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Barclays

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FY2020 Annual Report · Barclays
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Making a 
difference

Barclays PLC 
Annual Report 2020

 
Making a  
difference

Barclays is a British universal bank. We support consumers 
and small businesses through our retail banking services, 
and larger businesses and institutions through our  
corporate and investment banking services. 
In the wake of an extraordinary year, we have refreshed 
our corporate Purpose and our Values to ensure they 
are relevant to today’s world.

Our Purpose
We deploy finance responsibly to support people 
and businesses, acting with empathy and integrity, 
championing innovation and sustainability, for the 
common good and the long term.

Our Stakeholders
Having a strong Purpose and Values ensures  
we are able to deliver for all our stakeholders:

Our Values
Respect 
We harness the power of diversity and inclusion  
in our business, trust those we work with,  
and value everyone’s contribution.

Integrity 
We operate with honesty, transparency  
and fairness in all we do.

Service 
We act with empathy and humility, putting the  
people and businesses we serve at the centre  
of what we do.

Excellence 
We champion innovation, and use our  
energy, expertise and resources to make  
a positive difference.

Stewardship 
We prize sustainability, and are passionate  
about leaving things better than we found them.

You can read more about our new Purpose at
home.barclays/purposeandvalues

For our customers and clients
We help those who use our products, 
services and expertise realise 
their aspirations

For our colleagues
We support their health and wellbeing, 
enable them to build their career, and 
empower and motivate them to be able 
to provide excellent service

For society
Our success over the long term is tied 
inextricably to the progress of our 
communities, and the preservation 
of our environment

For our investors
We continue to build a strong, diversified 
business that can deliver attractive and 
sustainable returns

Strategic report

Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Strategic 
report

Shareholder 
information

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Understanding Barclays
Chairman’s introduction
Chief Executive’s review
Operating environment
Our strategy
Our business model
Engaging with our stakeholders
Section 172(1) statement
Key performance indicators

Making a difference for our customers and clients:

Barclays UK
Barclays International: Corporate and Investment Bank
Barclays International: Consumer, Cards and Payments

Making a difference for our colleagues:

Our people and culture

Making a difference for society:

Tackling climate change
Supporting our communities

Making a difference for our investors:

Summary financial review
Managing risk
Viability statement
Non-financial information statement

Key dates, Annual General Meeting, 
dividends, and other useful information

002
004
006
009
011
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016
018
022

026
028
030

033

039
042

045
048
050
052

054

Governance 

Governance contents
Directors’ report
Remuneration report

Risk review

Financial 
review

Risk review contents 
Risk management 
Material existing and emerging risks 
Climate change risk management 
Principal risk management 
Risk performance 
Supervision and regulation 

Financial review contents 
Key performance indicators 
Consolidated summary income statement 
Income statement commentary 
Consolidated summary balance sheet 
Balance sheet commentary 
Analysis of results by business 
Non-IFRS performance measures 

Financial  
statements

Financial statements contents 
Consolidated financial statements 
Notes to the financial statements 

The Barclays PLC Strategic Report 
2020 was approved by the Board of 
Directors on 17 February 2021 and 
signed on its behalf by the Chairman.

Report of the auditor
The Auditor’s report on the Financial statements of Barclays PLC  
for the year ended 31 December 2020 was unmodified, and its  
statement under Section 496 of the Companies Act 2006 was 
also unmodified (see page 260 of Part 2 of the Annual Report 2020).

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108

143
145
147
159
161
167
233

239
240
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259
279
286

Barclays PLC 

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Strategic report

Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Understanding Barclays
We are proud of our history and deep roots in the UK, while our scale, geographic 
reach and diversification make us a universal bank, delivering financial expertise 
in many different markets around the world.

Our investment proposition

 1Resilience  

through 
diversification

 2Growth  

opportunities

 3Sustainable 

impact

 4Strong balance  

sheet supporting 
returns

We are a British universal bank diversified by 
business, geography and income type, serving 
consumers and wholesale customers and 
clients globally. This diversification provides 
resilience through different economic cycles.
■■ Scale retail and business bank in the UK.
■■ Top tier global corporate and investment bank.
■■ Broad international consumer lending, cards, 
and payments franchise, and private bank.

Our diversified model offers us growth 
opportunities. We intend to grow Barclays 
by continuing to invest in our core business 
strengths, and delivering world-class 
technology and digital capabilities to 
our customers and clients.
■■ Attractive growth opportunities in markets 

where we have established businesses today.
■■ Investing in less capital intensive, technology-led, 

annuity businesses.

■■ Opening up potential new income streams 

and improving cost efficiencies. 

We understand that our success is judged 
not only by commercial performance, 
but also by how we act sustainably and 
responsibly for each other and the long term. 
We are agents of change.
■■ Our ambition to be a net zero bank by 2050 and 
a commitment to align all our financing activities 
with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

■■ Tackling climate change by accelerating the 

transition to a low-carbon economy.

A strong capital base, high levels of liquidity, 
and diversified profit streams provide a solid 
foundation for attractive and sustainable 
return of capital to shareholders.

Barclays aims to achieve the following targets:
■■  Group returns: return on tangible equity (RoTE) 

of >10% over time.

■■  Cost efficiency: cost: income ratio of <60% 

over time.

■■  Capital strength: Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) 

ratio in the range of 13-14%.

For further information on our diversified business, 
please see our divisional reviews on pages 25 to 31.

For further information on growing our company, 
please see the Chief Executive’s review on page 8.

For further information on our approach to climate, 
please see how we act in our society and 
environment on pages 39 to 43.

For further information on our performance in 
2020, please see our summary financial review 
on pages 45 to 47.

002

Barclays PLC 
home.barclays/annualreport

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Strategic report

Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Understanding Barclays continued

See our business model on page 14 for an overview of our  
customer base and our diverse range of products and services.

Barclays at a glance

Group income by business 
%

Group income by region
%

Number of colleagues by business 
000s

Number of colleagues by region 
000s

Barclays UK
Personal
Barclaycard
Business Banking

Barclays International

Consumer, Cards 
and Payments
Corporate and 
Investment Bank:
Investment Banking
Corporate Banking

16

10

£21.8bn

total Group  
income

46

7

6

15

Percentages exclude Head Office which was a negative income 
of £0.5bn.

5

52

21.3

47.7

£21.8bn

total Group  
income

34

9

United Kingdom
Europe
Americas
Asia Paci�c

Barclays UK
Corporate and 
Investment Bank
Consumer, Cards 
and Payments
BX and Head O�ce

83k

colleagues

7.8

3.0

50.9

21.8

83k

colleagues

10.2

3.3

United Kingdom
Europe
Americas
Asia Pacific

Barclays Execution (BX) and Head Office include our functions, technology and centralised support personnel supporting the client-facing 
businesses, reducing duplication and providing operational synergies. BX facilitates the sharing of expertise and ideas across the Group to allow 
us to bring our entire organisation to bear in delivering the right solutions for customers and clients, seamlessly.

Our income generation demonstrates the range of retail and commercial products and services we offer.

The culture of Barclays is built and shaped by the thousands of professionals around the world who serve 
our customers and clients.

Group profit before taxa 
£bn
Barclays UK and Barclays International statutory profit before tax 
(PBT) was £0.5bn and £3.6bn respectively.

Earnings per sharea
p

Common Equity Tier 1 ratio
%

Total capital distribution per share 
p

2020

(0.3)

(1.0)

0.6

4.0

3.2

2020

9.5

2020

15.1

2020

1.0

4.0

2019

(0.6)

2.6

3.1

1.2

6.2

2019

24.4

2019

2018

(0.6)

2.4

2.7

1.2

5.7

2018

21.9

2018

13.8

13.2

2019

2018

3.0a

6.5

Barclays UK
Corporate and Investment Bank

Consumer, Cards and Payments
Head O�ce

a  Excluding litigation and conduct. Including litigation and conduct, 

a  Excluding litigation and conduct. 

PBT was £3.1bn (2019: £4.4bn, 2018: £3.5bn).

The diversification of the Group helps support 
sustainable earnings through the cycle, as seen 
during 2020.

Statutory earnings per share (EPS) 
were 8.8p (2019: 14.3p, 2018: 9.4p).

Our CET1 ratio demonstrates resilience 
and provides a solid foundation for 
shareholder returns.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Dividend

Dividend

Buyback

a  Although we declared a 9p dividend for 2019, the full year dividend 

of 6p was cancelled in response to a request from the PRA.

We are pleased to approve a total payout of 5.0p 
per share, including a 1.0p 2020 full year dividend 
and the intention to initiate a share buyback of 
up to £700m.

Barclays PLC 

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Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Chairman’s introduction
This year has taught us some valuable lessons, and underlined the  
importance of purpose in everything we do. Our strategy is working 
and we are confident Barclays is in a strong position for the 
challenges and opportunities ahead.

Purpose during 
the pandemic

For most people, and indeed companies, the defining 
memory of 2020 will be the COVID-19 pandemic, 
which is of course still with us and has had such 
devastating consequences for the lives and livelihoods 
of millions around the world.

As the pandemic unfurled, Barclays’ priorities were 
clear. We first needed to ensure our operational and 
financial resilience, not least because banks would be 
called upon to play a key role in mitigating some of 
the financial and economic consequences of the 
crisis. That resilience then had to be put to real use 
in supporting our customers and clients. And we 
needed to do this while protecting the health and 
wellbeing of our many thousands of employees. 

We have been fortunate in pursuing those priorities 
to have the commitment of so many dedicated and 
resilient colleagues. While many switched to working 
from home with remarkable adaptability, I would like 
to record particular thanks to the thousands who 
continued to work in branches, looked after clients 
from the trading floors, and staffed our contact centres 
so as to deal with a significantly heightened volume 
of questions from customers. It has been fantastically 
uplifting to witness the spirit in which our colleagues 
have taken on these challenges. Of course, our 
workforce was not immune to the worst health impacts 
of the virus either. For those colleagues we have lost 
or who suffered personally, or whose families have 
been affected, I extend my deepest sympathy.

004

Barclays PLC 
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Revisiting our Purpose
During the course of the last year, we revisited our 
expression of Purpose with a view to improving its 
connectivity to the actual things that we do day-in 
and day-out. Our commitment now is to “deploy finance 
responsibly to support people and businesses, acting 
with empathy and integrity, championing innovation and 
sustainability, for the common good and the long term.” 

We want to ensure that, behind the headline, this real 
sense of Purpose is deeply embedded in the way in 
which the organisation takes decisions. This will not 
always be easy, and the interests of different groups of 
stakeholders can sometimes appear to collide, at least 
in the short term, but we will do our best to take the 
right decisions for the long term, even if that is not 
the easiest step in the short term. 

We think that our statement of Purpose largely stood the 
test set by the pandemic. In an extremely difficult year 
for a lot of people and businesses, we deployed hundreds 
of millions of pounds in payment holidays and other 
schemes to support our retail customers, and lent 
billions of pounds more to those businesses, large 
and small, that needed it most to weather the 
immediate impact of the crisis. 

We have done our best to support customers and 
communities in other ways. For example, we are very 
aware how frustrating it can be waiting to speak to 
a real person at times of high demand. At their peak, 
our contact volumes were up by 40%, while our contact 
centre capacity was cut by 70% as a result of the 
closure of operations in India and elsewhere 

due to the pandemic. We were ultimately able to 
resolve this issue through a substantial deployment 
of technology to enable UK call centre staff to handle 
enquiries at home, as well as redeployment of 
some branch staff to bolster that capacity. We are 
appreciative of the patience and understanding 
shown by the vast majority of our customers. 

The pandemic also provided an opportunity – indeed 
a necessity – to innovate at unprecedented speed. 
The UK Government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme 
(BBLS) is a case in point, requiring us to go operationally 
live only a matter of days after being notified that the 
scheme was to be established. 

One of our priorities for this coming year, and the 
years ahead, is to ensure that we ‘bottle up’ the agility 
and innovation that stood us in such good stead in 
weathering this crisis. This has prompted a far-reaching 
assessment of our operational mindset, and we will be 
embedding new ways of thinking about our work across 
the entire colleague population during the course of 
2021, based in large part on lessons learnt from our 
experience in 2020. 

 “We want to ensure that, 

behind the headline, 
this real sense of our 
Purpose is deeply 
embedded in the way in 
which the organisation 
takes decisions.

With colleagues located in local communities around the 
UK, as well as near our big centres of operations in the 
US and India, we thought hard about other ways of 
making a contribution to the crisis response. A key 
element of our response was the launch of a £100m 
COVID-19 Community Aid Package, including a 
matching programme for colleagues. Of the £95m 
donated to date, £59m is already funding the COVID-19 
relief efforts of 250+ charity partners around the world. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Strategic report

Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Chairman’s introduction continued

We hope that initiatives such as this demonstrate 
clearly the ways in which Barclays can do good in 
society by deploying finance in multiple ways. 

As I said in my letter to shareholders and other 
stakeholders last year, we want to be increasingly 
proactive in making a substantive contribution in what 
we hope will become an age of greater corporate 
conviction. This is something all of our stakeholders 
expect of us. Let me take two examples:

First, the environment. Given the operational and 
other challenges of the last few years, Barclays had 
been slow to embrace its full responsibilities in the face 
of the climate challenge. Our shareholders and other 
stakeholders told us this, so we started a complete 
refresh of our environmental policies in the autumn 
of 2019. This led to our March 2020 announcement 
of our ambition to be net zero across scopes 1, 2 and 3 
by 2050, and our commitment to align our financing 
to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. 

