. They are not a forecast or a recommendation.

11 years at a glance

Revenue
$85.2bn
FY2025
Revenue by fiscal yearFY2015: $76.4bnFY2016: $70.8bnFY2017: $72.4bnFY2018: $72.9bnFY2019: $75.1bnFY2020: $75.5bnFY2021: $71.9bnFY2022: $75.3bnFY2023: $78.1bnFY2024: $80.7bnFY2025: $85.2bnFY2015FY2025
Pretax margin
23.3%
FY2025
Pretax marginFY2015FY2025
Buybacks + dividends
$18.6bn
FY2025
Buybacks and dividends by fiscal yearFY2015: $6.7bnFY2016: $11.6bnFY2017: $18.3bnFY2018: $19.5bnFY2019: $23.0bnFY2020: $8.3bnFY2021: $12.8bnFY2022: $8.3bnFY2023: $7.2bnFY2024: $7.7bnFY2025: $18.6bnFY2015FY2025
Shareholders' equity
$212.3bn
end of FY2025
Shareholders' equity by fiscal yearFY2015: $221.9bnFY2016: $225.1bnFY2017: $200.7bnFY2018: $196.2bnFY2019: $193.2bnFY2020: $199.4bnFY2021: $202.0bnFY2022: $201.2bnFY2023: $205.5bnFY2024: $208.6bnFY2025: $212.3bnFY2015FY2025

Where the cash goes

In FY2025, Citi handed back more than its profit to shareholders. From FY2015 to FY2025 it spent $141.9bn ✓ on dividends and buybacks. In FY2025 alone it paid out $18.6bn ✓, or 130.2% ✓ of profit. Of that, $17.6 billion went to common shareholders: $13.3 billion of buybacks under a multiyear $20 billion plan and $4.3 billion of dividends 21. In July 2026 Citi raised its quarterly dividend from $0.60 to $0.67 a share 31.

Net income vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bnFY2016 net income $14.9bnFY2016 buybacks + dividends $11.6bnFY16FY2017 net income -$6.8bnFY2017 buybacks + dividends $18.3bnFY17FY2018 net income $18.0bnFY2018 buybacks + dividends $19.5bnFY18FY2019 net income $19.4bnFY2019 buybacks + dividends $23.0bnFY19FY2020 net income $11.0bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $8.3bnFY20FY2021 net income $22.0bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $12.8bnFY21FY2022 net income $14.8bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $8.3bnFY22FY2023 net income $9.2bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $7.2bnFY23FY2024 net income $12.7bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $7.7bnFY24FY2025 net income $14.3bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $18.6bnFY25
Net income vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bnFY2020 net income $11.0bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $8.3bnFY20FY2021 net income $22.0bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $12.8bnFY21FY2022 net income $14.8bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $8.3bnFY22FY2023 net income $9.2bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $7.2bnFY23FY2024 net income $12.7bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $7.7bnFY24FY2025 net income $14.3bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $18.6bnFY25
■ Net income   ■ Buybacks + dividends. Source: CITIGROUP INC 10-K filings.

🧮Ratios 101: what are Citigroup's key financial ratios?

Ratios shrink Citi's giant numbers into easy comparisons. For a bank, profit on the owners' money and on total assets matter most, and both are low at Citi. A ratio divides one number by another so companies of any size can be compared. Each card shows the formula with Citigroup's real FY2025 numbers, the peer median and the trend.

💰 Profitability: how much of each dollar of revenue is kept?

Higher is better

Net margin

16.8%
Net income$14.3bn$85.2bnRevenue=16.8%

The bottom line: profit after interest and taxes, per dollar of revenue.

👉 Citi keeps 16.8% ✓ of revenue as final profit, down from 22.6% ✓ in FY2015 and well below the 27.0% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 15% is strong; one-off tax items can move it in a single year.

Peer median 27.0% (5 peers)FY2015 22.6%
Net margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Return on equity (ROE)

6.7%
Net income$14.3bn$212.3bnShareholders' equity=6.7%

Profit earned for each dollar that shareholders have left in the company.

👉 ROE of 6.7% in FY2025 ✓ is about half the 13.7% ✓ peer median, and below the 7.8% ✓ of FY2015.

📏 Rule of thumb: Around 15% or more is good, but buybacks shrink equity and can make ROE look huge.

Peer median 13.7% (5 peers)FY2015 7.8%
Return on equity (ROE) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

⚙️ Efficiency: how hard do the assets work?

Higher is better

Return on assets (ROA)

0.5%
Net income$14.3bn$2,657.2bnTotal assets=0.5%

Profit earned from everything the company owns, however it was paid for.

