Barclays Bank is the fourth largest bank in the United Kingdom. The bank can trace its routes back to 1690 in London. The name "Barclay" first arose in 1736. Today the bank is a global financial service provider operating in the UK, Europe, United States, and Africa. The bank's headquarters are at Lombard Street in the City of London. Currently, offices are under construction at One Churchill Place for a new head office building. Barclays currently owns more stock (3.9%) than any other stockholder in the largest company on the planet, Exxon Mobil.

History of Barclays Bank

• 1896 - several small London banks unite under the banner of Barclays and Co
• 1905-1916 - acquisitions of small English banks extends the branch network
• 1918 - Barclays amalgamated with the London, Provincial and South Western Bank
• 1966 - Barclaycard launched, the first credit card in the world
• 1967 - Barclays unveils the first ATM cash machine
• 1969 - acquisition of Martins Bank
• 1997 - "black hole" discovered in the accounts of BZW, Barclay's investment bank division.
• 1998 - BZW business broken up, parts sold to Credit Suisse First Boston
• 2000 - acquisition of Woolwich Plc (formerly the Woolwich Building Society)
• 2001 - Barclays closes more than 170 rural branches in the UK

Constituents of Barclays Bank Group

• Barclays Bank plc - UK clearing bank
• Barclays Private Clients - Offshore and Private banking
• Barclaycard - Global credit card business
• Barclays Capital - Investment banking
• Barclays Global Investors - Institutional Asset Management
• Woolwich plc - UK mortgage and savings bank
• Open Plan - Internet banking
• Barclays Africa
• Barclays Spain

See also

Banks of the United Kingdom

External links

• Official site
• Yahoo! - Barclays Bank PLC Company Profile