We are extremely grateful for the support of practically all 
of our shareholders, who endorsed resolutions that we 
put before them in May 2020. Going forward, we have 
committed to be positive, thoughtful, authentic and 
open in our engagement with external stakeholders, 
and we recognise that the acceptable frontier of activity 
is moving very clearly in the direction of a green agenda. 
A further step was taken in November last year with the 
release of more detailed information on our targets, 
in particular in the energy and power sectors, and our 
overall framework for setting the measures by which 
we think we should be held accountable. 

Secondly, we have been doing a lot more to embrace the 
Race at Work agenda. High profile incidents and protests 
in 2020 prompted organisations like Barclays to appraise 
what we have been doing to aid the fight against racism, 
and to ask ourselves: ‘is it enough?’. We acknowledged 
that, despite our best intentions, the answer was likely 
‘no’ and so we took action to address this. 

In June 2020, we established our Global Race at Work 
agenda with a goal of reinforcing our stance of zero 
tolerance on racism, and to improve opportunities 
and representation for ethnic minority colleagues. 
In October 2020, we presented colleagues with 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

our 12-point Race at Work Action Plan focused on 
attracting, developing, advancing and retaining Black 
professionals at all levels. We have made tangible 
progress against each of these actions and, in 2021, 
we are now extending the work to include all other 
ethnically diverse colleagues, as well as customers, 
clients, and communities.

The right strategy
Our results indicate that our strategy is working, though 
in a completely different way to that which we might 
have envisaged at the start of the year. We remain a 
British universal bank committed to a diversified but 
synergistic portfolio of businesses. We strongly 
believe that it is better to stand on two or three legs 
than one, particularly when financial resilience is such 
an important part of a bank’s appeal to customers and 
clients. I think it is fair to say that this strategy, grounded 
in diversification, has been validated in the extreme 
stress we experienced this past year. 

During 2020, the normally reliable profitability of our 
UK activities was placed under severe pressure by 
the costs of addressing the pandemic, the impairment 
provisions that we made, and policy responses that 
have led to structurally much lower interest rates and 
a flatter yield curve. At the same time, the businesses 
in the Corporate and Investment Bank, and in particular 
our Markets business, benefited from significantly 
increased volatility and wider trading margins.

Given the interest rate environment, and also the agility 
that the business demonstrated in our response to 
the crisis, it is clear that there is both a need and an 
opportunity for the transformation of our UK business. 
We seek, at the same time, to serve our customers, 
to assist the most vulnerable among that group, and 
roll out further opportunities for a more streamlined 
service taking advantage of the digital world. This 
represents the principal strategic challenge for the 
Group in the near term.

More broadly, and as described in the letter from Jes 
Staley, we also now wish to focus on more of a growth 
agenda, in particular in the capital markets businesses, 
in our Corporate Bank, in our digital platforms, 
and in our UK Wealth business.

Reviewing our performance
The Group’s performance has, for understandable 
reasons, been greatly affected by the external events of 
2020. We ended 2019 with an RoTE of 9.0% excluding 
litigation and conduct, and believe that we were well on 
course towards our medium-term target of >10%. 

as a ring-fenced bank and leading its independent 
board. It is very good news that Crawford Gillies has 
been willing to take on the role of Chair of Barclays Bank 
UK PLC as we head into the next stage of its business 
transformation. Thanks too to Mary Anne Citrino who 
stepped down from the Board in October.

It is disappointing of course that returns last year 
fell short of that, and hitting our targets, absent a 
significant change in the macroeconomic environment 
and interest rate structures in particular, has become 
harder and more distant. Nevertheless, we remain 
committed to improving returns and to attaining 
a >10% RoTE over time.

Balancing decisions in a way that optimises our 
Purpose requires a Board in which constructive 
challenge, openness and diversity of background 
and opinion are prized, along with a commitment 
to act fairly and in the interests of all stakeholders. 
Your Board is well placed to help the Company stay 
true to its Purpose. 

We did report a return on tangible equity of close to 
10% in the Corporate and Investment Bank, but to 
deliver a greater than 10% RoTE across the board 
will require a return to higher levels of borrowing and 
transaction activity in our cards businesses, and the 
successful implementation of our plans for Barclays UK.

The future
Notwithstanding the positive progress made on the 
medical front, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
will continue to cast its shadow over the global 
economy for some time to come, and therefore 
continue to be the defining force affecting our business.

Our intention remains returning a healthy proportion 
of profits, and surplus capital, to shareholders via 
dividends and/or share buy-backs. The full year 2019 
dividend was cancelled in response to a request from 
the PRA, but we are pleased that sufficient confidence 
is returning to the system to allow a moderate return 
of capital in the first quarter of 2021.

The Board
I am very grateful for the support and hard work of 
my Board colleagues during 2020, and in particular 
in responding to the extra commitments as a result 
of the pandemic and our desire to improve our 
environmental policies.

I am delighted that Dawn Fitzpatrick, Mohamed A. El-Erian 
and Brian Gilvary have settled in so well. We are also 
very pleased to be welcoming Julia Wilson as a 
Non-Executive Director from April. These additions 
to the Board, and its overall strength, have enabled us 
to plan ahead for succession in key roles.

I would like to thank Sir Ian Cheshire, who is retiring 
at this year’s AGM, for the hard work he has put in 
over the last four years, notably in overseeing the 
successful establishment of Barclays Bank UK PLC 

I believe we are well placed to respond to the challenges 
that brings. Our diversified model has proved its value, 
and we have a clear view of our business priorities going 
forward. We are determined to shape our own future 
as a company, and we will seek to leverage our 
pioneering spirit to serve our customers, clients 
and the communities in which we live and work to 
the best of our abilities.

Finally, I want to thank everyone involved in this most 
challenging of years – customers, clients, investors, 
regulators and governments. But above all, thank you 
to our colleagues, whose indomitable spirit has been 
a credit to themselves and to Barclays.

Nigel Higgins
Chairman

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Chief Executive’s review
The health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have 
tested our business model, and demonstrated Barclays’ commitment 
to our customers and clients, our colleagues, and to society.

Making a difference  
when it matters most

This year has taught us a great deal about Barclays’ 
strengths, our Values, and our resilience. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic grew, and the global 
economy began to contract, we were clear we needed 
to focus on three things.

First, we needed to preserve our financial integrity, for if 
we were to maximise our support for the economy and 
society during a time of such challenge, we needed to 
be a strong and profitable business.

Secondly, we wanted to be there for our customers 
and clients. That is why we did things like waiving 
charges and interest payments to help people cope 
during a very difficult period, while at the same time 
working with governments, particularly the UK 
Government, to deliver programmes to help businesses 
weather the storm.

Finally, we knew we needed to embrace and support our 
colleagues within Barclays, recognising the challenges 
we faced on a personal and professional level.

Resilience and stability
This year, I am pleased with the way we have 
demonstrated our financial integrity, maintaining 
profitability throughout the year. 

We have delivered a resilient performance, despite 
extreme contraction in the global economy, with 
Group PBT of £3.1bn, and showed a capacity for 
strong capital generation.

Our CET1 ratio as at 31 December 2020 was 15.1% 
– the highest level of capitalisation in Barclays’ history 
– and our liquidity pool of £266bn represented 20% 
of the Group’s balance sheet. We have £9.6bn of 
provisions set aside for impairments. 

We ended the year therefore highly capitalised, highly 
liquid, and well provisioned for impairments. Most 
importantly, the Group’s performance means we can 
make choices about our future from a position of 
strength and stability.

Given that strength in our business, we have decided 
the time is right to resume capital distributions. As a 
result, we are pleased to approve a total payout of 5.0p 
per share, including a 1.0p 2020 full year dividend and 
the intention to initiate a share buyback of up to £700m. 
We expect to comment further on capital distributions 
as appropriate.

The right model
Our British universal banking model remains core to our 
strategy for success, providing us with the diversification 
that has been critical to our performance. This year 
our model has demonstrated its capacity to deliver 
resilience through economic cycles, borne out in our 
relatively strong Group level results over a difficult 
macroeconomic period, driven by the performance 
of our Corporate and Investment Bank.

 “Our British universal 

banking model remains 
core to our strategy for 
success, providing us with 
the diversification that 
has been critical to our 
performance.

Barclays is now the only British global investment bank 
with a leading presence in the US, competing at scale 
in a structurally attractive market as many of our 
European competitors pull back. As well as a positive for 
Barclays, this has the potential to become a strategically 
important proposition for the UK, providing a 
competitive edge for the economy here as more and 
more companies look for finance through the capital 
markets instead of via bank balance sheets.

At the same time, both Barclays UK and our Consumer, 
Cards and Payments business have faced significant 
challenges this year, enduring a severe economic shock, 
while also managing a long-term low interest rate 
environment, lower charges for overdrafts, and the 
elimination of certain banking fees.  

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Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Strategic report

Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Chief Executive’s review continued

Structural challenges in the UK retail banking market 
have been evident for some time, but they have 
been brought into even sharper relief by COVID-19. 
Restoring Barclays UK to a position of strong and 
sustained profitability is now our principal near-term 
strategic challenge. Specifically, we need to deliver 
a better, more digital bank for consumers and small 
businesses; we need to address our cost base; 
and we need to increase our commercial engagement 
with a significant portion of customers where currently 
we generate too little income for the Group.

I am encouraged by the progress we have already 
made on this front, but there is more to do in 2021 
and beyond.

Support in challenging times
This year, when it mattered most, Barclays was there 
for our customers and clients, and for the communities 
where we live and work all over the world. We took 
significant steps to relieve financial pressure for our 
customers, for example in waiving over £100m of fees 
and interest charges, and in granting hundreds of 
thousands of payment holidays. 

We also worked with governments to deliver support 
programmes, including facilitating some £27bn in 
lending for British businesses. What the UK 
Government has done in terms of fiscal spending, 
through the furlough scheme and business loans, has 
been unprecedented. What the Bank of England has 
done in terms of monetary easing and providing 
liquidity to the financial markets, to encourage the 
markets to lend to businesses and other institutions, 
is on a scale way beyond anything we saw in the 2009 
financial crisis. Both institutions are to be commended 
for being so decisive and bold in their actions to protect 
jobs and the economy.

In the UK, Asia, and across the Americas, we created 
a £100m COVID-19 Community Aid Package to work 
with local charities and support vulnerable communities 
hardest hit by COVID-19.

As a company, we are deeply indebted to our 83,000 
employees who have worked so hard over the last 
12 months to keep Barclays delivering for its customers 
and clients, and for our other stakeholders too. 
From our branches, to trading floors, to call centres, 
thousands of our staff were designated key or critical 
workers, and, like everyone else, we have all had to 
adapt to new ways of working while taking the 
necessary steps to slow the spread of the virus. 

I am proud of the way we moved so many people 
to remote working in a matter of days, providing the 
technology to support them, and investing in our 
physical spaces so we are able to return colleagues 
to work safely when circumstances allow. For those 
colleagues unable to work during the pandemic, I am 
pleased we were able to pay people in full, as well as 
offer financial support for things like childcare and 
self-quarantine.

Throughout the pandemic, we have learnt an enormous 
amount about the character of this company, about our 
people’s capacity to cope and adaptability, and about 
ways of balancing our work and personal lives – and we 
must apply that knowledge as the world transitions 
back to normal, hopefully in the course of 2021.

Character and conviction
Our experience this year also prompted us to look 
afresh at our Purpose as an organisation, and to make 
sure our Values are as up to date as they should be. This 
is a worthwhile exercise for any company to undertake 
from time to time, but I believe it was particularly 
important this year for us to take some time to reflect 
on who we are as a company, and what we stand for. 
I am confident that our renewed expression of Purpose 
and Values effectively encapsulates Barclays today.

This crisis is clearly not over, but my hope is that 
Barclays will live up to its 330-year heritage, and emerge 
from this pandemic with pride in what we have done, 
and how we have helped.

 “This year, when it mattered 

most, Barclays was there for 
our customers and clients, 
and for the communities 
where we live and work all 
over the world.

One immediate example of our conviction as 
a company is last year’s profoundly important 
announcement of our ambition to be a net zero bank 
by 2050. Notwithstanding the disruption caused by 
COVID-19, we have undertaken significant work over 
the course of this past year to build out our approach. 
In November, we set out the details of the methodology 
and targets that begin to align the emissions we finance 
through our activity, with the Paris Climate Agreement, 
on the way to achieving our net zero ambition.

We believe that our 2050 net zero ambition is the best 
way for Barclays to help accelerate the transition to a 
low-carbon economy, across all sectors, by harnessing 
the breadth and depth of our leading capital markets 
franchise to direct financing flows towards building a 
greener future.

Facts and figures

Return on tangible equitya

 3.4%2019: 9.0%

Common Equity Tier 1 ratio

 15.1%2019: 13.8%

Income

£21.8bn

2019: £21.6bn

Operating expensesa

£13.7bn

2019: £13.6bn

Note
a Excluding litigation and conduct.

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Chief Executive’s review continued

I want to recognise also the contribution of the 
management team for their leadership across 
the Group, particularly important in this past year. 
And we are grateful too for the stewardship, support – 
and challenge – from our Chairman and the Board.

As I look to 2021, I remain, above all, committed to 
Barclays continuing to support and deliver for all our 
stakeholders.

James E Staley
Group Chief Executive Officer, Barclays

See our strategy on pages 11 to 13
See our approach to managing risk on pages 48 to 49
See how we act in our society and environment on 
pages 39 to 43

Go online at home.barclays/annualreport

Second, we will accelerate the geographic roll out of 
Barclays’ commercial banking expertise, building from 
our historic strength in the UK, and targeting rapid 
expansion in mainland Europe and the US. We will 
help corporations around the world manage their 
core financial needs, from liquidity management, 
to payments processing, to trade finance.

