Citibank launches the Citibank Academy

The announcement came during the Academy's graduation of 24 local students who enrolled in a rigorous 3-month intensive program during which they received a mix of focused academic and practical training. All graduates are receiving job offers from Citibank.

The Academy started its activities with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Citibank and The National Human Resource Development & Employment Authority (TANMIA) announced during the month of July. According to the MOU, 70 high school and university-level UAE nationals will be trained at the Academy in the fields of banking, finance, credit, leadership, sales, teamwork, management and customer service. Upon successful graduation, all of the students will be offered jobs at the bank.

"Citibank has always had a strong reputation for being a university of banking. We have taken a step further by formalizing our training efforts through a in-house Academy dedicated to developing UAE nationals, and to creating a pipeline for potential future senior management," said Rajeev Kakar, Regional Head for Citibank's Consumer Bank in Turkey, Middle East & Africa, who is based in the UAE. "Our aim is to hire the best and the brightest, and to provide the best hands-on training available in the market through our own specialized coursework delivered by seasoned Citibank staff, and grow and train them to take on senior roles in the longer run."

The Citibank Academy, part of Citibank, falls into a series of training and financial literacy initiatives that have been initiated by the bank in conjunction with top academic centers in the UAE. Currently, the bank supports the Islamic Banking Diploma program, which was developed by the Emirates Institute of Banking and the Accelerated Diploma in Financial Services and Banking at [Sharjah's Womens College. In 2002, the bank developed a joint post-graduate degree in Finance with the American University of Sharjah.

Citibank has been closely associated with innovation and the introduction of the latest banking technology worldwide. Moreover, it has consistently ranked at the forefront of human development and training throughout all the markets where it is present, including the UAE.