Barclays Business Model Canvas
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Unlock the full strategic blueprint behind Barclays with our in-depth Business Model Canvas: three clear, actionable sections reveal how the bank creates value, captures market share, and manages risks. Ideal for investors, consultants, and founders seeking competitive edge—download the complete Word & Excel files for immediate use.
Partnerships
Partnerships with Visa and Mastercard, each operating in over 200 countries and territories, enable Barclays card issuance, global acceptance and interoperability. Their dispute-resolution rails, tokenization and security features materially lower fraud exposure and bolster customer trust. Co-brand and merchant offers deepen usage and drive incremental spend, while scale economics reduce per-transaction processing costs and expand merchant reach.
Alliances with hyperscalers and core banking vendors provide Barclays secure, scalable infrastructure that accelerates digital product rollout, analytics and AI capabilities; AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud held roughly 66% of the global cloud market in 2024. Joint innovation roadmaps improve resilience and time-to-market while compliance-ready services support regulatory and data-residency requirements.
API partners extend Barclays functionality across payments, lending, KYC and personal finance, embedding banking into third‑party journeys and unlocking new distribution via the CMA9 open‑banking framework born from PSD2 (2018).
Data‑sharing under open banking enables richer personalization by combining consented account data with Barclays analytics, improving cross‑sell and risk decisions.
Sandbox collaboration with regulators and fintechs accelerates pilots and reduces build risk, shortening time‑to‑market for production APIs.
Correspondent banks & clearing
Correspondent banks and clearing partners enable Barclays to execute cross-border payments, FX and securities settlement via networks such as SWIFT (over 11,000 institutions globally), SEPA (36 members), CHAPS and CCPs, supporting timely, compliant flows; access to CCPs and intraday liquidity lines improves execution quality and risk management while coverage in emerging markets broadens client reach.
- SWIFT: 11,000+ institutions
- SEPA: 36 members
- CHAPS/CCPs: high-value, intraday settlement
- Emerging markets coverage expands client footprint
Credit bureaus & risk vendors
Barclays partners with major credit bureaus and AML/KYC vendors to strengthen onboarding and credit decisioning, reducing defaults and fraud losses through richer data and model inputs; in 2024 these partnerships supported the bank's real-time checks across millions of applications. Automated checks accelerate client experience and approval speed, while model inputs feed regulatory reporting and enhance capital efficiency under current Basel frameworks.
- Reduced fraud and default exposure via enriched bureau data
- Faster onboarding: automated AML/KYC checks
- Model inputs aid regulatory reporting and capital optimisation
Card networks (Visa/Mastercard) enable global card issuance and tokenization, lowering fraud and driving spend; hyperscalers (AWS/Azure/GCP ~66% cloud share 2024) speed digital rollout; SWIFT/SEPA/CHAPS/CCPs and correspondents enable cross‑border settlement (SWIFT 11,000+ institutions); bureaus/AML vendors power real‑time checks across millions of 2024 applications.
| Partner | Role | 2024 metric |
|---|---|---|
| Visa/Mastercard | Card rails | Global acceptance |
| AWS/Azure/GCP | Cloud | ~66% market |
| SWIFT | Correspondent | 11,000+ inst. |
What is included in the product
A comprehensive Business Model Canvas for Barclays outlining customer segments, value propositions, channels, revenue streams and key resources across the 9 BMC blocks, with linked SWOT and competitive-advantage analysis. Ideal for presentations, investor discussions and strategic validation using real-world bank operations and data-driven insights.
High-level snapshot of Barclays’ business model with editable cells to streamline analysis and save hours of structuring, perfect for team collaboration, boardroom briefings, or quickly comparing multiple banks side-by-side.
Activities
Acquire and manage deposits to fund mortgages, consumer, SME and corporate lending, with deposits supporting a loan book while maintaining a CET1 ratio of c.13.5% in 2024. Price risk and structure terms to balance growth and margin against prevailing funding costs. Monitor performance and collections across portfolios and optimize balance sheet mix versus liquidity coverage and capital rules.