👉 Banks earn thin profits on huge balance sheets. Citi made 0.5% ✓ on $2,657.2bn ✓ of assets, half the 1.0% ✓ peer median and its own 1.0% ✓ in FY2015.

📏 Rule of thumb: For big banks, about 1% on assets is usual and above 1.2% is strong; insurers are not judged on that scale.

Peer median 1.0% (5 peers)FY2015 1.0%
Return on assets (ROA) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

💵 Cash and owners: where does the money end up?

It depends

Shareholder payout

130.2%
Dividends + buybacks$18.6bn$14.3bnNet income=130.2%

How much of the year's profit was handed back to owners.

👉 Citi returned 130.2% ✓ of FY2025 profit, up from 38.9% ✓ in FY2015 and above the 101.6% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 100% means it returned more than it earned, using cash savings or debt.

Peer median 101.6% (5 peers)FY2015 38.9%
Shareholder payout by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

Ratios use fiscal-year-end balance sheet values. Inputs are shown rounded, so dividing them can differ from the result in the last digit. A peer median leaves out peers that do not report the inputs, or where the ratio means nothing (for example, negative shareholders' equity). Rules of thumb are general guides from QuantVantage.ai, not hard limits. No share-price ratios (like price-to-earnings) are shown on this page.

🥊Who are Citigroup's competitors?

Citi competes with every big US bank, but on different fronts. JPMorgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo are big US banks too 32752122 17181920 212324. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley meet Citi in trading, deals and wealth 2526 2627.

Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%15%0%10%20%30%40%Revenue growth per year, 3 years →Pretax margin →JPMorgan Chase: revenue $182.4bn, growth 12.3%/yr, pretax margin 39.8%JPMBank of America: revenue $113.1bn, growth 6.0%/yr, pretax margin 33.3%BACCitigroup: revenue $85.2bn, growth 4.2%/yr, pretax margin 23.3%CWells Fargo: revenue $83.7bn, growth 4.0%/yr, pretax margin 30.1%WFCMorgan Stanley: revenue $70.6bn, growth 9.6%/yr, pretax margin 31.1%MSGoldman Sachs: revenue $58.3bn, growth 7.2%/yr, pretax margin 37.5%GS
Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%15%0%10%20%30%40%Revenue growth per year, 3 years →Pretax margin →JPMorgan Chase: revenue $182.4bn, growth 12.3%/yr, pretax margin 39.8%JPMBank of America: revenue $113.1bn, growth 6.0%/yr, pretax margin 33.3%BACCitigroup: revenue $85.2bn, growth 4.2%/yr, pretax margin 23.3%CWells Fargo: revenue $83.7bn, growth 4.0%/yr, pretax margin 30.1%WFCMorgan Stanley: revenue $70.6bn, growth 9.6%/yr, pretax margin 31.1%MSGoldman Sachs: revenue $58.3bn, growth 7.2%/yr, pretax margin 37.5%GS
Peer map from each company's latest 10-K. Bubble size = revenue. Source: SEC filings [8] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16].
CompanyWhere they competeRevenueGrowth/yr (3y)Pretax marginReturn on equity (3y)
Citigroup (C, FY2025)Cash and payment services for multinational companies, trading, deal advice, wealth and US cards 3 2 7 6 5$85.2bn4.2%23.3%5.8%
Bank of America (BAC, FY2025)US cards, company cash management, investment banking and trading; at 30 June 2026 its national bank had $2.65 trillion of assets and 3,593 US branches, against Citibank's $1.98 trillion and 660 17181920$113.1bn6.0%33.3%9.4%
JPMorgan Chase (JPM, FY2025)Global payments, markets, investment banking and US cards; at the end of 2025 JPMorgan had $4.42 trillion of assets and $2.56 trillion of deposits, against Citi's $2.66 trillion and $1.40 trillion 32752122$182.4bn12.3%39.8%15.9%
Wells Fargo (WFC, FY2025)Big US banks; at the end of 2025 Wells Fargo had about $2.1 trillion of assets and 76% of staff in the US, against $2.66 trillion and 31% at Citi 212324$83.7bn4.0%30.1%11.0%
Goldman Sachs (GS, FY2025)Trading bonds, currencies and stocks and raising money for companies; in 2025 Citi's Markets business earned $22.0 billion, against $14.52 billion in FICC and $16.54 billion in Equities at Goldman 2526$58.3bn7.2%37.5%11.0%
Morgan Stanley (MS, FY2025)Markets and wealth; at the end of 2025 Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management had $7.38 trillion of client assets, against $670 billion at Citi's Wealth, measured differently 2627$70.6bn9.6%31.1%12.5%

Citi says it also competes with fast-growing financial firms and with non-traditional ones, such as private credit providers 28. It warns that AI, stablecoins, tokenized deposits and instant payments could make some of its products less competitive 28.

