-
1966: The first ever UK credit card is launched
While the English football squad wins the World Cup, our founders are busy working on the first all-purpose credit card in Europe.
-
1967: Barclaycard is the first credit card to offer withdrawals from ATMs in the UK
Today, you can use your Barclaycard to withdraw cash from over 1 million ATMs.
-
1977: Company Barclaycard is born
Now known as Barclaycard Commercial, this subdivision of our business offers credit and charge cards to our commercial customers.
-
1977: We become a founding member of Visa
When international BankAmericard licensees are brought together into a single system, we're involved in the creation of the resulting Visa network.
-
1986: The first credit card loyalty scheme is introduced in the UK
Profile Points is launched with one in ten of our customers signing up to the loyalty scheme.
-
1990: Barclaycard MasterCard is launched
This is the start of many successful ventures with MasterCard and its subsidiaries.
-
1991: Barclaycards are introduced in Germany
We venture outside the UK for the first time and set up offices in Germany. Our German business now has over 450 employees and has issued more than 1.4 million credit cards.
-
1995: We're the first UK credit card company to go online
To make it easier for customers to check their accounts, we lead the way on the web with Barclaycard Net link. Today, more than 800,000 customers regularly use online banking with us.
-
1999: Barclaycard sets up offices in Spain and Greece
As part of the next step in our European expansion we venture into these two countries, offering personal credit cards.
-
2002: We launch Barclaycard in Italy
Since 2002, we've issued more than 400,000 Barclaycards in Italy.
-
2003: Deal is signed with Manchester United Football Club
This agreement taps into the global popularity of Manchester United, giving us the rights to market Manchester United cards anywhere outside the UK for 5 years.
-
2003: Clydesdale Financial Services becomes part of Barclaycard
We purchase the Glasgow-based retailer point-of-sale business, including 1,500 retail outlets.
-
2004: We acquire Juniper and launch in the US
Buying Juniper Financial Corporation, one of the fastest growing credit card issuers in the United States, marked the start of our expansion across the Atlantic.
-
2004: Barclaycards are introduced in Portugal
The first cards on offer are our Classic and Gold Visa credit cards.
-
2005: Barclaycard ventures into South Africa
Barclays buys the majority stake in the South African company, ABSA Group Ltd, which has 1.9 million customers.
-
2005: Barclaycard and BSkyB join forces to launch SkyCard
This credit card, which has Sky branding, can be used to make purchases using a television and a Sky box.
-
2005: EnterCard is formed
Resulting from a joint venture with Swedbank, one of the leading banks in Sweden and Norway, EnterCard provides credit cards across the Nordic region.
-
2006: Barnes and Noble Member MasterCard is launched in the US
We partner with the world's largest bookseller to offer rewards and discounts on purchases to customers.
-
2006: Joint ventures are announced with Argos and Thomas Cook
Two separate deals are signed with these well-known brands. Argos MasterCard is available to customers of the second largest retailer in the UK. While Travel Credit Card offers rewards from Thomas Cook, the UK's leading travel brand.
-
2007: Barclaycards are now issued in India, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa
As we grow our brand internationally, we venture into South Asia and the Middle East and introduce Barclaycard-branded cards in South Africa.
-
2007: The first environmentally-friendly credit card is launched in the UK
Barclaycard Breathe is a revolutionary card that rewards customers for making 'greener' choices and donates 0.5% of what customers spend to projects that tackle climate change.
-
2007: We launch Barclaycard Football
This credit card caters to the large number of football fans in the UK.
-
2007: Introducing the UK's first contactless payment card
With our innovative Barclaycard OnePulse, customers can make small purchases simply by holding the card close to a contactless reader.
-
2007: Trials of contactless payments using mobile phones begin
Working with VISA and the mobile operator, O2, we continue our development of mobile phone payments.
-
2008: EAT join the contactless revolution
They are the first retailer in the UK to fully integrate a contactless payment system using our technology.
-
2008: We buy the Goldfish credit card business
This is part of the card portfolio we acquire from Discover Financial Services in the UK.
-
2008: Barclaycard Commercial and Payment Acceptance are created
To offer our business customers a better service, Barclaycard Business is divided into two: Barclaycard Commercial: Businesses and the public sector can make payments using credit cards, charge cards, procurement accounts and travel booking solutions.Payment Acceptance: We offer e-commerce solutions, chip and PIN terminals and contactless readers to help companies accept credit cards.
-
2008: The one millionth Contactless card is issued
As we reach this exciting milestone in the UK, we focus on our next target - to issue contactless payments cards to all our UK customers by 2012.
-
2009: Innovative new card is trialled using EMUE technology
This Visa corporate card has a keypad and LCD screen embedded into it, to enable Deloitte employees to remotely access their company's IT system via a virtual private network (VPN).
-
2009: Our iPhone® game, a first in financial services, is a resounding success
The thrilling new 'Waterslide Extreme' game for iPhone® quickly becomes the most popular branded iPhone® app in 57 countries, with millions of downloads.
-
2009: We're first to introduce a pre-application credit check in the UK
Potential customers can check their chances of being accepted for credit before they apply, without leaving a hard footprint on their credit files.
-
2010: Barclaycard Freedom, our groundbreaking loyalty programme, is launched
For the first time ever, local retailers and national brands are part of the same rewards programme. Over 8 million cardholders can easily earn rewards every time they spend, with no vouchers, points or extra cards to carry.