Third, we are investing in our consumer banking 
and payments businesses to provide a payments led 
multiway value exchange ecosystem for customers and 
clients who interact with us across our digital platforms. 
To enable this, we will be launching a platform-based 
business model to offer new avenues of growth for 
our corporate and Small and Medium-sized Enterprise 
(SME) clients, and provide differentiated products and 
services to our customers in the UK. This business 
model will further enhance the capabilities of our 
Payments and Consumer businesses, deepening the 
relationships with SMEs and corporates and expanding 
into mainland Europe. We will also connect corporates 
and our customers as we expand our partner focused 
consumer finance businesses in the UK, mainland 
Europe and the US.

And fourth, we will invest in the expansion of our 
wealth management business in the UK. Central to this 
is the extension of access to our investment platform 
and advice services to eligible banking customers, 
within our existing base. With our expertise we should 
be a major provider to hundreds of thousands more 
UK consumers as they plan for the future and invest 
in more attractive returning assets.

Through 2021 we will continue to work on these 
opportunities, and look to strengthen diversification 
and deliver growth.

Thank you
Finally, and as always in these letters, I want to thank 
my colleagues for their steadfast commitment, and for 
all they do for Barclays, and our customers and clients 
every day around the world. I am privileged to lead such 
a group of people. 

 “I want to thank my 

colleagues for their 
steadfast commitment, 
and for all they do  
for Barclays, and our 
customers and clients 
every day around the 
world. I am privileged 
to lead such a group 
of people.

This is the beginning of a lengthy journey of course, 
and will require considerable effort on our part, 
but I am proud that Barclays is taking a leading positive 
position in an area so critical to the world, and our 
collective future.

Growing our company
The diversity in our model gives us balance, financial 
strength, and resilience, but we are also ambitious 
to grow this business, and strategically we have 
four priority areas of focus in this regard.

First, we will continue to invest in our role as a major 
participant in the global capital markets. The capital 
markets – where companies, institutions, and 
governments issue securities, facilitated and 
underwritten by banks – drive the world’s economic 
growth. Barclays aims to increase market share in 
our debt underwriting and equity issuance offering, 
building confidence in global liquidity and helping drive 
economic growth.

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Operating environment 
We pay close attention to the environment in which we operate, scanning the horizon for 
risks and opportunities, and adapting our strategy accordingly. We also monitor trends in 
the behaviour of our customers and clients so we can effectively meet their evolving needs.

A rapidly changing world

The health and economic impacts of COVID-19 
continue to have significant implications for Barclays 
and our stakeholders. The global economy has 
experienced significant fluctuations in activity 
levels over the last 12 months, and GDP in many of 
our key markets is still below pre-pandemic levels. 
The implications for wider society, and the way we 
live and interact, have also been dramatic and will 
continue to be for some time.

Throughout a challenging year, we are proud of the 
support we have been able to provide to our customers 
and clients. Now, we are committed to helping them 
rebuild and, where required, adapt to new trends 
that may arise in the coming years such as long-term 
implications for population centres or global supply 

 “As the vaccine rollout 

continues to progress,  
we are optimistic about the 
opportunities that will exist 
for Barclays and for our 
customers and clients in 
a recovery environment.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

chains. As the vaccine rollout continues to progress, 
we are optimistic about the opportunities that will 
exist for Barclays and for our customers and clients 
in a recovery environment.

National governments around the world continue to 
implement measures to socially distance populations 
and restrict movement of people. This requires our 
operating model to adapt, innovate and be nimble, 
particularly in our capacity to manage disruption 
risks to our people, processes, infrastructure, and 
technology services. In March last year, we executed 
a major workforce transformation, migrating 70,000 
colleagues to remote working in a matter of days. 
At the same time, we adapted working environments 
for colleagues and branch staff in the UK, as well as 
call centres globally, to ensure colleague and customer 
safety. We also stood up physical trading floors at 
designated emergency sites around the world to 
ensure uninterrupted service for our Investment 
Bank clients. 

Where possible, and in line with local government 
guidance, we have instigated gradual returns to office 
working in certain parts of the business and parts 
of the world. In time, with the safety and wellbeing 
of colleagues as our first priority, we envisage more 
people will return to on-site working over the course 
of the coming months, more detail on which is set out 
in the people section of this report. 

See our strategy on pages 11 to 13 
See our people and culture on pages 33 to 37

Interest rates and other 
economic consequences
As a direct result of the economic consequences of 
the pandemic, there have been changes in the financial 
environment that we have adapted to meet. In particular, 
we have seen a reduction in interest rates in many of 
the jurisdictions where we operate, intensifying an 
already long-term low-interest rate environment that 
we expect to endure for some time. This underlines the 
importance, and opportunity, of transformation of our 
business to adapt to the structural challenges of the 
retail banking market. 

In the financial markets, the last 12 months were 
characterised by initial periods of high volatility, 
market dislocation and significant trading activity, 
later stabilising across asset classes. The global markets 
revenue poola grew by 30% in 2020, attributable to the 
period of heightened activity in the first part of the year. 
Capital markets issuanceb rose by 9% as companies 
sought to strengthen their balance sheets. 

These trends illustrate the importance of Barclays’ 
market infrastructure, allowing our clients to 
continue to access the global capital markets 
in a distributed workplace.

We have also seen significant increases in our 
impairment provisioning, and have further constrained 
our risk appetite. This has required a re-evaluation of 
our strategic and investment priorities, set out in more 
detail elsewhere in this report.

See our strategy on pages 11 to 13

Customer and client behaviour
The impact of COVID-19 on society has accelerated a 
number of existing trends in consumer behaviour and 
preferences. In the last 12 months, for example, we 
have seen a further shift away from cash usage towards 
contactless payments as customers adapt to and 
embrace the low-touch environment necessitated by 
the pandemic. Contactless payments now account for 
78% of total transactions within Barclays UK, increasing 
8% since March 2020.

At the same time, we continue to observe a growing 
trend towards online transactions and servicing, further 
reducing customers’ use of our branch infrastructure. 
Downloads of our mobile banking apps continue to 
increase as more and more customers look for ways 
to self-serve. As a consequence of lower spending 
and increasing cash reserves, we also continue to 
see a reduction in credit card balances and an increase 
in repayment volumes. Growth of the use of credit 
alternatives, and growth in precautionary savings, 
has also meant an increase in customer appetite 
for financial advice.

Notes
a Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor Analysis. Market 

share represents Barclays share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. 
Analysis is based on Barclays internal business structure and internal 
revenues. 

b  Dealogic for the period covering 1 January to 31 December 2020.

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Operating environment continued

These trends present significant opportunities 
for Barclays to transform and continue to improve 
our services, finding further efficiencies through 
technology and automation, and creating new business 
models and partnerships based on digital engagement, 
customer trust, and our Payments capabilities. 

This emphasis is important because we continue to 
operate in a highly competitive environment. The rapid 
growth of ecommerce continues, amplified even 
further by the pandemic, and a number of payments 
focused FinTechs have benefited from this trend. This 
creates an imperative for Barclays to continue investing 
in new digital architecture, not only to keep pace with 
competitors, but at a rate that allows us to develop 
ahead of them.

Within our Markets business, we continue to observe 
a shift in client preferences from active to passive fund 
management as well as the greater tendency towards 
electronic trading. This drives the need for the further 
digitalisation of our platforms, in turn generating higher 
volumes at tighter spreads, greater speed of execution 
and with lower costs for us and for our clients. 

Again, this has been accelerated by the COVID-19 
pandemic, in particular as clients look to more digital 
means of execution in a distributed working 
environment. Here too, we are seeing a growing 
emergence of non-banking players, often leveraging 
a core competency in technology to accelerate 
their offering.

See our strategy on pages 11 to 13
See our divisional review on pages 25 to 31

 “Looking ahead, we are 

optimistic about some of 
the additional opportunities 
the transition to a low-carbon 
economy will present 
for Barclays.

Political and regulatory change
Geopolitical events have implications for our operating 
environment, and political volatility continues to 
influence customer and client needs and behaviours. 
The long-term economic consequences of the 
pandemic may also have important monetary and fiscal 
impacts, including changes to tax and government 
spending in a number of jurisdictions, which is also likely 
to impact client needs.

In the United States, we expect the new administration, 
along with central banks, to continue to want to focus 
on liquidity facilities and bank capital strength, in 
addition to leading the efforts of the Financial Stability 
Board to implement international standards, such as 
Basel III. Trading relationships with the rest of the world, 
particularly China, will continue to have direct 
implications for our clients.

In Europe, agreement between the UK and European 
Union (EU) over the shape of its future trading 
relationship is positive. The UK is also actively pursuing 
new trading relationships with other parts of the world, 
which have the potential to lead to an increase in 
cross-border activity for our customers and clients. 
Within the UK, there is the possibility of continued 
political tension over the prospect of a Scottish 
independence referendum following Scottish 
parliamentary elections this year.

Post the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the UK continues 
to develop a new framework for financial services 
regulation. We anticipate a new architecture for 
rule-making and an increase in public policy and 
legislative activity in the near term, including the 
potential for changes in regulatory approach between 
the UK and the EU. We also await the conclusion of the 
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reviews into the 
retail banking market and cost of credit.

Barclays remains subject to ongoing and significant 
levels of regulatory change in different jurisdictions 
around the world. In particular, we continue to pay close 
attention to the changing landscape of prudential 
requirements and supervisory expectations, changing 
approaches to stress testing, as well as policymaker 
focus on the derivatives market across the G20 
countries and beyond. 

Climate change
As the global effort to tackle climate change grows, 
Barclays is moving rapidly to take a leading role in 
contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy. 
In March last year, we set out our ambition to be a net 
zero bank by 2050. In November 2020, on the way to 
achieving that ambition, we set out the methodology 
and targets that begin to align the emissions we finance 
with the Paris Climate Agreement. More information 
is set out in our ESG Report, published alongside 
this document. 

Looking ahead, we are optimistic about some of the 
additional opportunities the transition to a low-carbon 
economy will present for Barclays, including through 
increased green and infrastructure finance capabilities. 
Gradual changes to the structure of our economy are 
likely to be accelerated by advances in sustainable 
technologies, which will require us to be able to support 
new industries, and help customers in impacted 
industries adapt.

See how we act in our society and environment on 
pages 39 to 43

For more information please see our ESG resource 
hub at home.barclays/esg

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Our strategy
We are a British universal bank with a diversified and connected portfolio 
of businesses, serving retail and wholesale customers and clients globally.

Our four strategic pillars

Barclays has transformed over the past few years. We have evolved to respond to the needs 
of customers and clients, and adapted to changes in the economic and regulatory environment.

See our key performance indicators on 
pages 22 to 23
See our people and culture on pages 33 to 37
See our approach to managing risk on pages 48 to 49

1Focus on  

customers and clients 
Putting them at the heart of 
the decisions we make about 
running our business and 
shaping it for the future

2Continue  

digitalising 
Enabling our customers 
and clients to engage with us 
in the way they want to, 
and making our business 
more efficient

3Strengthen 

our diversification 
Diversify our organisation 
by business, geography 
and income type to be 
more resilient to 
economic headwinds 
and future trends

4Protect and  

strengthen our culture 
Draw on our Purpose and 
Values to guide our choices 
as colleagues and as 
an organisation

Each of these components is complementary, with benefits from improvements in one  
reinforcing progress across the others. For example, we better meet our client needs by  
focusing on digitalisation, which in turn expands our product sets and strengthens diversification. 
This improves the resilience of the Group, increases efficiency and reduces cost and  
operational risk, while providing an improved experience and faster capability for our customers.

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Our strategy continued

 1Focus on customers and clients

Our customers and clients are at the heart 
of everything we do, and we are relentless 
in our commitment to their best interests.

 2Continue digitalising

Technology is ubiquitous and our digital strategy similarly 
spans our entire organisation, improving the experience, 
efficiency, simplicity and reach of our products and services.

Internally we call this the Power of One Barclays, a 
philosophy that unites colleagues across all of our 
businesses in a single objective to meet our customer 
and client needs end-to-end, realising operational 
and financial synergies across the Group. 

There is, of course, always more we can do. This year, 
for example, we have simplified our debit and credit 
card offerings, removing certain fees and charges to 
better reflect how our customers interact with us and 
to do so fairly. 

We measure our performance against customer and 
client priorities through metrics such as Net Promoter 
Scores (NPS®) – a view of how willing customers are 
to recommend our products and services to others 
– and client engagement, as well as the number and 
character of complaints we receive, to make sure we 
are making progress and understand when and why 
we haven’t met expectations.

See our key performance indicators on 
pages 22 to 23 
See our divisional reviews on pages 25 to 31

In our Corporate Bank, we continue our three-year plan 
to improve our clients’ digital experience, supporting 
more and more to self-serve in line with their needs. 
Last year, we successfully migrated Barclays iPortal 
from legacy physical infrastructure to the cloud, 
providing a more resilient and cost effective platform. 

In our Markets business, we continued to increase 
the scale of our network and platforms, extending our 
electronic capabilities, including our BARX and options 
offerings. Electronic trading continues to increase 
in importance, continuing to benefit from sustained 
multi-year investment.

Finally, in a year that saw a peak of over 70,000 
colleagues working remotely, the value of our strategic 
investment in digital infrastructure was plain to see. 
Within a matter of days, Barclays enabled a huge 
number of people to make that transition, deploying 
c.£51m of IT kit, infrastructure and home office 
equipment to improve capabilities.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

In the UK, we continue to focus investment on the 
rapid automation of as many processes as possible 
while striving to not leave any customer behind. 
This enhances customer experience and the reach 
of our products, and it also reduces costs, creating the 
capacity to finance further investment in automation 
and a virtuous circle of multi-year cost efficiencies. 
As well as significant cost opportunities, new income 
streams have also become possible, for example, our 
Plan & Invest platform, a digitally delivered advice and 
investment offering for current account customers in 
the UK, launched in September 2020.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognised 
that digital access was a necessity and worked to 
accelerate investment in our digital and automation 
agenda, helping customers bank and transact with 
us more easily.

Putting customers and clients at the heart of what 
we do requires us to listen and to understand their 
priorities, tailoring our products and services to meet 
their needs, while using our expertise to support 
their progress. 

The global reach of our universal banking platform 
across a diverse set of products and services allows 
us to meet an unparalleled range of our customer 
and client needs. We have taken steps to join up and 
strengthen the way we think about our service across 
all of our businesses to present a single, compelling 
face to our customers and clients. This inter-
connection is reinforced by our common core operating 
platform, BX, which facilitates the sharing of expertise 
and ideas across the Group. We are now better able to 
bring our entire organisation to bear in delivering the 
right solutions for customers and clients seamlessly.

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Our strategy continued

 3Strengthen our diversification

2020 has demonstrated the power of our universal banking 
model and the benefits of diversification, creating the 
resilience required to deliver for our stakeholders through 
the economic cycle.

 4Protect and strengthen our culture

We believe that the way we do business is a powerful 
differentiator and a core driver of our success.

■■ Sources of income: through the combination of 

interest and fee income business, our profits remain 
consistent despite economic headwinds. Only 37% 
of Group income is from net interest income, 
meaning we are less impacted by the income 
challenge posed by current low interest rates.

We demonstrated the benefits of our diversification 
through 2020, delivering consistent profitability during 
the COVID-19 pandemic, while managing our risk 
appropriately and taking significant provisions for future 
potential credit losses. Our Markets business benefited 
from high asset price volatility and volumes of client 
transactions, and from a well-executed risk strategy. 
This generated significant profits, helping to offset 
headwinds that we saw in our consumer businesses.

A culture which makes it easy for colleagues to 
determine and make the right decisions in any given 
situation. This has never been more important than 
during the extreme challenges experienced in 2020.

Our senior leaders spend significant time setting the 
right tone, with a sense of purpose ingrained in how 
they communicate and lead Barclays. 

Colleague performance continues to be evaluated in 
terms of ‘what’ has been achieved against agreed 
objectives and ‘how’ these objectives have been 
delivered in line with our Values and desired behaviours. 
Decisions on individual performance and compensation 
outcomes are therefore influenced by whether an 
individual is helping to build and embed the desired 
culture we want to see. This continues to be a powerful 
way of embedding our Purpose, Values and desired 
behaviours throughout Barclays.

We continue to believe that creating an inclusive and 
supportive culture is not only the right thing to do, but 
also what is best for our business. It creates a sense of 
belonging and value and enables colleagues to perform 
at their best. At Barclays, we focus on five areas of 
inclusion – disability, gender, LGBT+, multicultural, 
and multi-generational – which you can read more 
about later in this report.

See our people and culture on pages 33 to 37

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We are committed to a culture that upholds the highest 
standards of conduct and controls. This benefits all of 
our stakeholders, helping our customers and clients to 
succeed, our colleagues to realise their potential, and 
the communities in which we operate to prosper. 

Our business is focused on the areas where we 
can have the greatest long-term positive impacts, 
operating responsibly with respect to the environment 
and society and investing in communities. We have 
made significant progress across all of these areas in 
2020, more detail on which is set out later in this report. 

At the heart of our culture are Barclays’ Purpose and 
Values, both of which have been updated to reflect 
what we have learnt during the extraordinary 
circumstances of the past year. Together, they ensure 
that a strong ethical and inclusive culture defines the 
way we do business at Barclays. 

We are diversified in a variety of different ways across:
■■ Customers and clients: we serve a wide spectrum 

from individual customers and businesses, to 
institutional investor clients and governments;
■■ Business lines: our Personal Banking, Barclaycard 
Consumer UK and Business Banking businesses 
in Barclays UK, and our Corporate and Investment 
Banking and Consumer, Cards and Payments 
businesses in Barclays International;

■■ Geographies: the UK is our home market, but 
we also operate a highly successful franchise in 
the US, and generate significant value in Europe, 
Asia Pacific, and emerging markets;

■■ Currencies: our clients enjoy access to international 

markets in over 80 currencies;

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Our business model 
Barclays plays a key role in connecting the providers and users of capital. We recognise  
the role we play in society, and our success as a business has always been closely linked 
to the progress of the people, communities and businesses we serve.

A British  
universal bank

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We deploy  
our resources …
to deliver the right outcomes for our customers 
and clients 

to serve our diversified 
customer base …
ranging from retail banking customers, through to the  
largest multinational corporates and institutional clients 

People
Our people are our organisation. 
We deliver success through 
a purpose-driven and 
inclusive culture.

Financial resources
We deploy our financial  
resources to help our  
customers and clients 
achieve their goals.

Technology and 
infrastructure
Our deep technology and 
infrastructure capabilities 
drive seamless customer 
experiences and support  
strong resiliency.

Operations  
and governance
Our risk management, 
governance and controls help 
ensure customer and client 
outcomes are delivered in the 
right way.

Barclays UK
Group income – Personal Banking

Group income – Barclaycard Consumer UK

Group income – Business Banking

Barclays International
Group income – Consumer, Cards and Payments

Group income – Investment Bank

Group income – Corporate Banking

16%
7%
6%

15%
46%
10%

Income splits of revenue-
generating divisions. Head Office 
had negative income of £0.5bn

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Our business model continued

across all of their  
financial needs …
with our diverse range of products  
and services

employing our 
strengths …
which allow us to be the trusted financial  
partner for all of our customers and clients 

to deliver value  
to all our stakeholders 
and fulfilling a vital role in the  
economies in which we operate

Move
We facilitate transactions 
and move money around 
the world.

■■ Payments
■■ Foreign 

exchange

Lend
We lend to customers 
and clients to support 
their needs. 

Connect
We connect companies  
seeking funding with the  
financial markets. 

Protect
We ensure the assets of 
our clients and customers 
are safe. 

Invest  
and advise
We help our customers 
and clients invest assets  
to drive growth. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

■■ Term lending
■■ Credit cards
■■ Overdrafts 
■■ Trade and 

working capital

■■ Equity capital 

markets
■■ Debt capital 
markets

■■ Deposit 
accounts

■■ Risk 

management

■■ Investments
■■ Trading
■■ M&A

Brand and 
heritage
Our brand and heritage helps 
foster a strong relationship 
of trust with our customers 
and clients.

Diversified model
Our diversified model strengthens 
our ability to deliver attractive and 
sustainable Group returns amidst 
economic uncertainty.

Digitalisation  
and innovation
Being at the forefront of 
innovation allows us to deliver 
excellent customer and client 
experiences and enables growth.

Service execution
Our service company, BX, allows 
us to deliver excellent customer 
experiences and effective and 
efficient services.

Customers and clients
Supporting financial goals for our 
customers and clients with products 
and services delivered through a 
superior offering. 

Colleagues
Helping our colleagues across the 
world develop as professionals.

Society
Providing support to our communities, 
and access to social and environmental 
financing to address societal needs.

Investors
Delivering attractive and sustainable 
shareholder returns on a foundation 
of a strong balance sheet.

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Engaging with our stakeholders 
Barclays aims to create value for everyone we serve, balanced across the short and the 
long term – our sustainable impact. We think about our priority stakeholders as belonging 
to four groups: customers and clients, colleagues, society, and investors.

Sustained dialogue

Customers and clients

Colleagues

Our customers and clients are at the heart 
of everything we do. We are relentless in our 
commitment to their best interests and we 
must engage with them regularly to help us 
achieve that.
What do they tell us?
In 2020, we engaged with customers and clients 
in a wide variety of ways, including running regular 
surveys, analysing customer complaints, and drawing 
on data from millions of individual transactions and 
personal customer interactions.

Customers told us:
■■ to make things easy and intuitive so they can 

self-serve and complete (simple) everyday tasks, 
via a digital channel when it’s convenient for them.

■■ to be there and provide support, expertise and 
guidance, for important financial decisions.
■■  to help them stay in control of their finances by 
providing tools, and information tailored to their 
specific financial circumstances.

■■  to be reliable, always available and to keep their 

money and data safe. 

■■ to be there for local communities and businesses, 

helping them adapt to the changes brought 
about by the pandemic.

How do we respond to them? 
■■ Helped businesses and institutions raise 

c.£1.5trn of new issuance in the capital markets.

■■ Facilitated c.£27bn of financing to businesses 

through the UK Government support schemes.

■■ Provided over 680,000 payment holidays

for customers globally.

■■ Waived c.£100m in overdraft interest and banking 

charges for UK customers and clients.

■■ Made significant improvements to our Barclays 

apps, including enhanced payment alerts, and the 
ability to see itemised digital receipts. 

■■  Introduced Dream Accelerator to help first time 

homebuyers get onto the property ladder sooner.

■■  Launched Plan & Invest, a digital investment 

service that creates a personalised investment 
plan, tailored by our experts. 

 c.£1.5trn

raised across Equity and Debt 
Capital Markets in Q220-Q420

 c.£27bn

financing provided to  
businesses through UK  
Government support schemes

Our people are our most valuable asset. 
They make a critical difference to our 
success, and our investment in them 
protects and strengthens our culture.
What do they tell us?
Our long established approach to regularly engaging 
with colleagues, Unite, the Barclays European Forum 
and other colleague forums, ensures we listen and 
take all perspectives into account in our decision-
making and action plans. As a result of COVID-19, 
many of our events this year have been web based, 
although, where possible, we have supported 
colleagues in our branches and offices with site visits. 

In addition to our annual employee opinion survey, 
this year we have run regular Here to Listen surveys 
to understand how colleagues were feeling during 
the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on 
wellbeing, working remotely and work/life balance:
■■ 83% of colleagues believe Barclays supports 

colleague wellbeing (2019: 74%).

■■ 77% believe they have the work tools and 
resources they need to achieve excellent 
performance (2019: 56%).

■■ 74% believe the stress levels at work are 

manageable (2019: 61%).

■■ 78% say they have been able to balance 

their personal and work demands. 

The data and insights from our surveys form 
an important part of our decision-making, and 
continuing to improve these scores is a priority.

How do we respond to them? 
■■ Mental Health Awareness training completed 

by 96% of colleagues (2019: 27%).

■■ 39% of colleagues have registered for our 

Be Well portal (2019: 23%).

■■ Spent c.£51m on IT kit, infrastructure and home 
office equipment to ensure 70,000 colleagues 
were set up to work remotely.

■■ We implemented a 12-point Race at Work action 
plan to open up opportunities to attract, develop 
and add to our great Black talent.

■■ Our Diversity and Inclusion networks are at 

an all-time high, with over 23,000 colleagues 
now involved.

■■ Our overall Inclusion Index score for 2020 is 76%, 
with 89% of colleagues saying they feel included 
in their team.

83%of colleagues believe Barclays 

supports their wellbeing

 96%of colleagues completed 

Mental Health Awareness training 

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Engaging with our stakeholders continued

Society

Investors

Delivering long-term value depends on  
deep and thoughtful engagement with the 
numerous individuals and interest groups 
that represent wider society.
What do they tell us?
The rapid changes brought about by COVID-19 have 
meant our role in society and the embedding of 
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) within 
our strategy have never been more important. 

This year, we engaged constructively with a wide 
range of stakeholders, including non-governmental 
organisations (NGOs) and others. We participate 
in multiple sustainability and human rights forums 
and global and regional industry initiatives, engaging 
directly through Barclays’ Sustainability and 
ESG teams. 

Major themes we heard from them included:
■■ climate change and our support of customers 
and clients in the transition to a low-carbon 
economy.

■■ the financial assistance and support we’re 

providing to customers, clients and communities 
through COVID-19.

■■ the management of our broader environmental 

and social impacts.

How do we respond to them? 
■■ Published our methodology and targets to 

align to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, 
including £100bn green financing committed 
to by 2030. 

■■ £100m committed through our COVID-19 
Community Aid Package, supporting more 
than 250 charities globally:

– 5,000 colleagues have donated or raised 
money to support people in 17 countries

– 9m+ meals provided to vulnerable 

communities across the US through 
our partnership with Feeding America

– 65,000+ hygiene kits distributed to people 

across Asia Pacific

– 13+ UK NHS hospitals supported to meet 

the immediate and urgent needs of patients, 
staff and volunteers 

£100m

committed through our COVID-19 
Community Aid Package

£100bn

green finance committed by 2030

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

We engage with all parties who are 
interested and invested in the success and 
sustainability of our business. Doing so helps 
us understand expectations and leads to 
better outcomes over the long-term.
What do they tell us?
We engaged extensively with our institutional equity 
and fixed income investors throughout the year, 
as well as our private shareholders, in what has been 
a challenging year where we could not conduct the 
AGM in the manner we have done previously. We 
also continued to take part in collaborative and 
transparent dialogue with our regulators, working 
together to ensure we meet prudential and conduct 
based regulatory standards and contributing to a 
safe and robust banking system. Important topics 
for our stakeholders included:
■■ credit conditions and risk management through 

the COVID-19 pandemic.

■■ impact of low interest rates and reduced levels 

of consumer spending on our income generation. 

■■ regulatory restriction on dividends across 
all UK banks, to allow continued support for 
the economy.

