Working with others

We recognise that financial exclusion is not an issue we can solve alone. Barclays partners with governments, financial intermediaries and non-government organisations to maximise our reach and influence.

Such partnerships help us get closer to people currently excluded from financial services, and better understand the specific needs of different markets around the world. Often based locally, the organisations we work with are experienced and trusted within their communities and can offer close support to the people they serve.

We seek to develop partnerships that provide both social and commercial benefits as this will help to achieve longer term scale, sustainability and impact.

Our joint partnerships work in two key ways

Supporting community-based finance
Barclays supports financial intermediaries, often working in poor or deprived communities, such as credit unions and microfinance institutions. We help them develop their own capacity so they can reach more people with basic products and support.

In the UK and Uganda, for example, we are working closely with intermediaries, recognising seeking their help is often the first step towards entering formal financial services for unbanked people.

Promoting access through partnerships
We are also establishing valuable partnerships to increase the reach of our own products and services through local channels.

Initiatives include a collaboration in Ghana where Barclays has provided loans to Susu collectors - traditional money guards in Ghana - who in turn offer microfinance to local market traders.