Identify, measure and mitigate credit, market, liquidity and operational risks through stress‑testing and limits, with Barclays reporting a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio around 13.9% in 2024 to support shock absorption. Maintain AML/KYC, sanctions screening and conduct controls across customer onboarding and transaction monitoring, handling millions of checks annually. Manage capital, leverage and MREL/resolution requirements to meet regulator targets and continuously test resilience and recovery plans via live exercises and reverse stress tests.
Barclays Markets & investment banking originates advisory, underwriting and financing mandates for corporates and institutions, provides sales and trading in rates, FX, credit and equities, manages inventory and client risk within strict internal and regulatory limits, and delivers research and distribution to drive flow; in 2024 the Investment Bank delivered c.£5.5bn revenue and Barclays reported a CET1 ratio of about 14.1%
Payments & transaction services
Barclays processes domestic and cross-border payments for retail and corporate clients, supporting around 24 million retail and business customers while offering cash management, merchant acquiring and trade finance solutions.
Services prioritise speed and security with industry-standard resilience (target 99.99% uptime) and real-time rails where possible, integrated via APIs and host-to-host channels for corporate treasurers.
- Payments: domestic & cross-border
- Products: cash management, merchant acquiring, trade finance
- Reliability: target 99.99% uptime
- Connectivity: APIs and host-to-host for treasurers
Digital platforms & analytics
Barclays builds mobile and web experiences for onboarding, servicing and advice, handling over 1bn digital transactions annually in 2024 to scale customer access and reduce friction.
Data-driven personalization and real-time fraud detection feed models that tailor offers and block threats across channels.
Automation trims cost-to-serve, while continuous experimentation and feedback loops—thousands of tests yearly—drive iterative improvements.
- Onboarding, servicing, advice
- Personalization & fraud detection
- Automation reduces cost-to-serve
- Continuous experimentation (2024)
Acquire/manage deposits to fund mortgages, consumer, SME and corporate lending (CET1 c.13.5% in 2024). Measure/mitigate credit, market, liquidity and operational risks (CET1 c.13.9% reported 2024). Investment bank origination, sales & trading delivered c.£5.5bn revenue in 2024. Process payments for ~24m customers and ~1bn digital transactions in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| CET1 (Group) | c.13.5–13.9% |
| IB revenue | £5.5bn |
| Customers | ~24m |
| Digital txns | ~1bn |
What You See Is What You Get
Business Model Canvas
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Resources
Barclays' banking licences and regulatory permissions, supported by a CET1 ratio of 14.3% in 2024, enable cross‑jurisdictional operations while meeting PRA/EBA buffer requirements. Access to Bank of England and ECB facilities underpins intraday and contingency liquidity. Resolution and ring‑fencing of Barclays UK isolate retail activities to protect systemic stability. Investment‑grade ratings (S&P A) help lower funding spreads and reduce funding costs.
Trusted brand with deep UK roots since 1690 and international presence attracts deposits and clients, serving over 24 million customers in 2024.
Large, diversified retail, corporate and wealth relationships reduce volatility across cycles, smoothing revenue and deposit flows.
Strong cross-sell potential raises customer lifetime value, while reputation underpins acquisition and retention.
Skilled bankers, advisors, traders, technologists and risk professionals drive Barclays performance across front, middle and back offices. Relationship teams deliver complex solutions to corporate, investment and wealth clients across c.24 million customers and c.80,000 employees (2024). Governance and domain expertise ensure compliance, and continuous training sustains the bank’s competitive edge.
Technology & data assets
Technology and data assets underpin Barclays: core banking engines, global payments rails, cloud infrastructure and strong cybersecurity enable scale and resilience; industry data shows global public cloud spending reached about $591B in 2024, driving bank migrations to petabyte-scale data lakes and ML underwriting models for personalization.