■■ climate change, following Barclays’ climate 
change resolution duly passed at the AGM 
with overwhelming shareholder support.

How do we respond to them? 
■■ Adjusted our investor engagement programme 
for a virtual format, ensuring continued high level 
activity with existing and target investors despite 
restrictions on face-to-face meetings.

■■ In November 2020, we published an update on 
our climate strategy detailing the methodology 
we will follow, the metrics for measuring our 
progress and the targets against which we 
will report.

■■ More effective engagement with our sell side 

analysts and investors, resulting in a nomination 
for Best Overall Company Investor Relations at 
the Investor Relations Society Best Practice 
Awards 2020.

 99.93%

Number of votes cast in favour of Barclays’ own 
climate change resolution

For further information on the 2020 AGM voting, 
please see page 97 of  Part 2 of the Annual Report

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Section 172(1) statement 
Having regard to our stakeholders in Board decision-making.

Engaging with 
our stakeholders

The Directors have acted in the way that they 
considered, in good faith, would be most likely to 
promote the success of the Company for the benefit 
of its members as a whole and this section forms our 
Section 172 disclosure, describing how, in doing so, 
the Directors considered the matters set out in 
Section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies Act 2006. 
The Directors also took into account the views and 
interests of a wider set of stakeholders, including the 
Group’s pensioners, regulators, the UK Government 
and non-governmental organisations. You can find out 
more about how Barclays engages with its stakeholders 
on the previous pages. The Directors recognise that 
having a good understanding of the views and interests 
of the Group’s key stakeholders will help them to deliver 
the Group’s strategy in line with its Purpose and to 
operate the business in a sustainable way. Consistent 
with its regulatory responsibilities, the Board also 
considers carefully the impact its decisions will have 
on the Group’s risk and control environment, and on 
customer outcomes. Considering a broad range of 
stakeholders and their relative interests is an important 
part of the way in which the Board makes decisions, 
although in having regard to those different 
perspectives it is not always possible to deliver 
everyone’s desired result or necessarily achieve 
a positive outcome for all stakeholders.

How does the Board engage 
with stakeholders?
Depending on the decision in question, the relevance 
of each particular stakeholder group may differ, and 
equally the Board adopts a variety of methods of 
engagement with different stakeholder groups. 
The Board will sometimes engage directly with 
particular stakeholders on certain issues, but the 
number and distribution of the Group’s stakeholders 
and the size of the Group overall means that 
stakeholder engagement often takes place at an 
operational level. In addition to direct engagement 
with stakeholders by Board members, the Board 
regularly receives reports and considers and discusses 
information from across the organisation to help 
it understand the impact of the Group’s operations 
on, and the interests and views of, the Group’s key 
stakeholders. As a result of these activities and the 
information it receives, the Board has an overview 
of engagement with stakeholders, and other relevant 
factors, which enables the Directors to comply with 
their legal duty under Section 172 of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Engagement in action
Read on to find out how the Directors have had regard 
to the matters set out in Section 172 when discharging 
their duties, and the effect of those considerations in 
reaching certain decisions taken by them, in the context 
of (i) establishing the Group’s climate strategy, and 
(ii) responding to the challenges arising from the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 

Engagement in action: Climate change
The Board recognised that Barclays can, and should, 
make a real contribution to tackling climate change, 
and help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon 
economy. The Board also recognised, however, that we 
were behind where we needed to be, and approached 
the challenge to help accelerate the transition in 
a positive, thoughtful, authentic and open way. 
Having begun in the autumn of 2019 to review our 
environmental policies with a view to making the 
step-change required, in the first quarter of 2020 the 
Board established a Board Climate Committee, to 
oversee our activities in this critically important area. 

The Board and its Climate Committee recognised that 
delivering on this ambition would involve balancing the 
needs and expectation of a range of key stakeholders 
and that gaining a detailed understanding of the views 
of those stakeholders would be key to making 
meaningful progress. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 
2020 we began an extensive stakeholder engagement 
programme, led by the Chairman, personally, and the 
Company Secretary. This engagement programme was 
undertaken in three parts initially, following which we 
took action and reported back to our stakeholders: 

We engaged and listened 
First, we engaged and listened. We sought to understand the views and expectations 
of major shareholders, shareholder representative bodies, shareholder activists, 
non-governmental organisations, and stakeholders from across society more 
broadly. We also took into account the views of customers, clients and employees. 
The feedback was consistent and clear: the vast majority of our stakeholders wanted 
Barclays to take a leadership position in addressing climate change. 

We developed proposals 
Secondly, we developed proposals, with the benefit of the rich and valuable feedback 
we had received from our stakeholders. We formulated an ambition to be a net zero 
bank by 2050 and developed real and tangible commitments to align our provision of 
financing across all sectors, starting with the energy and power sectors, to the goals 
and timelines of the Paris Climate Agreement. We developed a clear strategy, with 
specific targets and regular reporting. 

We tested our proposed new approach and strategy
Thirdly, we tested our proposed new approach and strategy with many of the same 
stakeholders as well as with representatives of governments, and various customers, 
clients and suppliers, to check whether what we were proposing aligned with their 
aspirations for us. We made refinements to our proposals based on the feedback 
we received.

1

2

3

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Section 172(1) statement continued

4

We acted 
Then, we acted. The Board always intended that our new approach should be a 
binding commitment on our part. It was clear that many of our shareholders, as well 
as other stakeholders, wanted this commitment to be reflected in a shareholder 
resolution. The Board also believed that this was the right thing to do. With the advice 
and support of its Climate Committee and on the recommendation of management, 
the Board resolved to put its own binding resolution to shareholders to give the 
maximum force and effect to its new approach and strategy. Shareholders gave their 
overwhelming support to this resolution at our AGM in May 2020. The Board also 
approved the creation of a new Executive Committee role focused on driving the 
execution and evolution of our climate strategy, and so began the process of 
embedding into the business the changes our new commitments required. 

5

We reported back
And finally, we reported back. Having set our ambition and formalised our 
commitments, the Board undertook to develop, with the help of a range of 
stakeholders, detailed metrics for measuring our progress and targets against which 
we would report and be held to account, and to report on progress by the end of the 
year. Continuing their respective oversight roles throughout, the Board and its 
Climate Committee approved materials for publication and, on 30 November 2020, 
we delivered on this commitment.

Addressing the climate challenge is a monumental task 
and opportunity and we are committed to playing our 
part. Doing so will not only help to build Barclays’ 
reputation and to secure its long-term success by 
mitigating associated risk, but will also help deliver 
meaningful change for the benefit of society at large, 
and also enable Barclays credibly to access the business 
opportunities that playing an active role in the transition 
will present. 

Engagement with our stakeholders has been integral 
and essential to the progress we have made so far, but 
this is the start of a journey and we have a long way 
to go. Our success over the long term is inextricably 
tied to the progress of our communities and the 
preservation of the environment, and continued 
engagement with our stakeholders will therefore 
be integral and essential also to our future success. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Developing and delivering on our climate change 
strategy has required us to take account of the 
sometimes conflicting needs and expectations of 
different stakeholder groups and to have regard to 
these in a fair and balanced manner. The Board also 
had to give due consideration to important issues such 
as energy transition and the impact of our decisions 
on businesses and the wider communities in which 
they operate, as well as to our relationship with various 
key stakeholders. 

You can find further information about our climate 
change strategy on pages 39 to 43 in our society 
and environment section.

Engagement in action: COVID-19
Throughout almost the entirety of 2020 the primary 
focus of the Company and the Board has been on how 
best to deliver its strategy while at the same time 
supporting the Group’s stakeholders through the 
challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
This has meant the Board has met, whether in person 
(when permitted) or by video conference calls, 
significantly more frequently than in previous years, 
in order to devote the time needed to address the 
challenges which have arisen and to provide the 
necessary support to customers, clients, colleagues 
and society more broadly while continuing to drive value 
creation over the longer term. 

Between formal meetings, the Board has received 
regular updates on the implementation of the Group’s 
strategy, in particular in relation to the Group’s 
participation in the UK Government schemes and its 
broader support for customers and clients, as well as 
its ongoing engagement with key stakeholders and 
the steps being taken to safeguard the health and 
wellbeing of customers and colleagues. Given the 
importance of the Group’s response to the COVID-19 
crisis and its impact on stakeholders and the economy 
as a whole, the Board also set up a Board COVID-19 
Crisis Response Committee in April. 

This Committee met initially weekly and then fortnightly 
until well into the summer of 2020, in order to act both 
as a point of escalation for considering material matters 
arising during the crisis and as a review and sounding 
board for business decisions made by management 
which might impact the reputation of the Group. Close 
co-ordination between the Board and the Chairs of the 
main subsidiary boards has also ensured an ongoing 
dialogue has been maintained across the Group 
throughout the crisis, resulting in a more co-ordinated 
response to the crisis.

Set out overleaf is a summary of some of the key 
decisions and actions the Group has taken in response 
to the impact of the ongoing pandemic where the 
Board has had regard to the interests of, and impact 
on, affected stakeholders, including consideration 
of stakeholder engagement, feedback received, the 
key decisions made by the Board and the potential 
outcomes of those decisions.

On the following pages we describe the Board’s 
consideration of the interests of our four priority 
stakeholder groups:
■ Customers and clients
■ Colleagues
■ Society
■ Investors 

For further detail on Governance please see 
pages 59 to 142 of Part 2 of the Annual Report 

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Section 172(1) statement continued
Engagement in action

Customers and clients

Colleagues

holidays, the waiver of interest and fees on overdrafts 
and forbearance on late payments, as well as facilitating 
borrowing under the various government loan schemes. 

The rationale for these changes has been to provide 
breathing space for customers; to appropriately reflect 
the impact of the pandemic on customers’ income and 
circumstances in affordability calculations and credit 
decisions given the unprecedented uncertainty as a 
result of the pandemic. See our strategy on pages 11 
to 13 for further information.

All of this has been achieved while maintaining an 
appropriate risk and control environment. Through 
regular updates from the Board Audit Committee, 
the Board Risk Committee and management, the Board 
has closely scrutinised the risk and control environment 
across the Group, and ensured that the ongoing support 
for customers and clients during the pandemic has been 
achieved while continuing to adopt a robust approach 
to risk and control so as to maintain a strong capital 
position for the longer term. 

The Board has paid particularly keen attention to 
updates from management on various metrics and tools 
used to measure customer and client satisfaction and 
had been pleased to note that feedback on the Group’s 
support during 2020 has been positive. 

The Board and senior management will continue to 
monitor customer and client behaviours and preferences 
– whether arising from ongoing concerns over social 
distancing or from a change in customer and client 
banking patterns, or greater use of online services rather 
than branch or call centre facilities – and this information 
will help inform the Board’s decisions on future strategy 
as it evolves to meet the long-term needs of our 
customers and clients.

to support self-quarantine, sickness or care for 
dependants and financial help with childcare, as well as 
the provision of education and training tools, including 
increased support in relation to mental health and 
wellbeing, and support services and helplines.

In assessing the Group’s future strategy, the Board 
will take into account the lessons learnt during the 
pandemic and, in particular, will monitor changes in 
customer and client banking patterns and the ability 
of colleagues to provide services through remote 
working, in order to assess whether these changes 
could be adopted in the longer term so as to provide 
greater flexibility in terms of working practices for 
colleagues once the pandemic is over.

Colleagues across the Group have also made a 
considerable contribution towards charitable giving 
during the year. Much of this has been provided through 
the COVID-19 Community Aid Package announced by 
the Group Chairman on behalf of the Board in early April 
2020. Colleagues have been able to support charities of 
their choice, local to their homes or places of work and 
which are working to support communities impacted by 
the COVID-19 pandemic, with Barclays match-funding 
colleague contributions. We have been pleased to note 
strong engagement with the match-funding initiative. 

Colleague surveys have been conducted on a number 
of occasions throughout the year in order to maintain 
ongoing engagement and gather feedback, and reported 
to the Board. In addition to the colleague surveys and 
regular updates from management, members of the 
Board have continued to engage with colleagues in 
a variety of ways throughout the pandemic. These 
included holding virtual town halls, and interactive video 
call sessions. You can read more about how we support 
the health and wellbeing of our colleagues and about 
our workforce engagement more generally on page 16 
and in Our people and culture on pages 33 to 37.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

The Board has regarded colleagues’ 
wellbeing as being of paramount 
importance throughout the pandemic. 
Together with management, the Board has sought 
to support colleagues both financially (by minimising 
job losses), and by ensuring our working environments 
are as safe as possible, both for colleagues who have 
continued to work from our offices or branches and for 
the 70,000 colleagues who moved to work remotely. 
For our offices and branches, this has meant the 
introduction of health and safety measures across our 
sites, including restricting occupation levels, enhanced 
hygiene and cleaning measures, and social distancing. 
We established a formal risk assessment process 
across our sites, and a COVID-19 Health and 
Safety Forum, who have overseen our approach 
to protecting colleagues’ health and safety during 
the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Board, with management, has also ensured that 
colleagues have been provided with the necessary tools 
to enable the shift to remote working, including by the 
provision of increased technological support, laptops 
and other home office equipment. We also helped 
colleagues cope with some of the personal challenges 
the pandemic created, including offering paid leave 

Continuing to support customers and 
clients has been a critical focus of the 
Board throughout the year. 
This has been reflected in a range of actions and 
decisions taken by the Board and management, including 
in their efforts to ensure a COVID-19 safe environment 
has been maintained for our customers and clients as 
well as our colleagues. This has been achieved through 
the provision of safe access to bank branches, putting in 
place a programme to achieve effective social distancing 
and a stringent cleaning routine. Balancing the needs of 
our customers and clients against their health and safety 
and that of our colleagues has been crucial and so, while 
such measures included notifying customers and clients 
of reduced opening times, we also sought to enhance 
our call centre facilities in order to deal with increased 
volumes. We also took steps to support vulnerable 
customers who were unable to visit a branch.

