Citibank has said it is not keen on converting its branch operations in the country into wholly owned subsidiaries at this time even after incentives offered by the Reserve Bank of India.

'We have reviewed the terms and conditions that have come along with the proposal but we have to look at it from our business model perspective. Considering all these, we have decided not to go ahead with it at this point,' Anand Selvakesari, head of consumer banking for Asean and India at the US bank, told reporters here today.

He did not elaborate on any particular issue with the guidelines, and said the bank’s feedback has been given to the Reserve Bank.

He admitted that Citi has local subsidiaries in countries such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia and is not averse to setting up units.

The RBI in November released a framework for large foreign banks with more than 20 branches to convert into wholly owned subsidiaries. It said banks entering the country after August 2010 would have to become subsidiaries and not operate through branches.