Barclaycard company profile

Who is Barclaycard?

Barclaycard is part of the Barclays Group and has its headquarters in the UK. We are one of the largest payment businesses providing credit cards for consumers and corporate clients as well as enabling retailers to take card payments. In 1966, our credit card was the first to be launched in the UK and we went on to produce the first all-purpose credit card in Europe.

Today, we're still the UK's most recognised brand, with 11.7 million customers. In addition, we're now a rapidly expanding global cards and lending business with 11.6 million customers outside of the UK and operations around the world.

In the UK

Our primary UK activities include all Barclaycard branded credit cards and the retail finance business Barclays Partner finance.

We also lend our 40-plus years of expertise to some of the biggest retailers in the UK, as part of our expanding partnerships portfolio. Currently, Barclaycard provides card products in partnership with Thomas Cook, Argos, BHS, Hilton HHonours and InterContinental Hotel Group.

Around the world

Barclaycard's international presence is extensive. We currently operate across Europe, the United States and Africa. In 2008, three quarters of new cards issued were in overseas markets and we now have 11.6 million customers outside the UK.

In addition, our global partnerships form an exciting part of our expansion strategy including EnterCard, a joint venture with Swedbank, one of the leading banks in Sweden and Norway,and nearly 50 US card partnerships, including: US Airways, LL Bean, Harvard and Barnes and Noble.

Barclaycard Payment Acceptance

Barclaycard Payment Acceptance provides convenient, secure, best of breed solutions for businesses that need to accept payments across the widest range of channels, methods and locations.

In addition to enabling credit, debit and charge card acceptance in companies ranging from small shops to multinational businesses; telephone, mail and internet payments can also be supported on a local and international basis throughout Europe.

Barclaycard Commercial

By working with businesses to understand the specific issues they face, Barclaycard Commercial can help them enhance control and cost-effectiveness throughout the process.

We have developed a range of payment solutions that can help automate, simplify and monitor business expenditure. And, while each solution can be tailored to the needs of individual businesses, they all benefit from the reliability and global acceptance of Visa.

From credit cards, to embedded payment solutions capable of maximising expenditure processes, every solution we implement is designed to deliver process efficiencies.