- 99.99% uptime targets
- APIs expanding distribution
- Petabyte data lakes
- Redundancy for service levels
Physical network & access
Barclays' physical network—over 1,200 branches in 2024, thousands of ATMs and contact centres—supports omnichannel service while prime corporate offices host client coverage and trading floors. Connectivity to exchanges and clearing venues (eg LCH, EuroCCP) is critical for markets access, and visible real estate reinforces trust and geographic reach.
- Branches: 1,200+ (2024)
- ATMs/contact centres: thousands (2024)
- Clearing links: LCH, EuroCCP
- Real estate: trust & reach
Barclays' regulated licences, CET1 14.3% (2024), access to BOE/ECB facilities, investment‑grade rating (S&P A) and brand scale (c.24m customers, c.80,000 staff, 1,200+ branches) combine capital, liquidity, talent, tech and physical reach to support retail, corporate and markets activities.
| Resource | Metric (2024) |
|---|---|
| CET1 ratio | 14.3% |
| Customers | c.24m |
| Employees | c.80,000 |
| Branches | 1,200+ |
| Global cloud spend (context) | $591B |
Value Propositions
One-stop access to retail, business, corporate and investment services for Barclays—serving c.24 million customers across 40+ countries—simplifies financial management by centralising accounts and reporting. Integrated platforms cut friction and vendor sprawl, supporting millions of daily transactions and faster onboarding. Clients gain consolidated insights and pricing, while seamless transfers across products improve liquidity control and cash optimisation.
Barclays protects assets through strong controls, fraud protection and regulatory rigor serving over 24 million customers, backed by UK deposit protection up to 85,000 GBP via FSCS. Advanced authentication and continuous monitoring reduce fraud risk. Clear disclosures build customer confidence. Insurance and guarantees add further protection layers.
Barclays leverages an international network spanning over 40 countries to support cross-border payments, FX and trade, enabling seamless execution across major corridors. Sector specialists and product experts deliver tailored solutions to corporates and institutions, backed by around 83,000 employees (2023). Market access and distribution channels enhance execution while local knowledge aligns with global standards.
Personalized advice & solutions
Personalized advice combines data-driven insights and dedicated teams to align products to client goals; Barclays served over 24 million customers in 2024.
Wealth and corporate advisory address complex needs with tailored solutions and flexible structures that adapt as market or client conditions change.
Proactive reviews and ongoing portfolio optimization aim to improve outcomes, leveraging Barclays' global platform and advisory expertise.
- Data-driven insights
- Dedicated teams
- Wealth & corporate advisory
- Flexible structures
- Proactive reviews
Digital-first, omnichannel service
Barclays offers one-stop global banking for c.24M customers, 26M digital users (2024) and c.83,000 staff (2023), simplifying cash, FX and trade across 40+ countries. Strong controls, FSCS cover up to 85,000 GBP and advanced fraud monitoring protect assets. Data-driven advisory and APIs enable tailored, embedded banking with fast onboarding and proactive portfolio reviews.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Customers | c.24M (2024) |
| Digital users | 26M (2024) |
| Employees | c.83,000 (2023) |
| FSCS cover | 85,000 GBP |
Customer Relationships
Corporate, institutional and wealth clients receive named coverage via dedicated relationship managers; RMs coordinate product specialists to deliver holistic solutions and in 2024 conducted regular reviews to track performance and evolving needs. High-touch service drives deeper engagement and strengthens loyalty, supporting cross-sell and retention initiatives.
In 2024 Barclays emphasizes self-service digital channels to give customers autonomy for everyday tasks via app and online banking. Live chat, phone and branch staff handle exceptions and provide tailored advice. Clear escalation paths and SLAs resolve complex issues quickly. Comprehensive knowledge bases and FAQs empower faster answers and reduce repeat contacts.
