Naveed Anwar, Citi’s global head of Platforms and Data Services, discusses enhancing client experience in a real-time environment.
Global Finance: How does Citi’s innovation roadmap translate into tangible benefits for corporate clients?
Naveed Anwar: Our clients are at the center of everything we do, and we are relentlessly focused on meeting their evolving needs. That’s why our innovation roadmap is designed around three pillars.
First, we focus on the client experience by simplifying complex processes, leveraging real-time data, and delivering actionable insights through a tailored digital platform. This makes it easier for clients to navigate the global landscape and complete tasks more efficiently.
Second, we drive growth and innovation with advanced payment systems, real-time liquidity management, blockchain solutions, and AI tools—capabilities that help clients expand into new markets and product areas with confidence.
Finally, we are modernizing our platforms through continuous investment in client-facing technology. CitiDirect, our web and mobile banking platform, processed over 55 million logins last year, while CitiConnect API handled more than 3 billion calls, enabling seamless integration and real-time operations.
GF: How do you see the role of embedded finance evolving in corporate banking?
Anwar: To enhance the client experience, we are smoothly integrating financial services directly into our clients’ business workflows and ecosystems. We see embedded finance transforming corporate banking from a standalone service to an invisible, always-on component within a client’s core business operations. This involves leveraging robust API connectivity and machine-to-machine platforms (like CitiConnect) to embed financial capabilities directly into e-commerce platforms, ERP systems, and other business applications.
We are also focused on becoming an integral part of the client’s broader business ecosystem, supporting their supply chain and value network, and enabling them to operate across borders. This enables opportunities such as co-creation and innovation, enhanced data and insights, and improved client efficiency and automation. However, some challenges can occur across interoperability, adoption, and cybersecurity. Therefore, it’s critical that we achieve a smoother integration across diverse client systems, and provide the highest levels of data security, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
GF: Tell us more about the 24/7 programmable cash management and trade finance solutions Citi Token Services (CTS) enables.
Anwar: At Citi, we believe the future of networks will be borderless, always-on, and real-time to enable frictionless commerce on a global scale and we are actively playing a role to deliver 24/7 infrastructure that achieves this. With CTS, we are enabling 24/7 solutions for cash management and trade finance, utilizing tokenization and smart contracts.
Clients are benefiting from 24/7 instant cross-border payments and liquidity movements across Citi’s network, reduced transaction limits and cut-offs, and real-time visibility on transactions. CTS is live in the UK, US, Singapore, and Hong Kong. As of June, we are processing billion-dollar transactions on CTS globally, achieving a significant milestone on our innovation journey since our commercial launch in October 2024.
GF: Besides speed, what factors are driving the shift from batch to real-time payments for corporate clients?
Anwar: While speed is a key benefit, the shift from batch to real-time payments for corporate clients is also being driven by several strategic factors that are fundamentally transforming how businesses operate and compete. Real-time payments give treasurers continuous cash visibility across markets, improving liquidity and risk management. They also streamline processes by reducing manual effort and reconciliation delays, which leads to faster decisions and fewer errors. And because of our global footprint and network, real-time rails enable borderless commerce, allowing clients to expand internationally and seize opportunities the moment they arise. Ultimately, the move toward real-time payments is about agility, operational excellence, stronger stakeholder relationships, and maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