In order to support our customers and clients financially 
throughout these unprecedented times, the Board 
supported management in making appropriate adjustments 
to the Group’s strategy and policies. This has included 
decisions to support the Group’s credit card and borrower 
customers such as the implementation of payment 

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Section 172(1) statement continued
Engagement in action

Society

Investors

partnerships with trusted charities that can have 
a direct and immediate impact in the communities 
where we have a presence. 

The package also comprised a commitment to 
match-fund personal donations and fundraising 
efforts made by colleagues to charities of their choice 
supporting COVID-19 relief. A wide range of colleagues 
have since made donations through the COVID-19 
Community Aid Package, including the Group Chairman 
and two Executive Directors who each personally 
donated one third of their respective Group fees 
and fixed pay for six months of 2020. 

We have also continued to engage with local 
communities throughout the pandemic, to understand 
their needs and develop alternative solutions to enhance 
the provision of our services where possible, including 
by working closely in communities across the UK to help 
them access and feel confident in using our digital 
services through our team of Barclays Digital Eagles.

The Board is pleased to note that external feedback 
has been very positive in relation to the Group’s support 
of society both through the maintenance of its financial 
services and the delivery of our COVID-19 Community 
Aid Package. 

The Board is committed to develop its future strategy 
so as to continue this support and engagement with 
local communities and society more broadly through 
the remainder of the pandemic and its aftermath 
during 2021. 

Read more about our work supporting our local 
communities in Our society and environment on 
pages 39 to 43.

response to a request from the UK Prudential Regulatory 
Authority, that it was prudent not to undertake any 
interim ordinary share dividend payments, accrual of 
ordinary share dividends or share buy-backs in 2020; and 
likewise that it should cancel the ordinary share full year 
2019 dividend which was due for payment in April 2020. 

These were difficult decisions for the Board, not least 
in terms of the adverse short-term impact on investors, 
but the Board concluded that this was right and prudent 
in order to preserve additional capital so as to allow the 
Group to continue to serve the needs of its customers 
and clients throughout the crisis. The Board is pleased 
that the continuing strong capital position of the Group 
means that it has been able to resume paying a dividend 
to ordinary shareholders. 

The Board considers engagement with its shareholders 
as being critical to its understanding of investors’ views. 
The AGM is an important event in the Company’s 
corporate calendar and an excellent opportunity to 
engage with shareholders and for shareholders to ask 
questions of the Board. Despite the impossibility of 
shareholder attendance at the 2020 AGM as a result of 
the UK Government’s prohibition on public gatherings 
because of the pandemic, the Board ensured that all 
shareholders had the opportunity to submit questions 
in advance of the AGM. All questions were considered 
carefully and answered individually and pre-recorded 
presentations by the Group Chairman and the Group 
Chief Executive were made available on the Group 
website on the day of the AGM. In addition, as noted in 
the section above entitled ‘Climate change’, extensive 
shareholder engagement took place both in person, 
where possible, and remotely in the lead-up to the AGM 
in the context of seeking shareholders’ views on and 
support for the Group’s approach to climate change. 
Following the AGM, the Board has continued to maintain 
its engagement programme with investors, 
notwithstanding the inability to meet face to face.

Find out more about our engagement with our 
investors on page 17.

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The Board is committed to achieving 
sustainable returns for our investors 
over the long term. 
Taking into consideration the importance to investors 
of the long-term security and soundness of the Group 
and the preservation of its balance sheet, the Board 
encouraged management to ensure that lending 
decisions would continue to be taken prudently 
throughout the pandemic, notwithstanding the drive 
to provide increased support to our customers and 
clients. This has also been reflected in the Board’s Risk 
Committee monitoring closely any changes to relevant 
risk limits and financial products.

Balancing the needs of the Company’s key stakeholders 
is a key part of the Board’s decision-making process. 
In this regard, given the unprecedented nature of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the Board concluded that the 
long-term interests of the Group and its responsibility 
towards supporting customers, clients and society more 
broadly in dealing with the impact of the pandemic, were 
of paramount importance, even if that might inevitably 
be less favourable in terms of investor returns in the 
short term. 

In light of the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 
pandemic and following engagement with the Group’s 
regulators, the Board decided, in line with its peers and in 

From the outset of the pandemic, the Board 
has encouraged management to ensure 
that the Group, as a key universal bank 
both in the UK and within the international 
financial system, strives to operate 
responsibly in supporting the wider 
community in dealing with the current 
unprecedented medical and economic 
crisis caused by COVID-19, and in 
preparing for recovery in its aftermath.
In particular, the Board has focused on the need for the 
economy to be supported; and has taken a particularly 
keen interest in the regular updates provided by 
management as to the Group’s efforts in this regard.

In addition, in early April 2020 the Group Chairman 
announced, on behalf of the Board, the launch of the 
Barclays’ COVID-19 Community Aid Package totalling 
£100m. This comprised a Charity Partners Programme 
to support charities working to support vulnerable people 
impacted by COVID-19 and to alleviate the associated 
social and economic hardship caused by the crisis. 
This funding has been donated to, and deployed through, 

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Key performance indicators 
We analyse a broad range of financial and non-financial measures to 
make sure our strategy is working. Ultimately, the experience of our 
stakeholders is the key indicator as to whether we are succeeding.

Enabling 
us to adapt 
and deliver

We use a number of sources to assess our 
performance and provide a balanced review 
of performance during the year. 

Financial targets and strategic non-financial 
performance measures are also linked to the 
way we pay our colleagues, including at executive 
management level.

This approach means we are better able to deliver 
positive and sustainable results for our stakeholders, 
while at the same time maintaining flexibility for our 
businesses to adapt in a fast-moving world.

We consider a range of metrics across all stakeholder 
groups and continuously assess whether new 
measures should be added or removed from our 
dashboards. For example, in recent years digital 
engagement and related customer satisfaction scores 
have become increasingly important.

Key measures used in our 2020 assessment include 
the metrics reported on this page, and in the broader 
discussion of our performance on the subsequent 
pages of this report.

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Customers and clients
We aim to build trust by offering innovative products and 
services, with an excellent customer and client experience, 
such that customers and clients are happy to recommend 
us to others.

See our divisional reviews 
on pages 25 to 31

Colleagues
We promote and maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce 
in which colleagues of all backgrounds are treated equally 
and supported to achieve their potential within  
a positive, values-based culture.

See our people and culture 
on pages 33 to 37

Society
We manage the environmental and societal impact of our 
business, making decisions that provide all our stakeholders 
with access to a prosperous and sustainable future.

See our society and environment 
on pages 39 to 43

Investors
Our ambition is to generate attractive and sustainable 
returns through the economic cycle. We measure our 
progress through our Group financial targets.

See our summary financial review 
on pages 45 to 47

Barclays UK Net Promoter Score (NPS®)a

Consumer, Cards and Payments US customer digital engagement

Barclays UK complaints excluding PPI 

Corporate and Investment Bank revenue ranks and market shares

2020

2019

2018

+15

+18

+17

The NPS is a view of 
how willing customers 
are to recommend our 
products and services 
to others.

Colleague engagement
%

2020

2019

2018

83

77

79

This is a measure 
derived from our nine 
engagement questions 
in the Your View survey.

%

%

2020

2019

2018

71.4

71.0

69.4

2020

2019

2018

Metric shows percentage 

of digitally active CC&P 

US consumers.

2020

-6

2019

-9

2018

We received a signi�cant volume of 

PPI-related claims leading up to the 

FCA deadline of 29 August 2019. 

As such, the underlying trend provides 

a more meaningful comparison.

4.9

3.6

4.3

4.2

4.2

4.1

#6

#7

#6

#6

#7

#7

Markets global revenue 

ranking and share 

(Coalition Greenwich)b

Banking global fee ranking 

and share (Dealogic)c

Demonstrating our 

performance vs peers.

Females at Managing Director and Director level

“I would recommend Barclays as a good place to work”

“I believe that my team and I do a good job of role modelling 

the Values every day”

26

25

24

Metric re�ects % of females at 

Managing Director and Director 

level within Barclays.

A question in the Your View 

employee survey that measures 

colleague advocacy.

94

92

93

A question from the Your View 

employee survey showing colleagues’ 

connection to the Barclays Values 

which underpin the desired culture.

Social and environmental financing
£bn

Operational carbon emissions

tonnes CO2 equiv.

2020

2019

2018

34.8

28.5

60.9

2020

83,071

Financing in 
select social and 
environmental 
segments aligned to 
Barclays sustainable 
impact framework.

113,363

2019

2018

Emissions generated 

from Barclays’ branches, 

o�ces and data centres, 

including all indirect 

emission from electricity 

consumption.

286,599

LifeSkills – Number of people upskilled in the UK per year

Connect with Work – Number of people placed into work globally

Number of people participating in 

the Barclays LifeSkills programme 

focused on employability skills.

 49,700

2019: 66,600

Number of people placed into

work following training provided

by Barclays Connect with Work

partner organisations.

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio
%

Operating expensesd,e

£bn

Cost: income ratiod

Group return on tangible equity (RoTE)d

2020

2019

2018

15.1

13.8

13.2

Group target:
CET1 ratio in the 
range of 13-14%.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

13.7

13.6

13.9

2020

2019

2018

Group operating expenses 

increased 1% to £13.7bn, 

including £0.4bn of structural

costs actions and additional 

COVID-19 related costs. 

Cost discipline and 

maximizing e�ciencies 

remain a priority.

The Group targets a cost: 

income ratio below 60% 

over time.

3.4

RoTE excluding litigation and 

conduct was 3.4% due to lower 

pro�t before tax including 

materially higher credit impairment 

charges relating to the COVID-19 

pandemic and higher operating 

expenses, partially o�set 

by favourable income.

9.0

8.5

%

-32

%

2020

2019

2018

million

2020

2019

2018

%

2020

2019

2018

87

80

83

2.33

2.31

2.30

63

63

66

#,%

2020

2019

2018

2020

2019

2018

%

2020

2019

2018

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Key performance indicators continued

Notes
a ®Net Promoter, Net Promoter System, Net Promoter Score, NPS and the NPS-related emoticons are registered trademarks  

of Bain & Company, Inc., Fred Reichheld and Satmetrix Systems, Inc.

b  Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor Analysis. Market share represents Barclays share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. Analysis 

is based on Barclays internal business structure and internal revenues.
c  Dealogic for the period covering 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020.
d  Excluding litigation and conduct.
e  2018 excludes litigation and conduct and a Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMP) charge of £140m.

2020

2019

2018

%

2020

2019

2018

£bn

2020

2019

2018

%

2020

2019

2018

Barclays UK Net Promoter Score (NPS®)a

Consumer, Cards and Payments US customer digital engagement
%

Barclays UK complaints excluding PPI 
%

Corporate and Investment Bank revenue ranks and market shares
#,%

+15

+18

+17

The NPS is a view of 

how willing customers 

are to recommend our 

products and services 

to others.

71.4

71.0

69.4

2020

2019

2018

Metric shows percentage 
of digitally active CC&P 
US consumers.

-32

2020

-6

2019

-9

2018

We received a signi�cant volume of 
PPI-related claims leading up to the 
FCA deadline of 29 August 2019. 
As such, the underlying trend provides 
a more meaningful comparison.

2020

2019

2018

4.9

3.6

4.3
4.2

4.2
4.1

#6
#7

#6
#6

#7
#7

Markets global revenue 
ranking and share 
(Coalition Greenwich)b
Banking global fee ranking 
and share (Dealogic)c
Demonstrating our 
performance vs peers.

Colleague engagement

Females at Managing Director and Director level
%

“I would recommend Barclays as a good place to work”
%

“I believe that my team and I do a good job of role modelling 
the Values every day”

83

77

79

This is a measure 

derived from our nine 

engagement questions 

in the Your View survey.

2020

2019

2018

26

25

24

Metric re�ects % of females at 
Managing Director and Director 
level within Barclays.

2020

2019

2018

87

80

83

A question in the Your View 
employee survey that measures 
colleague advocacy.

2020

2019

2018

94

92

93

A question from the Your View 
employee survey showing colleagues’ 
connection to the Barclays Values 
which underpin the desired culture.

Social and environmental financing

Operational carbon emissions
tonnes CO2 equiv.

LifeSkills – Number of people upskilled in the UK per year
million

Connect with Work – Number of people placed into work globally 

60.9

2020

83,071

34.8

28.5

Financing in 

select social and 

environmental 

segments aligned to 

Barclays sustainable 

impact framework.

113,363

2019

2018

Emissions generated 
from Barclays’ branches, 
o�ces and data centres, 
including all indirect 
emission from electricity 
consumption.

286,599

2020

2019

2018

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio

Operating expensesd,e
£bn

Cost: income ratiod
%

15.1

13.8

13.2

Group target:

CET1 ratio in the 

range of 13-14%.

13.7

13.6

13.9

2020

2019

2018

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Group operating expenses 
increased 1% to £13.7bn, 
including £0.4bn of structural
costs actions and additional 
COVID-19 related costs. 
Cost discipline and 
maximizing e�ciencies 
remain a priority.

2020

2019

2018

2.33

2.31

2.30

63

63

66

Number of people participating in 
the Barclays LifeSkills programme 
focused on employability skills.

49,700

2019: 66,600 

Number of people placed into 
work following training provided 
by Barclays Connect with Work 
partner organisations.