Barclays leverages tiered cards and banking levels to deliver points, cashback and benefits—serving around 24 million retail customers in 2024—to drive spend and lifetime value. Targeted, personalised offers increase engagement and retention, with programme analytics used to lift transaction frequency. Partnered lifestyle rewards extend value beyond banking, while clear, transparent terms improve trust and reduce churn.
Proactive alerts & protection
Proactive alerts deliver real-time notifications on payments, balances and security events, with Barclays serving about 17.6 million active mobile customers in 2024 and driving faster incident response. Early fraud detection mechanisms have materially cut losses for affected accounts. Travel and spend controls plus personalized nudges boost customer confidence and financial health.
- real-time alerts
- fraud loss reduction
- travel & spend controls
- personalized nudges
Education & community outreach
Barclays uses tailored financial literacy content to help customers make informed decisions, noting that 1.4 billion adults remained unbanked globally per World Bank Global Findex 2021, highlighting outreach needs. Webinars, calculators and SME toolkits guide small businesses and consumers through cashflow, lending and digital banking adoption. Community initiatives and partnerships build local goodwill while customer feedback loops directly shape product improvements and UX updates.
- education
- webinars & tools
- community goodwill
- feedback-driven product changes
Named RMs deliver holistic coverage to corporate, institutional and wealth clients while digital self-service and live support handle routine and exception cases; loyalty programmes and targeted offers support 24 million retail customers and personalized alerts reached 17.6 million active mobile users in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Retail customers | 24 million |
| Active mobile users | 17.6 million |
| Unbanked adults (World Bank 2021) | 1.4 billion |
Channels
Mobile applications serve as Barclays primary channel for daily banking, payments and servicing, with over 10 million active users in 2024; biometric login and real-time alerts strengthen security and engagement. In-app chat links customers directly to advisors for instant support, boosting conversion and retention. Continuous updates in 2024 rolled out new features like instant payments and personalised insights to increase app engagement.
Barclays online banking portals provide comprehensive web access for retail and business customers, serving over 20 million digital users in 2024; rich dashboards and downloadable statements help management track cashflow and KPIs. Secure messaging and service requests streamline support, while responsive design and compatibility with iOS, Android and major browsers ensure broad device coverage and high platform availability.
Barclays maintains a physical branch network for complex needs—identity checks, cash handling, advisory meetings and notarization—complemented by an ATM network that provides 24/7 cash access; in 2024 Barclays reported around 1,000 UK branches and roughly 1,600 ATMs to align service availability with local demand. Location strategy targets urban and regional hubs based on customer density and transaction volumes. Branches remain key for high-touch business banking relationships.
Corporate e-banking & APIs
Corporate e-banking and host-to-host treasury platforms enable high-volume processing and reconcile millions of transactions daily, integrating payments, FX and data into client ERPs via APIs; role-based controls enforce segregation of duties and governance while service-level agreements commonly target 99.95% uptime.
- High-volume processing: millions/day
- APIs: payments, FX, data integration
- Governance: role-based controls
- SLA: 99.95% uptime
Partners & third-party platforms
Partners and third-party platforms — fintech apps, marketplaces and co-brands — extend Barclays reach into new customer segments and distribution channels; embedded finance places lending, payments and insurance directly inside customer journeys, improving conversion. Affiliates enable targeted acquisition while consented data-sharing accelerates onboarding and can cut form drop-offs by around 30%.
- Fintech integrations expand distribution
- Embedded finance drives in‑journey conversion
- Affiliates enable precise acquisition
- Consented data-sharing speeds onboarding (~30% fewer drop-offs)
Barclays omnichannel mix: mobile app (10m+ active users in 2024), online portals (20m+ digital users in 2024), ~1,000 UK branches & ~1,600 ATMs (2024), corporate host-to-host platforms (99.95% SLA) and partner embedded finance (onboarding drop-offs ~30% lower).
| Channel | 2024 metric |
|---|---|
| Mobile app | 10m+ users |
| Online portals | 20m+ users |
| Branches/ATMs | ~1,000/~1,600 |
| Corp e-banking | 99.95% SLA |
| Embedded finance | -30% drop-offs |
Customer Segments
Mass-market and affluent retail individuals use Barclays for deposits, loans, cards and investments; Barclays serves c.24 million retail customers, prioritising convenience, value and security. The proposition is digital-first with selective human advice, and lifecycle products designed for milestones such as first home, family and retirement planning.
