• Citi launches Arc platform to scale AI agents across global operations
• Platform aims to automate research, client prep and workflow processes
• CTO highlights enterprise-wide deployment as major breakthrough
• Industry trend sees banks embedding AI across risk and compliance
• Morgan Stanley and BNY already advancing AI agent strategies
• Accenture finds nearly 60% expect AI agents embedded within three years
• Citi links AI rollout to broader modernization and revenue strategy
• More than 80% of Citi staff already using internal AI tools 

Citi is accelerating its artificial intelligence strategy with the launch of Arc, a new platform aimed at building and scaling AI agents across the organization, as the bank seeks to automate routine tasks and embed intelligence into everyday workflows.

The platform will initially be deployed by Citi developers to create agents for targeted internal use cases, with broader access expected over time.

According to the bank, these agents will be integrated into daily operations to generate deeper insights from data, reduce repetitive processes and streamline workflow efficiency.

“For the first time, we can deploy embedded AI agents at enterprise scale across every business line, every geography, every function,” said David Griffiths, Chief Technology Officer at Citi. “The real game changer is that we’ve built industrialized infrastructure to make AI agents a core part of how we serve our clients.”

The move comes as banks across the sector race to operationalize AI agents at scale.

Institutions including BNY and Morgan Stanley are already developing similar capabilities, reflecting growing confidence that the technology will transform how financial services operate.

Industry data supports that trajectory. According to Accenture’s Top Banking Trends for 2026, nearly 60% of banking executives expect AI agents to be fully embedded in functions such as risk management, compliance, audit, fraud detection and transaction monitoring within the next three years.

A further 56% anticipate widespread adoption in areas including customer due diligence, credit assessment and loan processing.

Morgan Stanley has already begun integrating AI agents into its wealth management division, where the technology is being used to automate routine tasks and allow employees to focus more on client engagement.

Meanwhile, BNY has deployed AI-driven digital employees, including systems capable of resolving lower complexity coding issues.

Citi’s Arc platform builds on a broader modernization strategy outlined by CEO Jane Fraser, who has emphasized the role of AI in driving revenue growth, improving client experience and enhancing operational efficiency.

The bank has also strengthened its leadership in this area, appointing former Google executive Brian Saluzzo as Chief Information Officer earlier this year to help scale its AI initiatives.

The firm is also investing heavily in workforce readiness. Citi noted that more than 80% of employees with access to its AI tools are already using them regularly, while most staff have completed prompt training designed to maximize the value of the technology.

The challenge now will be ensuring that the rapid deployment of AI agents is matched by robust governance and oversight, as institutions seek to balance innovation with control.