Citi launches Professional Conversion Programme to upskill staff

Building upon its ongoing efforts to raise the overall expertise of its staff, Citi last Friday (29 June) launched a new Professional Conversion Porgramme (PCP).

According to a media release, about 400 Citi staff from the consumer banking, and operations and technology divisions will begin training in the next 12 months under the PCP.

The staff, from front office roles to operations, will undergo training to develop skills in customer journey mapping, design thinking, automation and cybersecurity which are increasingly important in the digital economy.

Such reskilling will be conducted through workshops, classroom learning and on-the-job training. The complete training period is expected to be between three to 12 months. Participating staff will be assessed for aptitude in various skills before they embark on new roles. Upon obtaining the necessary knowledge and competency, staff will be ready to take on new or enhanced roles within Citi.

For instance, a universal service banker, who currently carries out banking transactions for customers, will be able to answer customers’ queries through virtual channels. An operations specialist will take on additional responsibilities such as digital transformation and process automation.

Amol Gupte, ASEAN head and Citi country officer (CCO), Singapore, said: "With digital transformation reshaping every aspect of the banking sector, it is imperative that we take steps to prepare our staff to face changes with confidence. At Citi, we have always been focused on grooming our talent to be future-compatible. We see the rollout of PCP as a timely step in the right direction as it can spark our employees’ interest in new job areas which could potentially lead them to embark on new, rewarding career pathways."

The PCP launch builds upon the bank’s ongoing efforts to raise the overall expertise of its staff. It is one of several training initiatives to reskill 2000 staff over the next three years. For example, in March this year, Citibank Singapore – Citi's consumer banking division – became the first bank in Singapore to launch IBF-accredited training in core consumer banking skills. These staff at Citi have started their training in multifunctional, future compatible skills.

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Citi Singapore's PCP was developed together with the Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore (IBF), and Workforce Singapore (WSG). Citibankers who complete the programme will be certified by the IBF.

IBF CEO Ng Nam Sin said: "There is urgency to reskill our professionals to keep pace with industry transformation. Citi has shown clear commitment to develop its people by launching the PCP. The close partnership between the IBF and major financial institutions like Citi is essential for the success of the PCP. More importantly as individuals, we will each need to take ownership of our lifelong learning journey to ensure that we remain relevant to the industry."

From July, Citi staff will have access to the Learn@IBF app, which features content on topics and new developments in the financial world. This will enable them to complement their training by learning on the go through content curated by industry specialists.

Photo / Citi Singapore

Image caption: Han Kwee Juan, CEO Citibank Singapore Limited; Ng Nam Sin, CEO Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore; Jorge Osorio, chief human resources officer, Citi Singapore; and Susan Kwek, head of operations and technology, Citi Singapore, scanning a QR code to activate fireworks on their mobile devices to launch the Professional Conversion Programme for Citi Singapore on June 29, 2018. Ng addressed some 170 employees at Citi’s Changi Business Park premises to speak about the need for continual reskilling and lifelong learning.