Citigroup gets favorable ratings

Citigroup has received the highest overall rating in a survey of 100 banking analysts and fund managers worldwide, conducted by the Financial Times, a leading international banking and finance newspaper.

The survey asked analysts and fund managers to rate banks on a number of key attributes, ranging from their network and capital strength to their visibility in each market and globally.

Overall, Citigroup was rated ‘very highly’ by 62 percent of respondents, ahead of Goldmans Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Credit Suisse First Boston, and Deutsche Bank. Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, HSBC, Lehman Brothers and BNP Paribas rounded out the top 10.

In individual categories, Citigroup was voted the financial institution most likely to significantly increase its presence in the international markets over the next 12 months.

It received the highest rating for the quality of its communications; financial security; ability to access capital at the lowest cost, its strength in major or international markets; the quality of its management and reputation.

The Financial Times bank image survey measures the standing and profile of 27 international banks.

The 2002 survey involved 100 telephone interviews with 55 analysts responsible for analyzing investment banks activities and capabilities internationally, and 45 investment or fund managers who invest in the banking and financial sector. The respondents were based on the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia.