1980 advert from Barclays Bank promoting their Customer Service Programme.

Barclays plc is a major global financial services provider operating in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia, Asia and Africa. It is a holding company that is listed in London, New York and Tokyo. It operates through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC.

Barclays plc is the 18th largest company in the world according to Forbes Global 2000 rankings (2007 list) and the fourth largest financial services provider in the world by Tier 1 capital ($32.5 billion). It is the third largest bank in the United Kingdom based on market capitalisation.

The bank’s headquarters are at One Churchill Place in Canary Wharf, in London’s Docklands, having moved there in May 2005 from Lombard Street in the City of London.

History

This bank traces its roots back to 1690 in London. The name “Barclays” became associated with the business in 1736, when James Barclay, son-in-law of one of the founders became a partner in the business.  In 1728, the bank moved to 54 Lombard Street, which was identified by the ‘Sign of the Black Spread Eagle‘, over the years becoming a core part of the bank’s identity.