Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) is a British multinational bank and financial services company headquartered in London. The firm provides a broad range of banking and financial products to individual, corporate and institutional customers. Its core activities span retail and business banking, credit cards and payments, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.
In retail and business banking, Barclays offers deposit accounts, mortgages, personal and business loans, and card services. Its corporate and investment banking division delivers advisory, capital markets, trading, and financing solutions to companies, governments and institutions. Wealth and investment management services include private banking, asset management and financial planning for high-net-worth clients and institutional investors.
Barclays traces its origins to banking businesses in the United Kingdom with a long history as one of the country’s established banks. Over time it has expanded beyond the UK and operates internationally, with significant operations and client relationships across Europe and the United States, as well as a presence in other global markets through its corporate and investment banking activities and international client services.
The company is active in digital banking and payment innovations, investing in technology and platforms to support online and mobile banking, card processing and merchant services. Barclays' shares and American depositary receipts are traded publicly, and the firm is subject to banking regulation in the jurisdictions where it operates. For investors and customers, Barclays is widely regarded as a diversified financial services group with a broad product set and global footprint.