SMEs and entrepreneurs (99.9% of UK firms — 5.6m private-sector businesses in 2023) need accounts, lending, payments and cash management tailored to tight margins. Speed and access to credit are critical, with financing often determining survival and growth. Tools must integrate with accounting and commerce platforms to streamline cashflow and reconciliation. Relationship support should scale with complexity, from digital self-service to dedicated advisory.
Large corporates and multinationals demand syndicated financing, bespoke risk-management and global transaction banking with multi-currency, cross-border settlement and FX capabilities; dedicated coverage teams ensure responsiveness and tailored structures. Syndications and structured lending drive complex deal execution and liquidity solutions. As of 2024, the BIS Triennial Survey (2022 data) records average daily FX turnover near USD 7.5 trillion, underscoring cross-border scale.
Institutional investors
Institutional clients — asset managers, insurers, hedge funds and pensions — rely on Barclays for execution, financing and prime services; hedge funds held roughly $4.5 trillion AUM in 2024 and global pension assets reached about $60 trillion in 2024. Prime services and research bolster performance, while deep liquidity and real-time market insight underpin trading in volatile 2023–24 markets, complemented by controls that meet fiduciary standards.
- Execution & financing
- Prime services & research
- Liquidity & market insight
- Robust compliance & fiduciary controls
Public sector & nonprofits
Public sector and nonprofits—government, education and around 168,000 registered charities in England & Wales (2024)—need safe custody, reliable payments and tailored financing; transparency and regulatory compliance drive product design while balancing cost and uptime, with community-focused services aligning to mission delivery.
- Safe custody: custody & escrow
- Payments: low-fee batch & real-time
- Financing: concessional and structured
- Priority: compliance, audit trails
Mass retail (c.24m customers) demand digital-first banking and life-stage products. SMEs (5.6m UK firms) need fast credit, payments and platform integration. Corporates & institutions require syndicated lending, FX and prime services (FX avg daily turnover ~$7.5T; hedge funds AUM ~$4.5T; pensions ~$60T). Public sector/charities (~168k) need secure payments and custody.
| Segment | Key metric | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 24m customers | Digital, advice, lifecycle products |
| SMEs | 5.6m UK firms | Speedy credit, payments, integrations |
| Corp/Inst | FX ~$7.5T/day; HF $4.5T AUM | Syndications, FX, prime services |
| Public/Charity | ~168k England & Wales | Custody, low-fee payments, compliance |
Cost Structure
Interest paid on deposits and wholesale funding is a major expense for Barclays, amplified by rising market rates — Bank of England Bank Rate was 5.25% at end-2024 — while hedging and maturity management shape net funding cost; competitive deposit pricing pressures margins and regulatory liquidity buffers (LCR minimum 100%) add a safety-driven funding drag.
Barclays personnel costs cover salaries, bonuses and benefits for c.84,000 employees (2024), spanning frontline, risk and support functions; variable pay is structured to align outcomes with the bank’s risk appetite and clawback policies. Ongoing recruitment and mandatory training programs sustain capabilities and regulatory readiness, while regional coverage and service-model decisions drive headcount and cost allocation.
Barclays' 2024 annual report highlights continued investment in core systems, cloud, cybersecurity and data platforms as central cost drivers. Processing, custody and settlement create steady run costs that scale with transaction volumes. Automation initiatives in 2024 are reducing unit costs over time while vendor and licence fees remain material contributors to OPEX.
Regulatory & compliance
Regulatory and compliance costs at Barclays include substantial AML/KYC, reporting, audit and conduct programme expenses; capital and resolution buffers impose implicit funding costs; model validation/testing add ongoing overhead; legal, remediation and conduct provisions can create episodic charges.
