Citi's Services Segment Hits Decade-High as Bank Bets on Digital

Core Insights - Citigroup is restructuring by exiting 14 international markets, simplifying management, and focusing on five core businesses: Services, Markets, Banking, Wealth, and U.S. Personal Banking [1][4] - The company reported a 23% increase in trading profits and strong earnings in Services and Wealth segments, despite a 15% rise in credit costs to $2.7 billion due to macroeconomic challenges [2][6] - U.S. Personal Banking achieved a revenue record with net income more than doubling, while the "All Other" segment negatively impacted overall performance due to legacy market wind-downs [1][12] Financial Performance - Citigroup's Services segment generated $4.9 billion in revenue, marking its best Q1 in over a decade, with net interest income growing 5% [6][7] - The Wealth segment saw a 24% revenue increase to $2.1 billion, with net interest income up 30% and non-interest revenue up 16% [8] - U.S. Personal Banking revenue increased 2% to a record $5.2 billion, driven by growth in Branded Cards and Retail Banking, despite a 10% decline in mortgage originations [10][11] Credit Costs and Net Income - Credit costs increased 15% to $2.7 billion, with a notable rise in card portfolio losses and an allowance for credit losses build [2][12] - The "All Other" segment reported a net loss of $870 million, widening from $477 million a year ago, primarily due to consumer losses in Mexico [12][13] - Overall, net income rose significantly in various segments, with the Wealth segment's net income increasing 62% to $284 million [9][11] Strategic Initiatives - Citigroup is investing heavily in digital transformation and modernization, including a partnership with Palantir for client onboarding and AI implementation across workflows [9][10] - The bank aims to shed legacy complexity while enhancing next-generation capabilities, with a focus on maintaining a technology-first approach [5][10] - Despite macroeconomic headwinds, Citigroup reaffirmed its full-year guidance, projecting net interest income of $83-84 billion and expenses just under $53.4 billion [13]