Citi Launches Custody+ to Accelerate Real-Time Securities Processing for Institutional Investors

August 19, 2026

Citi Investor Services has launched Custody+, a new custody suite designed to give institutional investors faster, more flexible and increasingly real-time processing across securities servicing, cash management and settlement.

The launch comes as institutional investors demand more responsive custody infrastructure that can support complex operating models, improve transparency and help firms manage liquidity more efficiently.

At the center of Custody+ is Citi’s patented Single Event Processing (SEP) technology. The system connects global and direct custody infrastructure through a single processing flow and handles asset-servicing transactions in real time.

Citi Expands Real-Time Custody Capabilities

Citi says the U.S. rollout of SEP has already delivered significant processing improvements.

According to the bank, processing times for voluntary corporate actions have fallen by up to 92% in the United States. Citi also says that 96% of U.S. voluntary corporate events are now processed within two hours, while more than 80% of its overall event volume is processed in real time.

These capabilities form the technological foundation of Custody+.

The new suite will allow institutional clients to access Citi’s custody infrastructure directly. Citi will also offer the technology through a white-label model, allowing other financial institutions to use Citi’s infrastructure while providing custody services under their own platforms.

Custody+ Connects the Full Transaction Lifecycle

Citi says clients will receive visibility across the transaction lifecycle in 62 proprietary custody markets.

That visibility will extend from the initial instruction through final settlement at central securities depositories. By providing a single view of the process, Citi aims to help institutional investors reduce operational complexity and improve control over their custody activities.

The platform will also accelerate document processing following completed transactions. Citi says documents can be processed up to 70% faster, while the system is designed to support more efficient tax outcomes.

For large institutional investors, these improvements could help reduce delays and make post-trade operations more responsive.

Real-Time FX and Liquidity Management

Custody+ also extends beyond traditional securities custody.

The platform will support real-time currency conversion, automated hedging and transaction execution, giving clients additional tools to manage foreign exchange exposure during the settlement process.

Citi says the system will also provide:

• Instant cash-position updates
• Real-time liquidity sweeping
• Funding capabilities
• Cash-balance projections
• Integrated FX management

These functions are designed to help investors understand their liquidity position while custody transactions move through the settlement process.

For institutions operating across multiple markets and currencies, real-time information can play an important role in reducing idle cash and improving funding decisions.

Citi Brings Tokenised Deposits Into Custody Infrastructure

Citi is also connecting Custody+ with its digital-asset infrastructure.

Through Citi Token Services, the bank says customers can move tokenised deposits on a near-instantaneous basis, 24 hours a day, across selected Citi markets.

The development reflects the growing convergence between traditional custody infrastructure and blockchain-based financial services.

Rather than treating digital assets as a completely separate system, Citi is building them into a broader custody framework that can support both conventional and emerging forms of financial assets.

Bitcoin Custody Planned for Later in 2026

Citi also plans to expand the digital-asset capabilities of Custody+.

The bank expects digital asset custody to go live later in 2026, beginning with Bitcoin.

The planned service would allow traditional securities and crypto custody to operate through the same broader framework.

That could become an important development for institutional investors as demand for regulated digital-asset infrastructure continues to grow.

Citi Targets More Flexible Institutional Operating Models

A major theme behind Custody+ is flexibility.

Institutional investors operate with different technology stacks, settlement processes and servicing requirements. Citi says the new platform was designed to support those different models rather than forcing clients into a single operating structure.

Amit Agarwal, head of custody at Citi Investor Services, said Custody+ represents the result of a multi-year investment in infrastructure designed to match the speed of institutional clients’ strategies.

He added that the solutions are designed to simplify operating models as financial-market processes become more complex.

Why Citi’s Custody+ Launch Matters

The launch highlights a broader shift in institutional financial infrastructure.

Traditional custody has historically depended on large numbers of processes, systems and manual interventions. However, investors increasingly expect the same speed and transparency from post-trade infrastructure that they receive from modern digital financial services.

Citi’s approach combines several capabilities into one framework:

Real-time processing + securities custody + FX + liquidity management + tokenised deposits + digital assets

That combination could give institutional investors a more connected approach to managing assets and settlement activity.

The white-label option also expands the potential reach of the platform. Other financial institutions can potentially use Citi’s underlying infrastructure while maintaining their own client-facing experience.

The Road Ahead for Institutional Custody

Citi’s launch of Custody+ signals a broader move toward real-time institutional custody infrastructure.

The bank’s investment in Single Event Processing has already produced significant processing improvements in the United States. Citi is now extending that technology into a broader suite covering custody, liquidity, FX and digital assets.

The planned Bitcoin custody service could further strengthen the platform’s role as traditional and digital asset markets become increasingly connected.

For institutional investors, the focus is shifting from simply holding assets to managing the entire transaction lifecycle with greater speed, visibility and flexibility.

Citi Investor Services ramps up custody processing with Custody+

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