How Chaudhry will use Citi deal to boost Axis ambition

Amitabh Chaudhry seeks to elevate Axis from its strong position in India to a premium one. The purchase of Citi’s consumer finance business will help – but only if it can keep Citi’s customers.

When Amitabh Chaudhry took on the top job at Axis Bank in January 2019, he brought with him an ambition to take the country’s third-largest private sector bank to a higher level.

“I want Axis to be recognized as a premium financial services enterprise in the country,” he tells Euromoney. “We are one of the larger enterprises, but not the premium one. I would like the respect levels for Axis to grow substantially.”

The decision by Chaudhry and Axis to buy the Indian consumer finance business of Citi, announced in March and now working its way through regulatory and logistical processes, should be seen in that context.

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