About us
Our Story So Far
In 1966, Barclays saw a need to make it easier for people to do business – for consumers to buy and shopkeepers to sell. In response, they created Barclaycard. Barclaycard would be open to everyone – not just Barclays clients – and would make payments faster, more secure and convenient.
And since we opened our doors for business, much has changed. The world we live in has constantly evolved, fueled by the possibilities of the digital age. And the Barclaycard brand has evolved with it.
From the introduction of the first credit card in the UK to contactless ways to pay; from zip zap machines to e-commerce solutions and from statements in the post to mobile apps– the brand is consistently focused on meeting the ever-changing needs of our customers, bringing them intuitive, instant, and trusted ways to buy and sell however, whenever and wherever they want.
But despite all that change, a few things have stayed the same. Today, we’re as relentless and passionate about serving our customers as were in 1966. With fearless curiosity we continue to push the boundaries and challenge the status quo – creating the payment innovations of today and defining the possibilities of how people will pay tomorrow.
In short, we’re not standing still. Because just like we did in 1966, we’re here to make things easier for everyone.
Our greatest hits
As a brand within Barclays – which introduced the first cash point and first debit card (to list a few firsts) – we’ve started lots of new trends:
Here are some of our number ones
- 1966 – First credit card
- 1977 – First company credit card
- 1995 – First online credit card banking
- 2007 – First contactless payments in the UK with our OnePulse card
- 2011 – First mobile contactless payments in partnership with Orange
- 2012 – First wearable payment device
- 2014 – First contactless travel in partnership with TfL
- 2016 – First Android mobile contactless payments
- 2018 – First contactless coffee cup
Our Barclays heritage
Barclaycard brought us the first credit card in 1966, but there’s no denying that being part of Barclays continues to be at the heart of our identity.
Barclays is a British universal bank: a major financial services provider with over 300 years of history. From its first days in London’s Lombard Street in 1690, the company has been at the forefront of financial services in the UK and around the world. Today, Barclays’ services include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by a service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.
For Barclaycard, the benefits are equally clear. The brand’s success is rooted in our strong relationship with Barclays, which gives us global reach and financial stability. We also share many clients – not only consumers, but also retailers, from local corner stores to some of the world’s biggest high street brands. We also work hand in hand to develop new ways to bring buyers and sellers together, creating products and services that break new ground in retailing and consumer finance.