Warren Demands Action from Regulators on Troubled Bank’s Struggles

  • Senator Elizabeth Warren urges growth restrictions on Citigroup
  • Citigroup faces criticism for internal control issues
  • OCC and Federal Reserve fined Citi in July for violating consent orders
  • CEO Jane Fraser working to clean up the mess since taking over in March 2021

Citigroup, a bank that has faced numerous challenges in risk management and regulatory compliance, is once again under scrutiny from Senator Elizabeth Warren, a prominent critic of the banking industry. Warren recently urged Michael Hsu, acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), to impose growth restrictions and other penalties on Citigroup. She criticized the OCC’s insufficient supervision of the bank as well as its own failure to improve longstanding internal control issues. Although the OCC isn’t obligated to act on Warren’s demand, her letter highlights Citigroup’s weaknesses and growing impatience with regulators to address them. In July, the OCC and Federal Reserve fined Citigroup for violating four-year-old consent orders by not resolving problems quickly enough. CEO Jane Fraser has been working since March 2021 to clean up the mess, exiting consumer banking in over a dozen markets, bringing in new leadership, selling the trust business, and addressing dysfunction in its wealth unit. Investors will likely question Citigroup’s progress during the third-quarter earnings report.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about Citigroup’s issues with risk management and regulatory compliance, as well as the actions taken by CEO Jane Fraser to address these problems. It also mentions Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s criticism of the bank and her suggestion for growth restrictions. The article is not overly dramatic or sensationalized, and while it does include some background information on Citigroup’s history, it remains relevant to the main topic.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information on Citigroup’s ongoing issues with risk management and regulatory compliance, as well as the actions taken by CEO Jane Fraser to address these problems. It also mentions Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s criticism of the bank and her suggestion for growth restrictions. The article stays mostly on topic and supports its claims with examples of Citi’s efforts to improve internal controls. However, it could benefit from more in-depth analysis or discussion of potential solutions beyond breaking up the bank.
Public Companies: Citigroup (C)
Key People: Elizabeth Warren (Senator), Michael Hsu (Acting Head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency), Jane Fraser (Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup)


Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Yes
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses Citigroup, a major bank, and its struggles with risk management and regulatory compliance issues. Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to impose penalties on the bank, including growth restrictions. This impacts financial markets as it highlights potential regulatory actions that could affect the bank’s operations and future growth. Additionally, Citigroup’s CEO Jane Fraser is working to address these issues, which may impact investor sentiment and the bank’s performance.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article. The focus is on Citigroup’s financial issues and regulatory challenges, but it does not qualify as an extreme event.
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: Finance
Direction: Down
Magnitude: Large
Affected Instruments: Stocks

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