🧭Citigroup SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

💪 Strengths

  • Services earned a 31.2% return on tangible common equity in the third quarter of 2026, the highest of Citi's businesses 4.
  • Services average deposits were $1,037 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 16% from a year earlier 4.
  • Citi runs its own cross-border payment platforms, and its cross-border transaction value was $116 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 10% 4.
  • Revenue growth swings less than at most peers, which earns an A ✓ for steadiness.

🩹 Weaknesses

  • Costs are high: Citi's efficiency ratio was 64.7% in 2025, against an overhead ratio of 52% at JPMorgan Chase 2122.
  • Its return on tangible common equity was only 7.7% in 2025 and 7.0% in 2024 21.
  • The 2020 consent orders from the Fed and the OCC on risk management, data and controls were still in place in Citi's FY2025 annual report 30.
  • Its five largest card partnerships made up about 12% of 2025 revenues, and these deals usually have a fixed term 5.

🚀 Opportunities

  • Citi is working toward a near-term return on tangible common equity goal of 11-13%, on a path to 14-15% 4.
  • In April 2026 it completed buying about $6.6 billion of extra American Airlines card loans, from more than 2 million accounts 31.
  • Citi plans to sell more of Banamex or list it through an IPO, after selling 49% by the third quarter of 2026 1011.

⚠️ Threats

  • Citi warns that AI, stablecoins, tokenized deposits and instant payments could make some products less competitive 28.
  • Card issuers compete hard for big co-brand deals, which generally have a fixed term 5.
  • Citi expects spending on its transformation, about $3.3 billion in 2025, to remain significant in 2026 and beyond, then decline over time 30.
  • Under its 2020 consent order, Citibank needs the OCC's approval before any significant new acquisition outside the ordinary course 30.

🏰Does Citigroup have a moat?

Narrow moatCiti's payment network keeps global companies close, but its costs per dollar of revenue run well above JPMorgan's and a regulator must approve any big acquisition 4 2122 30.
Brand 3/5
Why 3?

Citi lists its brand name and reputation first among the things behind its competitive position 28. It does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions 29. But in cards, its five largest partnerships made up about 12% of 2025 revenues, and issuers compete hard for them 5.

Switching costs 4/5
Why 4?

Citi's Treasury and Trade Solutions runs cash, payments and trade for multinational companies 3. Citi's deposits rose $119 billion in 2025, driven by balances clients keep to run their payments 213. Services average deposits reached $1,037 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 16% 4. Card partnerships generally have a fixed term, and other issuers compete hard for them 5.

Network effects 3/5
Why 3?

Citi moves cross-border payments over its own Worldlink and Cross-Border Funds Transfer platforms 4. In the third quarter of 2026, its cross-border transaction value was $116 billion, up 10% 4. Its network spans over 90 countries and jurisdictions, with trading floors in nearly 80 2. Services offers products in over 90 countries 3.

Cost advantages and scale 3/5
Why 3?

Services held or ran about $35 trillion of client assets in the third quarter of 2026 4. But Citi's efficiency ratio was 64.7% in 2025, against an overhead ratio of 52% at JPMorgan Chase 2122. It spent about $3.3 billion on its transformation in 2025, up 14% 30. JPMorgan is also bigger, with $4.42 trillion of assets at the end of 2025 against Citi's $2.66 trillion 32752122.

Intangibles (patents, licences, regulation) 3/5
Why 3?

Citi works under bank licences and close supervision by the Fed, the OCC, the SEC and regulators abroad 28. As a global systemically important bank, Citi needed CET1 of 11.6% at the end of 2025, including a 3.5% surcharge 2122. Under its 2020 consent order, the OCC must approve any significant new acquisition first 30. Citi also warns that AI and stablecoins could make some products less competitive 28.

A moat is what keeps rivals from taking a company's customers and profits. Scores are QuantVantage.ai's judgement (5 = strongest), set with the same rubric on every explainer (orange is Citigroup; grey dots are peers).

🔭What should you watch next?

16 Nov 2026

Card fee settlement hearing

A court will hold a final fairness hearing on a class settlement in the card interchange fee case, which Citi lists among its legal matters 37.

By end of 2026

Former CFO leaves

Mark Mason, CFO until March 2026, intends to leave Citi by the end of 2026 33. Gonzalo Luchetti took over as CFO 3334.

