KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 8): Citi has been picked as the Best Bank in Asia in 2014 by leading industry publication, FinanceAsia, making it the sixth year in a row that the bank has won the award.

The magazine's editorial team chose Citi after assessing various banks on their performance across institutional and retail banking for the last 12 months.

Citi also picked up best M&A bank after leading over US$85 billion (RM303.11 billion) of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction in 2014, it said in a media statement today.

“The bank’s client work was also recognised via deal of the year, best equity deal, best IPO, best equity linked deal, best M&A deal, best project financing, best loan and best private equity deal,” it added.

The bank was also recognised for having led the transaction that picked up the best country deal in Korea.

“In a highly competitive market, this independent recognition is greatly appreciated by all of us at Citi. I would also like to thank our clients who place their trust in us to meet their financial needs day in and day out, and without whom this award would not be possible,” said Citi Asia Pacific CEO Stephen Bird.

“Asia is at the heart of Citi’s transformation and we are well placed to capture more of the growth opportunities in this region,” he added.

In the editorial write up announcing the awards, the editors said Citi won the best bank award for its remarkable momentum in Asia. 

“It also maintained a well-balanced split evenly amongst businesses and countries. Citi has managed to harness the growing importance of Asia in a region that now accounts for a third of Citi’s global net income and a fifth of its global revenues.”

Citi helped raised over US$150 billion for clients from international capital markets in 2014 and advised on over US$85 billion in M&A.

The past year also saw the bank passing the 7 million mark for digital banking users in Asia as well as US$250 billion in client assets in the region for the first time in its history.