The Group targets a cost: 
income ratio below 60% 
over time.

Group return on tangible equity (RoTE)d
%

3.4

2020

2019

2018

RoTE excluding litigation and 
conduct was 3.4% due to lower 
pro�t before tax including 
materially higher credit impairment 
charges relating to the COVID-19 
pandemic and higher operating 
expenses, partially o�set 
by favourable income.

9.0

8.5

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Making a difference for our clients

When I called, 
they were ready

My business has always thrived on the power  
of relationships, and I had great expectations 
from 2020. 

I created CMe Media to help British brands with 
their advertising and campaign needs. Since then, 
we’ve grown steadily, winning new clients and 
business, and this year we were on course to pass 
the £2 million mark. 

Then COVID-19 hit, and suddenly everything I 
had worked so hard for was in danger of being 
wiped out. I knew I needed to act quickly to 
protect not only my team, but my growing family 
too. So, I picked up the phone to Ian Jarvis, my 
relationship manager at Barclays. Ian was already 
familiar with my business and my plans for 
long-term development, so when I called, he was 
ready. He helped me access a CBILS loan, to ease 
cashflow and support growth, and worked closely 
with me to create a solid development plan.

As a result, the business I created and the team 
that helps drive its success are protected during 
one of the most challenging times we have faced.

I know I need to be incredibly 
organised and to work smart 
– Barclays help me with that.

Charisse Smith 
Director, CME Media 
Fareham

024

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Divisional reviews
We are diversified by business, geography, and income type. Our businesses include 
consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, 
full service, global corporate and investment bank.

A diversified portfolio 
for resilient performance

Profit before tax (PBT) by businessa 
£bn

0.6

3.7

Barclays UK
Barclays International

BUK and BI PBT for 2019 were £2.6bn and 
£4.2bn respectively.

Risk weighted assets (RWAs) by business 
£bn

73.7

222.3

Barclays UK
Barclays International

BUK and BI RWAs for 2019 were £74.9bn and 
£209.2bn respectively.

Return on tangible equity (RoTE) by businessa
%

BUK

BI

3.4

7.2

BUK and BI RoTE for 2019 were 17.5% and 9.3% 
respectively.
Notes
a Excluding litigation and conduct.

Our structure
Barclays operates as two divisions, Barclays UK and Barclays 
International, supported by our service company, Barclays 
Execution Services.

Barclays UK

Barclays 
International

Global consumer banking and payments

UK Retail  
and Business 
Banking

Consumer, 
Cards and 
Payments

Corporate and  
Investment 
Bank

Barclays  
Execution  
Services

Barclays UK 
Barclays UK (BUK) consists of our UK Personal Banking, 
UK Business Banking and Barclaycard Consumer UK 
businesses. These businesses are carried on by our UK 
ring-fenced bank (Barclays Bank UK PLC) and certain other 
entities within the Group. 

UK Personal Banking offers retail solutions to help customers 
with their day-to-day banking needs. UK Business Banking 
serves business clients, from high growth start-ups to SMEs, 
with specialist advice for their business banking needs. 
Barclaycard Consumer UK is a leading credit card provider, 
offering flexible borrowing and payment solutions, while 
delivering a leading customer experience.

Barclays International
Barclays International (BI) consists of our Corporate and 
Investment Bank and Consumer, Cards and Payments 
businesses. These businesses are carried on by our non- 
ring-fenced bank (Barclays Bank PLC) and its subsidiaries, 
as well as by certain other entities within the Group.

With relentless focus on delivering for customers and 
clients around the world, Barclays International’s diversified 
business portfolio provides balance, resilience and exciting 
growth opportunities. The division has strong global market 
positions and continues to invest in people and technology 
in order to deliver sustainable improved returns. Barclays 
International offers customers and clients a range of 
products and services spanning consumer and 
wholesale banking.

Barclays Execution Services
Barclays Execution Services (BX) is the Group-wide service 
company providing technology, operations and functional 
services to businesses across the Group.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Barclays has a CEO, Consumer Banking and Payments, whose role is to oversee the execution 
of plans for the Group’s consumer banking and payments businesses in the UK and internationally.

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Divisional reviews: Barclays UK
Barclays UK consists of our UK Personal Banking, UK Business Banking and 
Barclaycard Consumer UK businesses. These businesses are carried on by 
our UK ring-fenced bank (Barclays Bank UK PLC) and certain other entities 
within the Group. 

Barclays UK

■■ UK Personal Banking offers retail solutions to help customers

with their day-to-day banking needs.

■■ UK Business Banking serves business clients, from high growth
start-ups to SMEs, with specialist advice for their business 
banking needs.

■■ Barclaycard Consumer UK is a leading credit card provider,
offering flexible borrowing and payment solutions, while 
delivering a leading customer experience.

026

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Measuring success

Income

 £6.3bn

2019: £7.4bn

Operating expensesa

 £4.3bn

2019: £4.0bn

Profit before taxa

£0.6bn

2019: £2.6bn

Return on tangible equitya

3.4%2019: 17.5%

Barclays UK complaints excl. PPI

-32%2019: -6%

Barclays UK NPS

 +152019: +18

Note
a Excluding litigation and conduct.

Strategic priorities
The UK’s retail banking environment is rapidly 
transforming and we remain focused on being at the 
forefront of that transformation. We want to provide 
customers with banking services in new and innovative 
ways, embracing technology as a means of making 
things simpler, more transparent and more secure. 
Barclays UK will continue to support customers and 
businesses, acting with empathy and integrity to build 
a sustainable bank. 

At the same time, we know banking cannot be 
something only a narrow section of society is able to 
use. There must be a sustainable means for everyone 
– including vulnerable customers who may need 
additional protection or want to access banking 
products in a different kind of way.

We are focused on the following areas:

1.

2.

3.

 Providing exceptional service and insights to 
customers: we want to provide simple, relevant and 
prompt services and propositions for our customers 
so they have greater choice and access to money 
management capabilities. Using insights, we want 
to help customers better manage their finances 
and make informed financial decisions. 

 Driving technology and digital innovation: 
we continue to invest in our digital capabilities, 
upgrading our systems, moving to cloud technology 
and implementing rapid automation of manual 
processes. This allows us to deliver a more 
personalised digital experience, reduce cost 
and create additional capacity to support more 
of our customers. 

 Continuing to grow our business: by pursuing 
partnership opportunities to build and deliver better 
propositions and services for our customers. We will 
fully utilise the Barclays platform to open up new 
income stream opportunities and provide greater 
services to more customers.

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Barclays UK continued

Year in review
2020 was a highly varied and challenging year for 
Barclays UK, which required immediate and balanced 
actions to support millions of our customers and clients 
impacted by the pandemic.

We endured severe economic shock, while incurring 
additional costs, driven by our response to the 
pandemic. We waived fees and charges and interest 
payments and we worked with UK regulators and 
Government to provide ongoing support for our 
customers and clients. 

Despite a turbulent year, Barclays UK continued 
to deliver against our strategic priorities. 
■■ Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we played 
a key role in the facilitation and delivery of the
UK Government’s business support schemes, 
designing and executing a digital application system 
within days, overcoming significant operational
challenges. Over the course of the period to
8 January 2021, we lent £10.1bn to British businesses
under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) and
£1.2bn under the Coronavirus Business Interruption 
Loan Scheme (CBILS). This is the equivalent of four
years of traditional lending volumes, condensed into 
less than 12 months. This represents a significant
number of new customers to Barclays through
the Government schemes, providing us with an 
opportunity to establish long-lasting relationships 
for the future.

■■ We took significant steps to relieve financial 

pressure for our customers, acting quickly and 
effectively at a time of maximum need. Over the 
course of the year, we waived £100m of fees and 
interest charges and granted hundreds of 
thousands of payment holidays. Over 650 of our 
branches (80% of the total estate) remained open 
throughout the pandemic and over 250 staff 
received additional training to answer calls from 
customers experiencing financial difficulty.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

■■  Despite facing significant challenges this year and 

enduring a severe economic shock, we continued to 
meet more of our customers’ needs by simplifying 
our credit and debit card offerings. We eliminated 
certain fees and charges to better reflect how our 
customers interact with us and we made changes to 
our overdrafts fees and charges to protect our most 
vulnerable customers. We also continued to deliver 
digital innovation with 67% of our products provided 
to customers through digital channels. Currently, 
70% of our products are available via a fully digital 
solution or self-service enabled.

■■ Complaints across Barclays UK in 2020 were 

significantly lower than in 2019, decreasing 32%. 
This was, in part, a consequence of the pandemic 
and lower business volumes but also thanks to great 
strides we have made in reducing complaint volume 
year on year. In Q1 2020, prior to the outbreak of 
the pandemic, we saw lower year on year complaint 
volumes, driven by robust management actions. 
NPS for Barclays UK and Barclaycard has remained 
relatively stable at +15 and +8 respectively. NPS 
scores across the market have softened as 
customers continue to feel the financial pressure of 
the pandemic and ongoing movement restrictions.   
While the market remains challenging, Barclays UK 
has continued to deliver support and assistance 
to customers.

■■ We made significant improvements to our 

Barclays apps, which have over 9.2m active users. 
We introduced Dream Accelerator to help customers 
looking to buy their first home, enabling them 
to access tools to help them in the home buying 
preparation process. Our customers can now also 
view itemised digital receipts directly from the 
Barclays app when they shop at participating retailers,
removing the need to carry paper receipts and
helping customers better manage their spending.

■■ We launched Plan & Invest, a new digital 

investment service that provides customers with 
the confidence and support to invest for the future.  
Plan & Invest creates a personalised investment 
plan, tailored to our customers’ goals, with 
dedicated support at every step. Customers 

can stay updated over the phone and in an online 
hub, and see how well their investments are tracking 
against their financial goals.

■■ While managing a long-term low interest rate 
environment, we have driven strong Mortgage 
application volumes this year, and maintained 
competitive service levels for our customers. 
Despite the pandemic, we have continued to 
support customers with their home buying needs 
and have seen a strong performance in Mortgage 
completions, particularly through the second half 
of the year.

■■ We continued to build strategic partnerships, 
including launching a new collaboration with 
Nextdoor, a fast-growing social network service, 
to help thousands of local businesses secure 
new customers by arranging free advertising 
on the platform.

■■ We accelerated our green agenda by leveraging 

environmentally friendly material for our debit cards, 
reducing paper statements sent to our customers, 
and expanding our plastic reduction programme. 
We also supported ‘green’ agricultural lending across 
SMEs and will continue to explore opportunities to 
go further. Through our Barclays Partner Finance 
business, we plan to expand the distribution of 
Green Finance across a range of home improvement 
assets that aid in reducing energy consumption. 

Looking ahead
Customer expectations continue to evolve, with 
more interactions moving to digital or via a virtual 
channel (call, video or web chat) and more customers 
seeking expert guidance for their specific financial 
circumstances. We also continue to see a reduction 
in the use of our branch infrastructure and a significant 
shift away from cash usage towards contactless 
payments. Where appropriate, we will continue 
reshaping our footprint to better support the 
customers we serve in ways they want to be serviced.

Barclays UK is working to build a better bank for 
customers, a more efficient bank that is safe, intuitive 
and that will support customers and businesses 
responsibly and sustainably. Our focus is on customers 

Money Mentors – a free and 
impartial mentoring service

Customers can now book a free session with 
one of our 300 Money Mentors, asking questions 
playing on their minds without fear of judgement. 
The service responds to millennial customers who 
told us they wanted a more open forum to talk 
through their financial concerns and goals. We had 
over 2,000 conversations in 2020, with over 80% 
of customers saying they will do something 
different with their finances as a result.

For the full story go online at 
barclays.co.uk/money-mentors/

and clients and putting them at the heart of the 
decisions we make about running our business 
and shaping it for the future.

We are reinventing our service model for customers 
to create a more efficient, more resilient and seamless 
service, which will include the expansion of our Wealth 
Management proposition. We are building partnerships 
in the open market and working across the whole of 
Barclays to deliver additional value for our customers 
and businesses through our size and scale. 

We will continue to invest in digital platforms, remove 
unnecessary processes and costs and make it 
seamless for customers to self-serve. We will continue 
to invest in digitalisation and automation to be more 
efficient, reduce costs and to create additional capacity 
for colleagues to support customers.

In recent years we have invested in cloud technology 
and begun to build our digital bank capabilities, 
removing reliance on a heritage core. This investment 
will continue and will provide a strong digital customer 
platform that stands out from our competitors.

For more information  
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Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank is comprised primarily of the Banking, 
Corporate Banking and Markets businesses, aiding money managers, financial 
institutions, governments, supranational organisations and corporate clients 
to manage their funding, financing, strategic and risk management needs. 

Barclays International: 
Corporate and  
Investment Bank

■■ Banking provides clients with strategic advice on mergers
and acquisitions (M&A), corporate finance and financial 
risk management solutions, as well as equity and debt 
fundraising services.

■■ Corporate Banking provides GBP and EUR working capital,
transaction banking including trade and payments, and 
lending for multinational corporates and institutions and 
for large and medium-sized corporate clients in the UK.
■■ Our Markets business provides a broad range of clients 
with market insight, execution services and tailored risk 
management and financing solutions across equities, 
credit, rates and foreign exchange products.

028

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Measuring success

Income

 £12.5bn

2019: £10.2bn

Operating expensesa

 £6.9bn

2019: £7.0bn

Profit before taxa

 £4.0bn

2019: £3.1bn

Return on tangible equitya

9.5%2019: 8.0%

Banking global fee ranking

 7thFY 2020 Dealogic rankingb

Global markets revenue rank 

 6thLargest non-US bank

FY 2020 Coalition Greenwich 
rankingc

Strategic priorities
Barclays is a European headquartered investment bank 
competing at scale in the US and providing universal 
banking services around the world. At a time of 
heightened stress for many corporates, governments 
and institutions, we maintain our client-centric focus 
and our commitment to a full capability offering in our 
Corporate and Investment Bank.

