Barclaycard history

Barclaycard is launched - the first all-purpose credit card in Europe.

Barclaycard becomes the first ATM card used in the UK.

Company Barclaycard (now Barclaycard Business) is introduced. Barclaycard becomes a founder member of the international Visa system.

Barclaycard launches the UK's first credit card loyalty scheme, Profile Points.

Barclaycard MasterCard launched.

Barclaycard is launched in Germany.

Barclaycard is the first UK credit card company to go on the Internet with Barclaycard Net link.

Barclaycard expands its European operations to Spain and Greece.

Barclaycard is launched in Italy.
Barclaycard acquires the UK credit card arm of Providian Inc, a top ten credit card company in the US.
Barclaycard announces a joint venture with Littlewoods, one of the leading mail order companies in the UK.

Deal signed with Manchester United, giving Barclaycard global rights to issue Manchester United credit cards. Barclaycard acquires Clydesdale Financial Services.

Barclaycard acquires US credit card firm Juniper Financial Corporation. Barclaycard launches Classic and Gold Visa credit cards in Portugal. Barclaycard signs a joint venture deal with the retailer House of Fraser, to issue consumer finance products.

Barclays acquires the majority stake in ABSA Group Ltd in South Africa, through which it now has 1.9m existing cardholders.
Barclaycard and BSkyB join forces to launch SkyCard a Sky branded credit card that can be used in a Sky box to make purchases through the television.
Barclaycard announces the formation of EnterCard, a joint venture with Swedbank, one of the leading banks in Sweden and Norway, to provide credit cards across the Nordic region.

In the US, Barclaycard launches the Barnes and Noble Member MasterCard with the world's largest bookseller.
Barclaycard announces joint ventures with Argos, the UK's second largest retailer, and Thomas Cook, the UK's leading travel brand.

Barclaycard begins to issue cards in India and the United Arab Emirates. Barclaycard begins to issue Barclaycard branded cards in South Africa.
In the UK, Barclaycard launches Barclaycard Breathe, a card that donates 50% of its profits to carbon reduction projects.
Launches Barclaycard Football, a card aimed at football fans in the UK.
Barclaycard launches Barclaycard OnePulse, the UK's first contactless payment card.
Barclaycard begins trialling contactless payments using mobile phones together with VISA and mobile operator O2.