Barclays 2005 Annual Report Download - page 102

Business description
UK Banking
UK Banking delivers banking solutions to Barclays UK retail and
business banking customers. It offers a range of integrated products
and services and access to the expertise of other Group businesses.
Customers are served through a variety of channels comprising the
branch network, automated teller machines, telephone banking, online
banking and relationship managers. UK Banking is managed through
two business areas, UK Retail Banking and UK Business Banking.
UK Retail Banking
UK Retail Banking comprises Personal Customers, Mortgages, Small
Business and UK Premier. This cluster of businesses aims to build
broader and deeper relationships with both existing and new
customers. Personal Customers and Mortgages provide a wide range
of products and services to retail customers, including current
accounts, savings, mortgages, and general insurance. Small Business
provides banking services to small businesses. UK Premier provides
banking, investment products and advice to affluent customers.
UK Business Banking
UK Business Banking provides relationship banking to Barclays larger
and medium business customers in the United Kingdom. Customers
are served by a network of relationship and industry sector specialist
managers who provide local access to an extensive range of products
and services, as well as offering business information and support.
Customers are also offered access to the products and expertise of
other businesses in the Group, particularly Barclays Capital. UK
Business Banking provides asset financing and leasing solutions
through a specialist business.
Barclays Capital
Barclays Capital is a leading global investment bank which provides
large corporate, institutional and government clients with solutions to
their financing and risk management needs.
Barclays Capital services a wide variety of client needs, from capital
raising and managing foreign exchange, interest rate, equity and
commodity risks, through to providing technical advice and expertise.
Activities are organised into three principal areas: Rates, which includes
fixed income, foreign exchange, commodities, emerging markets,
money markets sales, trading and research, prime services and equity
products; Credit, which includes primary and secondary activities for
loans and bonds for investment grade, high yield and emerging market
credits, as well as hybrid capital products, asset-based finance,
commercial mortgage backed securities, credit derivatives, structured
capital markets and large asset leasing; and Private Equity.
Barclays Global Investors
Barclays Global Investors (BGI) is one of the world’s largest asset
managers and a leading global provider of investment management
products and services.
BGI offers structured investment strategies such as indexing, global
asset allocation and risk-controlled active products, including hedge
funds. BGI also provides related investment services such as securities
lending, cash management and portfolio transition services. In
addition, BGI is the global leader in assets and products in the
exchange traded funds business, with over 140 funds for institutions
and individuals trading in 11 markets globally. BGI’s investment
philosophy is founded on managing all dimensions of performance: a
consistent focus on controlling risk, return and cost.
Wealth Management
Wealth Management serves affluent, high net worth and corporate
clients, providing private banking, offshore banking, stockbroking, asset
management and financial planning services.
Wealth Management – closed life assurance activities
Wealth Management – closed life assurance activities comprise the
closed life assurance businesses of Barclays and Woolwich in the UK.
Barclaycard
Barclaycard is a multi-brand international credit card and consumer
lending business; it is one of the leading credit card businesses in
Europe.
In the UK, Barclaycard manages the Barclaycard branded credit cards
and other non-Barclaycard branded card portfolios including
Monument, SkyCard and Solution Personal Finance. In consumer
lending, Barclaycard manages both secured and unsecured loan
portfolios, through Barclays branded loans, being mostly Barclayloan,
and also through the FirstPlus and Clydesdale Financial Services
businesses.
Outside the UK, Barclaycard provides credit cards in the United States
through Barclaycard US (previously Juniper), Germany, Spain, Greece,
Italy, Portugal and a number of other countries. In the Nordic region,
Barclaycard operates through Entercard, a joint venture with
FöreningsSparbanken (Swedbank).
Barclaycard Business processes card payments for retailers and
issues purchasing and credit cards to business customers and to the
UK Government.
Barclaycard works closely with other parts of the Group, including
UK Retail Banking, UK Business Banking and International Retail and
Commercial Banking, to leverage their distribution capabilities.
International Retail and Commercial Banking
International Retail and Commercial Banking provides Barclays
international personal and corporate customers with banking services.
The products and services offered to customers are tailored to meet
the regulatory and commercial environments within each country.
For reporting purposes in 2005, the operations have been grouped
into two components: International Retail and Commercial Banking
excluding Absa encompasses Barclays operations in continental
Europe, Africa and the Middle East and the Caribbean joint venture;
and International Retail and Commercial Banking – Absa represents
the total business of Absa Group Limited in which Barclays acquired
a majority stake on 27th July 2005.
International Retail and Commercial Banking – excluding Absa
International Retail and Commercial Banking excluding Absa provides
a range of banking services, including current accounts, savings,
investments, mortgages and loans to personal and corporate
customers across Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Caribbean, Africa
and the Middle East.
International Retail and Commercial Banking excluding Absa works
closely with other parts of the Group, including Barclaycard, UK
Banking, Barclays Capital and Barclays Global Investors, to leverage
synergies from product and service propositions.
Barclays PLC
Annual Report 2005
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