Citi Of The Future

Ashmita Acharya is rethinking the wealth management experience, and it starts by not focusing on sales.

- Farhan Shah

“Because of intense short-term performance pressures, banks have become too transactional and top linefocused,” Ashmita Acharya replies when I ask her about the future of banking. It’s a surprising answer, especially since it’s coming from the retail banking head of Citibank Singapore. But Acharya, who took on the role late last year, has a refreshing, long-term perspective.

She explains: “I want to build relationships that are transgenerational. We need to stop focusing purely on the present because our clients will remain with us for decades to come. And over time, there will be intergenerational wealth transfer. What’s most important to Citi is building on and investing in relationships based on trust.”