Citizens Financial Group Launches Global Capability Centre in Hyderabad with Cognizant Partnership

Citizens Financial Group, a financial institution based in the United States, has inaugurated its Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad. This initiative is in collaboration with Cognizant, a global technology services company. The Hyderabad GCC aims to be an innovation hub supporting Citizens' digital transformation and technology modernisation efforts.

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The centre is set to expand its workforce to 1,000 IT, Data, and Analytics professionals by March 2026. It will significantly enhance Citizens' technological capabilities across enterprise platforms, customer experience, and data-driven decision-making. The launch event was attended by Telangana IT Minister D Sridhar Babu.

Hyderabad's Growth and Vision

Sridhar Babu highlighted Hyderabad's rapid development, noting that the city is on track to add 200 million sq ft of Grade A office space by 2030. He mentioned that Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport recorded the highest passenger traffic growth among Indian metro airports in 2024.

Commercial space absorption in Hyderabad increased by 56%, the highest in the country. The retail sector also leased 1.8 million sq ft last year. "This boom is backed by a clear vision: to not just build infrastructure, but to build the future," he said.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Goals

The government aims to transform Hyderabad from a GCC hub into a Global Value Centre. This transformation involves companies leading with innovation, building intellectual property, and driving product development. Sridhar Babu stated that this aligns with Telangana's ambition to contribute USD 1 trillion to India's GDP over the next decade.

"Strategic partnerships like this one between Citizens Bank and Cognizant bring us a step closer to that goal," he added. The GCC will also serve as an innovation hub, implementing advanced technologies and promoting continuous learning and development.

The centre's purpose is to enable Citizens to develop innovative solutions for their customers more efficiently. This initiative reflects a broader strategy of fostering innovation and enhancing technological capabilities within the organisation.