Key Takeaways
- • Citi received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to establish a wholly owned securities company in China, Citigroup Securities (China) Company Limited (CSCCL), headquartered in Shanghai.
- • The securities license permits CSCCL to offer equities brokerage, securities underwriting, securities research, investment advisory, and principal trading services.
- • CSCCL will give clients access to onshore-listed shares, bonds, funds and other instruments, letting Citi underwrite China capital markets transactions directly rather than only offshore.
- • Citi said it has helped Chinese clients raise more than $40 billion in global capital markets year-to-date in 2026 and serves about 70% of Fortune 500 companies operating in China.
Summary
The China Securities Regulatory Commission has approved Citi's plan to establish a wholly owned securities company in China, according to the bank's announcement. The new entity, Citigroup Securities (China) Company Limited (CSCCL), will be headquartered in Shanghai. Citi said it will complete the remaining statutory and regulatory procedures needed to formally establish the company and prepare it to begin operations.
The securities license will allow CSCCL to provide equities brokerage, securities underwriting, securities research, investment advisory and principal trading services. The business will also give clients access to onshore-listed shares, bonds, funds and other financial instruments. Citi said the entity will combine its global investment banking platform, which spans debt and equity underwriting, M&A advisory and cross-border capital markets transactions, with locally licensed securities services.
Citi has operated in China for nearly 125 years and was among the first international banks to establish a local presence. The bank said it serves approximately 70% of Fortune 500 companies operating in China and works with several hundred large Chinese corporate and public-sector clients through its Corporate & Investment Bank. Its Commercial Bank also supports medium-sized companies, and the new securities company is expected to extend services to these corporate and institutional clients, particularly those seeking direct access to China's domestic capital markets. Citi said it has helped Chinese clients raise more than $40 billion in global capital markets year-to-date in 2026.
In a statement, Chair and CEO Jane Fraser said the onshore capabilities would allow Citi to help clients in China's domestic markets raise capital, access investors and trade locally, while connecting them to global opportunities. Wenjie Zhang, Citi's China country officer and banking head, said the securities company would be an important part of the bank's China strategy and that Citi plans to build a high-caliber local team and leverage its global network to support domestic capital market development.
The securities license will allow CSCCL to provide equities brokerage, securities underwriting, securities research, investment advisory and principal trading services. The business will also give clients access to onshore-listed shares, bonds, funds and other financial instruments. Citi said the entity will combine its global investment banking platform, which spans debt and equity underwriting, M&A advisory and cross-border capital markets transactions, with locally licensed securities services.
Citi has operated in China for nearly 125 years and was among the first international banks to establish a local presence. The bank said it serves approximately 70% of Fortune 500 companies operating in China and works with several hundred large Chinese corporate and public-sector clients through its Corporate & Investment Bank. Its Commercial Bank also supports medium-sized companies, and the new securities company is expected to extend services to these corporate and institutional clients, particularly those seeking direct access to China's domestic capital markets. Citi said it has helped Chinese clients raise more than $40 billion in global capital markets year-to-date in 2026.
In a statement, Chair and CEO Jane Fraser said the onshore capabilities would allow Citi to help clients in China's domestic markets raise capital, access investors and trade locally, while connecting them to global opportunities. Wenjie Zhang, Citi's China country officer and banking head, said the securities company would be an important part of the bank's China strategy and that Citi plans to build a high-caliber local team and leverage its global network to support domestic capital market development.
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