Partnerships

Our established banking infrastructure and organisational model helps us to meet the needs of our existing customers. However, it can sometimes be difficult for us to reach people outside the banking system. We build partnerships with others, such as microfinance organisations, charities, technical providers and governments, who have the existing relationships, skills and commitment to help us reach out to the unbanked.

In October 2008, building upon existing relationships with two global NGOs, CARE International and Plan International, and consultants Accenture, Barclays launched a partnership to help 800,000 poor people access village savings and loans in 10 emerging countries.

And in several countries – including the UK and South Africa – we have partnerships with microfinance institutions, credit unions and community development finance institutions in joint programmes to tackle financial exclusion. In the UK, our financial contribution to community finance and charitable partnerships to enable better access to basic products and services total to £2.94m since 2004.