- AML/KYC
- Reporting & audits
- Model validation
- Capital & resolution
- Legal & remediation
Premises & marketing
Premises & marketing: Barclays' branch network, offices and facilities drive rent and maintenance costs; trading floors and data centers add specialized infrastructure spending. Brand marketing and sponsorships (notably sports and community programs) support customer acquisition while customer service and call centers complete the cost base. Barclays reported 2024 operating expenses of £16.0bn.
- Branches/offices: rent & maintenance
- Trading floors/data centers: specialized CapEx/Opex
- Brand marketing/sponsorships: acquisition spend
- Customer service/call centers: operational costs
Interest on deposits/wholesale funding (Bank Rate 5.25% end-2024) and regulatory liquidity buffers (LCR min 100%) drive funding costs; personnel (c.84,000 staff) and 2024 operating expenses (£16.0bn) are major fixed/variable items; technology, compliance and legal/remediation create recurring and episodic charges.
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Bank Rate | 5.25% |
| Employees | c.84,000 |
| Operating expenses | £16.0bn |
| LCR minimum | 100% |
Revenue Streams
Net interest income for Barclays hinges on the spread between loan yields and funding costs across retail and corporate books; asset mix and the 2024 rate environment compressed margins in variable-rate retail mortgages while supporting higher corporate yields. Interest rate risk management—hedging and duration positioning—helps stabilize earnings against volatile short-term rates. Deterioration in credit quality reduces net yield via higher provisions and impaired interest recovery.
Account, payments and overdraft fees complement interest income in Barclays’ retail mix, supporting margins across personal and SME portfolios. Wealth and investment solutions generated advisory and platform fees from a client base of over 24 million customers in 2024. FX and remittance charges add incremental revenue, while bundled propositions and loyalty features increase customer stickiness and cross-sell rates.
Investment banking fees at Barclays comprise advisory, underwriting and loan syndication fees from corporate clients; Barclays CIB reported £5.8bn of related fee income in 2024. Event-driven revenues tied to M&A and capital markets swings drove fee volatility across the year. A mix of retainers and success fees smooths cycle exposure, while cross-sell of FX, rates and financing solutions increases total wallet share.
Markets & trading income
Markets & trading income comprises spread, commission and principal revenues across rates, FX, credit and equities; client flow and risk warehousing drive P&L while hedging and inventory management shape outcome.
Diversified product mix smooths volatility; global FX turnover remains around $7.5 trillion/day (BIS 2022) as a liquidity backdrop for flow activity.
- Spread, commission, principal
- Client flow & risk warehousing
- Hedging & inventory management
- Diversification reduces volatility
Cards & merchant services
Cards and merchant services drive Barclays fee and interest income via interchange (EU/UK credit cap 0.3%), annual card fees and merchant acquiring revenues; revolving balances generated interest at roughly 21% APR on average in the UK in 2024, while partner offers and co-brands boost card spend and activation and value-added services (fraud tools, data analytics) raise per-account fee take.
- Interchange: 0.3% cap (credit)
- Interest: ~21% APR on revolving balances (UK, 2024)
- Fees: annual and merchant acquiring
- Lift: partner/co-brand offers and value-added services increase spend and fees
Barclays revenue mixes net interest margin exposure, retail fees and high-margin corporate fees; retail customer base >24m (2024) supports fee cross-sell. CIB fee income was £5.8bn in 2024; markets income driven by client flow and risk warehousing. Cards/merchant yields aided by ~21% APR on revolving UK balances and interchange cap 0.3%.
| Stream | 2024 metric | note |
|---|---|---|
| Retail customers | 24m+ | fee cross-sell |
| CIB fees | £5.8bn | 2024 |
| FX liquidity | $7.5tn/day | BIS 2022 |
| Cards APR | ~21% | UK 2024 |