Walter Bigelow Wriston biography

Synopsis

As president (1967–70) and chairman (1970–84) of Citibank, Walter Bigelow Wriston was one of the nation's most influential bankers. He led the move to expand Citibank's commercial operations, including home mortgages and credit-card services, before retiring in 1984. He chaired President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1982–9) and is credited with the introduction of ATM.

Profile

Banker, born in Middletown, Connecticut, USA on August 3, 1919. The son of a historian who later became president of Brown University, Walter Bigelow Wriston graduated from Wesleyan College in 1941 and served four years in the army before joining First National City Bank (later Citibank) in 1946.

As president (1967-70) and chairman (1970-84) of Citibank, he held sway as one of the nation's most influential bankers. He led the move to expand Citibank's commercial operations, including home mortgages and credit-card services, before retiring in 1984. He chaired President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1982-9), and wrote Risk and Other Four Letter Words (1986) and The Twilight of Sovereignty (1992).

Wriston is also credited with the introduction of the automated teller machine (ATM). He retired in 1984 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. Wriston died on January 19, 2005.