The announcement came a day after Citigroup said it would mandate vaccines for many of its workers. Capital One also said it is delaying its office reopening.

It may seem odd that Citigroup has created an online lending platform that matches small businesses with minority-run and other banks for no financial benefit. Yet company executives and observers say it makes sense.

The deal would mark a first step in Chief Executive Jane Fraser’s plan to exit 13 retail markets across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the Middle East.

BlackRock and other major financial institutions are working on plans to accelerate the closure of coal-fired power plants in Asia in a bid to phase out the use of the worst man-made contributors to climate change.

Citigroup’s chief financial officer said China’s recent moves to crack down on companies isn’t likely to harm the bank’s business across the Asia-Pacific region.

Citigroup attracted close to $15 billion in net new money across its Asia Pacific wealth management business in the first six months of 2021, as hundreds of new hires helped the lender mark one of its strongest half years on record for the unit.

Citigroup has gone back to requiring employees — regardless of their vaccination status — to don masks when they’re in the office, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A bevy of Citigroup bankers and traders are vying to join a new program that would allow them to spend time working at a Black-owned bank.

Citigroup stopped taking applications for its $495-a-year Prestige card, a competitor to American Express’s Platinum line and JPMorgan Chase’s Sapphire Reserve.

The global company says that a quicker-than-expected economic recovery is creating some opportunities to invest in businesses that will generate returns over time.