Citigroup, the world’s largest financial institution, is trying to acquire a US bank or lender to increase deposits, expand branches, and strengthen lending services, Bloomberg reported. report Friday, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.
Negotiations have also included $500 billion worth of banks and brokerages such as Stifel and Raymond James, with regulatory approvals required under the existing license, according to the report.
A successful acquisition would represent a major milestone under CEO Jane Fraser and would change Citigroup’s footing to better compete with JPMorgan and Bank of America.
Capital release and divestitures in the near future
The report comes as Citi sits on financial assets from a number of different sources.
On February 18, 2026, the company completed the sale of its Russian subsidiary to Renaissance Capital, a transaction that generated $4 billion in Common Equity Tier 1 capital gains.
Five days later, Citigroup sold 49% of Banamex, its Mexican banking arm, for about $2.5 billion.
Officials have said they don’t expect any additional Banamex sales this year, meaning the freed up capital could be channeled into additional assets in the US.
Finance in the near future
Corporate banking revenue rose 78% year over year to $2.2 billion in Q4 2025, driven by the bank’s focus on institutional and retail customers.
Citigroup shares were trading at $108 at the time of reporting, below the $135 price target.
Citi plans infrastructure for Bitcoin storage and wallet services
Citi has been quietly building a Bitcoin integration infrastructure for three years and now ready to start services that bring the digital economy into the traditional financial system.
The offering will also include the same risk management and reporting as conventional securities, allowing Bitcoin positions to be integrated into existing transactions.
Citi is also looking at stablecoins and blockchain deposits to improve cross-border payments.
