The Very Hungry Banker: Honesty, Trust and Reputation in Fekete v. Citibank (2023)

This article examines the recent case involving a senior manager at Citibank, who was dismissed after filing fraudulent expenses claims. We take inspiration for its title from the short children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The case of Fekete v. Citibank (2023) shares some of those themes and it offers some interesting parallels for the banking industry. The moral lessons in both instances are potentially about avoiding greed and avarice, as well as the importance of restraint. These issues are now considered to be central to good governance and a strong, ethical and trustworthy culture in banks since the 2008 financial crisis, at the very least. This article bridges the literature in law and organizational culture to show how trust and honesty are central tenets in the regulation of the banking sector.