After 2026 ends

Full-year 2026 results

Citi said in October 2026 that it expects to beat its 2026 return target; the full-year results will show whether it did 4. Figures on this page run to FY2025, plus the third quarter of 2026.

Early 2027 (possible)

Banamex leaves Citi's books

Citi may stop counting Banamex in its accounts and book about $9 billion of currency losses, with no effect on capital 10. The timing could change, and an IPO or selling more shares depends on markets and approvals 10.

Until 1 Oct 2027

Stress capital buffer

The Fed confirmed in June 2026 that Citi's stress capital buffer stays at 3.6% until 1 October 2027 31.

Open as of the FY2025 annual report

Consent orders

The OCC ended its July 2024 add-on in December 2025 30. The 2020 Fed and OCC orders were still in place in Citi's FY2025 annual report 30.

📚Learn the words

Revenue (for a bank)The money a bank takes in from interest and fees, after paying interest to its savers.
Net interest incomeThe interest a bank earns on loans and bonds, minus the interest it pays on deposits.
DepositMoney a person or company keeps at a bank. The bank can lend it out or invest it, but must pay it back on request.
Operating depositsCash that companies keep at a bank to run their daily payments and bills. It tends to stay put.
Treasury servicesHelp for companies to collect, hold, move and pay out cash, often across many countries.
CustodyKeeping investors' shares and bonds safe and recording who owns them.
Loan-loss provisionMoney a bank sets aside from its profit for loans it expects will not be repaid.
Efficiency ratioA bank's costs divided by its revenue. Lower is better.
CET1 ratioThe bank's own money, mostly from shareholders, compared with how risky its loans and investments are. It is the first cushion against losses.
Return on equityProfit divided by the money shareholders have in the company.
Economic moatA lasting advantage, like a strong brand or high switching costs, that keeps rivals from taking a company's customers.
Fiscal yearA company's own 12-month accounting year. Citi's matches the calendar year, so FY2025 ended in December 2025.

❓Frequently asked questions about Citigroup

How does Citi make money?

Citi makes money across five businesses 29. Markets trades for clients, and Banking advises on deals, arranges them and lends 2 7. Services earns mainly on client deposits and loans, plus fees for moving money and holding assets 3. US Personal Banking earns mainly interest on consumer loans, such as cards, plus card fees 5. In FY2025 its revenue was $85.2bn ✓.

What is happening to Banamex?

Citi is selling Banamex, its Mexican consumer and small-business bank, in steps 1011. It had sold 49% by the third quarter of 2026 and plans to sell more or hold an IPO 1011. Apart from Banamex, it has largely finished leaving the 14 overseas consumer markets it chose to exit 10.

What is a consent order, and is Citi under one?

A consent order is a formal deal with a regulator to fix problems. Citi's 2020 Fed and OCC orders on risk management, data and controls were still in place in its FY2025 annual report 30. The OCC requires approval for big new acquisitions, though Citi can still serve clients 30.

Which credit cards does Citi issue?

Citi issues the Costco co-branded card, and since April 2026 it is American Airlines' only card issuer 531. In 2025 its Retail Services unit also made cards for retailers such as The Home Depot, Best Buy and Macy's 5.

Where are Citi's US branches?

Citi's US branches are concentrated in six big city areas: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami and Washington, D.C. 5.

Who runs Citi?

Jane Fraser has been CEO since February 2021 and Chair since October 2025 32. Gonzalo Luchetti became Chief Financial Officer in 2026 3334.

What is the efficiency ratio?

It is a bank's costs divided by its revenue, so lower is better. Citi's was 64.7% in 2025, against 52% at JPMorgan Chase on the same measure 2122. For the third quarter of 2026 alone, Citi's was 58.5% 4.

What is CET1?

CET1 is the bank's own money, mostly from shareholders, compared with how risky its assets are. Citi had to hold at least 11.6% at the end of 2025 2122. For the third quarter of 2026 alone, it had 12.8% 4.

🎮Play: higher or lower, then test yourself

Higher or lower · round 1 of 3

Figures come from each company's latest annual report (10-K); fiscal years end in different months. Sources: [8] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16].

Score: 0

🧠 Test yourself

5 quick questions. Score: 0 / 5

1. In which year does Citi trace its roots to the City Bank of New York?

Citigroup traces its history to the founding of the City Bank of New York in 1812 29.

2. Which Citi business earned the highest return on its capital in the third quarter of 2026?

Services earned 31.2% on tangible common equity, the highest of Citi's businesses 4.

3. About how much client money did Citi's Services business hold or run at the end of September 2026?

Services held or administered about $35 trillion of client assets 4.

4. Roughly how much profit did Citi make each second in FY2025?

Profit of $14.3bn ✓ works out to $454 ✓ every second.

