Barclaycard History

When it comes to cards… we're the leader of the pack

Ok, so the history of the UK credit card is probably not a subject you've spent a great deal of time thinking about. 

But if you're looking for a new card, there's something you should know.  Right from the start, Barclaycard has led the way in the credit card business.

First off the mark

So how were the Sixties for you?  Or for your Dad?

Whilst everyone else was watching the World Cup, we were working hard on the UK's first credit card, introduced in 1966.

First on the Net

We were the first to provide online banking.  More than 800,000 customers regularly use our online account facility.

The first choice for 8.4 million customers in the UK

That means one in five UK credit cards is a Barclaycard.

We get everywhere

You can use your Barclaycard to pay for goods and services in more than 22 million places in over 200 countries.  If you need to withdraw cash, you've got a choice of over 600,000 ATMs and banks worldwide (that means there's very probably one in your local high street).

Short history of Barclaycard

1966

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

1967

Barclaycard becomes the first ATM card used in the UK

1977

Company Barclaycard (now Barclaycard Business) is introduced

Barclaycard becomes a founder member of the international Visa system

1986

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

1990

Barclaycard MasterCard launched

1991

Barclaycard is launched in Germany

1995

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

1999

Barclaycard expands its European operations to Spain and Greece

2002

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

2003

Deal signed with Manchester United, giving Barclaycard global rights to issue Manchester United credit cards

Barclaycard acquires Clydesdale Financial Services

2004

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

2005

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

2006

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

2007

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

2008

In the UK, Barclaycard teams up with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to launch the Priority Club^® Rewards Visa. IHG are the owner of globally recognised hotel brands including InterContinental and Holiday Inn.

Barclaycard launches the Hilton HHonors^® Platinum Visa Card in the UK. Hilton HHonors is the guest reward program for Hilton Hotels Corporation, a global hospitality company, with more than 3,000 hotels.

Barclaycard launches the Bhs Credit Card. Bhs has a major presence on the UK high street with a network of 185 stores.

Our portfolio

Barclaycard now offers a great range of credit cards to choose from.

When you need a card for your personal use:

• Barclaycard Flexi-Rate^®
• Barclaycard Simplicity
• Barclaycard Platinum range
• Barclaycard Initial
• Barclaycard Graduate
• Barclaycard Charity
• Student Barclaycard
• Barclaycard Football
• Barclaycard Breathe
• Barclaycard OnePulse

When you mean business:

• Barclaycard Business Charge and Credit card
• Barclaycard Business Corporate card
• Barclaycard Business Purchasing card
• Government Procurement Card (Visa)