This article on this page provides an introduction to Barclays Bank credit cards. As one of the most famous brands in the UK consumer banking sector, Barclays credit cards (Barclaycards) are a well known financial product. But what do they offer to those interested in applying for one?
Barclays PLC is one of the largest financial services company in the world. It has over $3 trillion in assets and is the second largest bank in the United Kingdom. As a worldwide conglomerate, Barclays PLC does business around the globe in Europe, Latin America, North America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Barclays PLC offers a range of products and services to its customers. Barclays Bank credit cards are considered to be the industry leaders in credit card services. Barclays made history by being the first to offer a credit card in the United Kingdom. The Barclaycard was premiered in 1966. Another first for Barclays was its launching of the first cash ATM in the world in 1967.
Barclaycard
Barclaycard is a subsidiary of Barclays PLC and provides credit card and loan services globally. Barclaycard has over 19 million customers and is the leading issuer of credit cards in the United Kingdom. Barclaycard employs around 3000 people.
Today, Barclaycard continues to increase its global presence. In 2007, Barclaycard premiered 3 new products to their line of credit cards: the Barclaycard Breathe, Barclaycard OnePulse, and Barclaycard Football. They also purchased the Goldfish credit card and the United Kingdom credit card division of Discover Financial Services.
Barclaycard Products and Services
Barclaycard offers a range of credit card products and services. The credit cards they offer are the Barclaycard Flexi-Rate, Platinum Simplicity, Platinum, Initial, Graduate, Charity, Student, Football, Breath, and PulseOne. They also offer products and services to businesses that include Business Charge and Credit Card, Business Corporate Card, Business Purchasing Card, and Government Procurement Card.
The Barclaycard Flexi-rate card offers interest rates that are tiered. Customers with this type of card are charged less interest if they pay more on their balance each month. The Barclaycard Platinum Simplicity card offers the lowest APR out of all Barclaycards. The Barclaycard Platinum card with balance transfer offers little or no interest on balance transfers and purchases for three months. The Barclaycard Initial card is designed to help customers who need to improve their credit rating.
Barclaycard’s new lines of products are very unique. The Barclaycard Breathe donates a percentage of what a customer spends to projects that help to address and tackle climate change. It is the only credit card in the United Kingdom with this type of benefit. The Barclaycard OnePulse is a three in one card that helps its customers save money and time and offers convenience. You can use the OnePulse card as an Oyster card for travel, credit card for making purchases, and as a contactless payment card.
Barclaycard offers Visa or MasterCard for its business customers. These credit cards offer business customers perks such as interest free credit when balances are paid on time and in full. The Corporate card allows employers to control the amount spent by employees and reduce time and money by automating invoice payments. The Purchasing card is designed for business that make frequent and high volume purchases.
Credit Advice
Barclaycard also offers credit guidance to its customers. They offer a number of initiatives to help customers that may be experiencing difficulty paying their bills whether with Barclays Bank credit cards or other Barclays financial products. Some of these initiatives include helping customers get independent debt advice, helping to protect against credit card and identity fraud, and tips about borrowing.