5. Which airline's credit card does Citi issue on its own?

Citi is American Airlines' exclusive credit card issuer 531.

🔎Sources and method

Every figure comes from a source listed here or is calculated from those sources (marked ✓). Company financials are taken from SEC filings (10-K and 10-Q) as tagged in XBRL. Peer grades rank the same measures across the company and its peers. This page contains no share-price data and no valuation.

  1. Citigroup (C) Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed 2026-02-20 — revenue by product, segment and geography (accessed 2026-10-28)
  2. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Markets segment: products, clients, trading floors and network (accessed 2026-10-30)
  3. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Services segment: Treasury and Trade Solutions, Securities Services, international presence (accessed 2026-10-30)
  4. Citigroup third quarter 2026 results (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, October 13, 2026) — Third-quarter 2026 results by business, key metrics and CEO commentary (accessed 2026-10-30)
  5. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — U.S. Personal Banking segment and the co-branding and private label credit card risk factor (accessed 2026-10-30)
  6. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Wealth segment: Private Bank, Citigold, Wealth at Work, countries, client investment assets (accessed 2026-10-30)
  7. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Banking segment: Investment Banking and Corporate Lending (accessed 2026-10-30)
  8. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Citigroup (C) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  9. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — All Other: Legacy Franchises, Corporate/Other, divestitures (Banamex, Russia), 2026 segment change (accessed 2026-10-30)
  10. Citigroup Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 — Legacy Franchises and Banamex divestiture status; Poland sale (accessed 2026-10-30)
  11. Citigroup third quarter 2026 Quarterly Financial Data Supplement (Form 8-K exhibit 99.2) — Footnote on the Banamex equity sales by quarter (accessed 2026-10-30)
  12. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ (BAC) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  13. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO (JPM) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  14. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN (WFC) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  15. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC (GS) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  16. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: MORGAN STANLEY (MS) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  17. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — MD&A Business Segment Operations: Consumer Banking, GWIM, Global Banking and Global Markets descriptions and 2025 results (accessed 2026-10-30)
  18. Federal Reserve statistical release: Large Commercial Banks, data as of June 30, 2026 — Ranking of U.S. commercial banks by consolidated assets, with domestic branch counts, June 30, 2026 (accessed 2026-10-30)
  19. Citigroup third-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (filed 2026-10-13) — Citigroup third-quarter 2026 efficiency ratio, loans and deposits (accessed 2026-10-30)
  20. Citigroup Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-20) — Citigroup's five business segments (accessed 2026-10-30)
  21. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Executive summary, selected financial data and balance sheet overview: efficiency ratio, assets, deposits, capital returns, capital ratios and buffers (accessed 2026-10-30)
  22. JPMorgan Chase Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Business segment descriptions, selected financial data (total assets, deposits, overhead ratio) and GSIB surcharge (accessed 2026-10-30)
  23. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Human capital (employees, countries, U.S. share) and executive officers (accessed 2026-10-30)
  24. Wells Fargo Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 business: assets, deposits, size rank, segments, employees (accessed 2026-10-30)
  25. Goldman Sachs Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — MD&A: 2025 segment results, efficiency ratio, assets under supervision, targets (accessed 2026-10-30)
  26. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — 2025 Markets revenues, investment banking fees, efficiency ratio (accessed 2026-10-30)
  27. Morgan Stanley Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Business segment descriptions (Institutional Securities, Wealth Management) and Wealth Management total client assets (accessed 2026-10-30)
  28. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Supervision, regulation and competition; competition risk factor (accessed 2026-10-30)
  29. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Cover page and overview: incorporation, headquarters, 1812 history, countries, five segments, fiscal year (accessed 2026-10-30)
  30. Citigroup Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Multiyear transformation and FRB/OCC consent orders (accessed 2026-10-30)
  31. Citigroup Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 — Second-quarter summary: dividend, American Airlines portfolio, U.S. Consumer Cards segment, stress capital buffer (accessed 2026-10-30)
  32. Citigroup 2026 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A) — Jane Fraser career history and Board leadership structure (accessed 2026-10-30)
  33. Citi announces CFO transition plans and changes to U.S. Personal Banking (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, November 20, 2025) — CFO transition and creation of U.S. Consumer Cards (accessed 2026-10-30)
  34. Citigroup Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 — Signatures: Chief Financial Officer (accessed 2026-10-30)
  35. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Citigroup (C) — quarterly 10-Q/10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  36. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Citigroup (C) — balance sheet at 2025-12-31 (accessed 2026-10-28)
  37. Citigroup Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 — Legal proceedings: interchange fee litigation (accessed 2026-10-30)