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Former Citi banker says she was fired for refusing to provide false data to regulator
By Saeed Azhar
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former Citigroup managing director sued the bank and its chief operating officer on Wednesday, alleging she was fired for opposing what she said were attempts to provide false information to regulators.
Kathleen Martin, a former Citi managing director hired in 2021 to help with data issues, said in a lawsuit filed in New York federal district court that her supervisor COO Anand Selva wanted her to hide “critical information” from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) over the bank’s data governance metrics.
Speaking on behalf of the bank and Selva, a Citigroup spokesperson said in a statement that “this lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend ourselves against it.”
OCC did not immediately provide comment.
The lawsuit alleges that Selva wanted to hide information because it would make the bank “look bad.”
Selva urged Martin to falsely tell the regulator that Citi had achieved specific goals when it had not, the suit alleged.
Martin was fired on Sept. 25, 2023, in retaliation for her complaints, he said.
The data governance work was related to a 2020 OCC consent order, according to the lawsuit.
OCC and the Federal Reserve in 2020 directed the bank to correct widespread and long-standing deficiencies in its risk management, data governance and internal controls.
Martin’s lawyer, Valdi Licul of the law firm Wigdor LLP, said in a statement that his client “has always acted to protect Citi’s interests.”
She is urging the court to reinstate her to the same seniority status and is seeking back pay, including bonuses.
The case is Martin v. Citibank NA et al., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.
(Reporting by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Josie Kao)