We are focused on the following areas:

1.

2.

3.

 Adapting to the evolving needs of our clients: 
We continue to invest in technology that makes it 
easier for our clients to do business with us. That 
includes the development of our electronic offering 
in Markets and the build out of our full service 
Corporate Banking digital proposition.

 Running an efficient and effective business: 
Our focus is on achieving better operational 
performance and driving improvements in market 
share. At the same time, we want to maintain cost 
discipline and drive more productive use of capital 
by recycling risk weighted assets to the highest 
returning opportunities.

 Improving returns by investing in and growing our 
capital markets and capital efficient businesses: 
The capital markets are an increasingly important 
source of financing and growth for the global 
economy. In order to ensure we remain globally 
relevant, we want to invest to grow our share of 
global debt and equity underwriting. At the same 
time, we remain focused on growing capital-light 
parts of our business, including Transaction Banking 
and fee-led advisory work in Banking. We are also 
developing other higher-returning businesses 
where we see opportunities, including in securitised 
products and our prime financing business.

Notes
a Excluding litigation and conduct.
b  Dealogic for the period covering 1 January to 31 December 2020.
c  Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor Analysis. Market 

share represents Barclays share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. 
Analysis is based on Barclays internal business structure and internal 
revenues.

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Barclays International: Corporate and Investment Bank continued

In Corporate Banking, we will look to continue the 
investment in our digital proposition and in our 
European offering, a critical enabler for Barclays’ 
ambitions across the continent. We will also focus 
on steadily improving our credit portfolio returns by 
reallocating risk weighted assets to higher-returning 
opportunities as well as making selective investments 
in expanding the footprint of our US Corporate 
Banking offering.

Markets will continue to focus on growing balances, 
driving client-centricity and building a large and stable 
income base. We will keep investing in low-touch 
electronic execution platforms, to drive efficiency 
and scale, and will also seek to utilise the strength 
of our integrated financing platform to drive growth 
in client balances.

For more information  
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Year in review
■■ In Banking, we helped some of the world’s largest 
governments, corporations and public institutions 
issue debt in order to help them manage the strain 
that the COVID-19 pandemic placed on their 
operating environments. In total, we helped our 
corporate clients raise c.£1.6trn and governments, 
government-related clients and supranationals raise 
c.£430bn in 2020. While our Banking global fee 
rankingb fell to 7th in 2020 from 6th in 2019, largely 
attributable to a decline in activity in the sectors 
where we have relative strength, our revenue growth 
of 8% is testament to a resilient performance in a 
challenging year.

■■ Our Corporate business played a key role in 

supporting the UK economy through the COVID-19 
pandemic, helping clients to raise funding in excess 
of £15bn under the UK Government lending
schemes including the Coronavirus Large Business 
Interruption Scheme and the Covid Corporate
Financing Facility. In the UK, Corporate Banking 
deposits grew by 22% during the year, and we had 
over 600 net new client wins, illustrating the extent 
to which our corporate clients trusted us during a
time of uncertainty.

■■ Our Markets business acted as a market-maker and 
liquidity provider to institutions across the globe, 
playing a pivotal role in allowing them to manage risk 
during a time of unprecedented disruption. Despite 
a challenging environment, we were able to gain 
sharec to 4.9% (2019: 4.3%), maintaining our global 
revenue rankingc at 6th – the largest non-US bank. 
In line with our strategy, we have made significant 
progress in our multi-year effort to provide our 
clients with market-leading electronic capabilities. 

■■ We continued to invest in enhancing our digital 
proposition, including our electronic trading 
capabilities and our digital self-service platform. 
Our BARX (cross-asset electronic trading) and 
options platforms continue to benefit from 
sustained multi-year investment. The user base 
of iPortal, our digital self-service platform, grew in 
2020, and we are seeing a continued reduction in 
cost to serve through digital adoption. In order to 
ensure a seamless experience, we have invested 
in resilience, with client-impacting technology 
incidents down 14% compared to last year.

The World Bank – sustainable
financing to help combat 
COVID-19

As the pandemic spread, the World Bank wanted 
to raise funds to support its member countries. 
Barclays participated as a joint lead manager 
on a record-breaking US$8bn Sustainable 
Development Bond, a transaction that was 
part of the World Bank’s issuance programme to 
support the financing of sustainable development 
projects and programmes. At a critical moment, 
when cautious investors were looking for signs 
of confidence in an uncertain market, we were 
proud to be able to support the World Bank and 
its members as they work to prevent, detect 
and roll out vaccination programmes, as well 
as to strengthen health systems, and sustain 
economies for the long term. 

■■ We continued to broaden our digital footprint 
business across Europe, with our Transaction 
Banking offering now digitally live across nine key 
EU countries, without the overheads of a branch 
network. Despite the challenging environment, 
we on-boarded over 640 new clients and attracted 
over £2bn of new deposits in the year.

■■ We also continued to enjoy a strong partnership with 
our colleagues in BX, including in our Transaction
Banking business, which had significant demand
placed on its technology infrastructure during the 
early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 
rapid deployment of the UK Government schemes
and the distribution of support via Local Authorities. 
We remain committed to growing capital-light
businesses across our expanded geographic
presence and through investment in our
digitalised offering.

Looking ahead
Across our Corporate and Investment Bank, we 
will remain focused on maintaining our client-centric 
approach and, in doing so, developing opportunities 
to grow our business and increase returns. We will 
continue to focus on growth in high-returning, capital 
efficient parts of our business and to sustain our focus 
on cost discipline and operational rigour.

We will look to make further, selective investments 
for the long term, establishing ourselves as the leading 
European Corporate and Investment Bank, competing 
on an even footing with our US peers and operating at 
the most efficient scale possible.

Banking will continue to invest in select sectors, 
particularly Health Care and Technology, in the US 
and Europe to improve revenue contribution from our 
equity and advisory offerings and help us narrow the 
gap to our US peers. We will continue to build our 
Sustainable and Impact Investment Banking team, 
ensuring that we accelerate our efforts to support 
growth stage companies as well as our broader 
client base on implementing ESG.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Divisional reviews: Barclays International
Consumer, Cards and Payments is comprised of our US Consumer Bank, 
Barclays Payments, Barclaycard Germany and our Private Bank. 

Barclays International: 
Consumer, Cards  
and Payments

■■

■■ Barclays Payments enables businesses of all sizes to make
and receive payments and we continue to be a leader in 
payment processing and commercial payments.a 
In the US, we have a partnership-focused business model,
offering credit cards to consumers through our partners, 
such as American Airlines and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, 
as well as online retail savings products. 

■■ We also offer multiple consumer products in Germany,

including credit cards, online loans, instalment purchase-
financing, electronic Point of Sale (ePOS) financing 
and deposits.

■■ Our Private Bank offers banking, credit and investment

capabilities to meet the needs of our clients across the UK, 
Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia.

Measuring success

Income

 £3.4bn

2019: £4.4bn

Operating expensesb

 £2.1bn

2019: £2.3bn

(Loss)/profit before taxb

 £(0.3)bn

2019: £1.2bn

Return on tangible equityb

(6.7)%

2019: 15.9%

Net Promoter Score

+352019: +33

CC&P US customer digital 
engagement 

71.4%2019: 71.0%

Notes
a  Nilson Report #1175. 
b  Excluding litigation and conduct. 

Strategic priorities
Leveraging the combined strength of our Consumer, 
Cards and Payments businesses, we continue to serve 
and strive to deliver best-in-class consumer finance, 
private banking and payment solutions to our 
customers and clients.

We are focused on the following areas:

1. 

2. 

 Responding to changing consumer behaviour: 
We continue to invest heavily in the digitalisation 
of our businesses, delivering new products and 
capabilities to reflect the growing trends within 
our Consumer, Cards and Payments businesses. 
This includes investing in a new platform-based 
business model to build digital connections 
between our customers and our corporates and 
small businesses, creating a new multiway value 
exchange ecosystem with Barclays at the centre.

 Building a more efficient and seamless business: 
We are accelerating our automation agenda to 
drive operational efficiency and create seamless 
digital journeys to enhance the customer 
experience. For example, we launched our first 
fully digital application for our commercial payments 
cardholders who can now view their accounts 
through the Barclays app, as well as our new 
mobile app for corporate card customers.

3. 

 Winning new partnerships: We are focused on 
delivering across all our markets through broadening 
our product penetration with our existing partners 
and pursuing new partnerships, particularly in the 
US, as well as building capabilities to offer new 
financing solutions in markets such as Germany. 

030

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Barclays International: Consumer, Cards and Payments continued

Year in review
■■ We forged new partnerships across all our 

businesses, notably in the US, where we signed a 
multi-year partnership agreement with Emirates, 
the world’s largest international airline, as well as 
successfully renewed partnerships with key clients 
across our US Consumer Bank and, as such, 
maintained our position as a top 10 credit card 
issuer in the USa. Additionally, we signed a multi-
year agreement for a card programme relationship 
with AARP, the largest non-profit, non-partisan 
organisation in the US dedicated to empowering 
people aged 50 and older to choose how they live 
as they age.

■■ We launched a streamlined credit card process on 
Frontier Airline’s native mobile app, simplifying the 
application process for customers within Frontier’s 
booking journey. For us, it creates an exciting new 
capability for existing and future partners. As part 
of our push to broaden our product set, we also 
launched our card-based Equal Payment Plan 
proposition, which helps customers finance 
purchases with our partners.

■■ The investments we have made in digital servicing 
have allowed us to reach a digital active user rate 
of 71.4% and enabled strong delivery of customer 
supporting programmes, including payment relief 
and merchant disputes. The NPS for the US 
Consumer Bank in 2020 was +35, demonstrating 
an increase on our 2019 scoreb.

■■ Our Payments business maintained its position as 
one of the largest payment processors in Europec, 
and secured significant new client relationships, 
and retained others, including BT/EE and The Range. 
We also launched the first phase of our Smartpay 
Fuse gateway solution – an intermediary merchant 
service that provides omnichannel transaction 
processing services – through our relationship with 
CyberSource, a Visa solution. This complements our 
existing suite of gateway solutions and enables us to 
bring best-in-class commerce products to more 
clients in the UK and Europe. 

■■ In Germany, we continue to be a leading lender in 
credit cardsd as well as providing loans. This year, 
we established a new partnership with leading 
ecommerce provider, Amazon, to offer their 
customers instalment lending at the point of 
purchase – a product that has seen increased 
popularity in the market. 

■■ Our Private Bank continues to strive to become a 

leading investments house for Ultra High Net-Worth 
(UHNW) and High Net-Worth (HNW) customers and 
Family Offices, offering more complex solutions in 
collaboration with our Corporate and Investment 
Bank. By leveraging the global reach of our universal 
banking model to seamlessly deliver capabilities, 
we have won numerous notable client mandates. 
We have seen significant inflows into our 
discretionary investment offering as we deliver 
continued outperformance, as highlighted by 
our Multi-Asset Portfolio award at the 2020 
Wealth Manager Investment Performance 
Awards in association with Asset Risk Consultants. 
Additionally, our sustainable solutions won ‘Best 
ESG Investment Fund: Multi Asset’ at the ESG 
Investing Awards 2020, aligning to our wider 
sustainability ambitions.

Looking ahead
Across our Consumer, Cards and Payments businesses, 
we will look to accelerate our strategy to invest in and 
build world-class technology and digital capabilities. 
This includes our focus on building out a new platform-
based business model, to be launched later this year, to 
offer differentiated products and services in partnership 
with our clients, to Barclays’ customers.

In the US, as we continue to pursue a partnership-
centric business model, we are extending our product 
set to deliver incremental value to our existing partners 
and win new partners across a broader range of sectors. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an 
increase in the number of customer complaints in the 
US Consumer Bank, however we have largely identified 
the root causes and have plans in place to address 
these going forward. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

BT Group – payments services 
that enhance the customer 
experience

In 2020, we were proud to be selected as the 
primary strategic payments processing partner 
for the whole of BT Group, meeting their 
ambition to consolidate their acquiring needs 
into a single, best-in-class supplier. 

This follows a long-standing relationship with BT 
that has provided first-class payments services 
to their sizeable EE business for over a decade, 
and we are now exploring exciting new 
opportunities for additional value added services 
such as card-linked loyalty and partner offers.

We will drive further scale in our Payments business 
through best-in-class digital capabilities, expanding 
and diversifying our customers and partnerships, and 
unlocking further opportunity in Europe. We will remain 
closely aligned with the Corporate Bank and Business 
Banking in Barclays UK to maximise value for clients and 
leverage our proprietary digitally integrated merchant 
platforms to deepen penetration.

Through more seamless client journeys for our 
Private Banking clients, we will aim to drive operational 
efficiency and develop our existing platforms as part 
of our digitalisation agenda. We will continue to 
enhance our offering for UHNW and HNW customers, 
particularly across Credit and Alternatives solutions, 
and increasingly focus on our sustainable 
investment offerings. 

In Germany, we will seek to continue to expand our 
Business-to-Business-to-Consumer business and 
pursue instalment-lending partnerships with other 
retail merchants.

Notes
a  Nilson Report #1183 
b  NICE Satmetrix Survey 
c  Nilson Report #1175
d  Deutsche Bundesbank, Advanzia Bank S.A, plus own calculations

For more information  
go online at home.barclays

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Making a difference for our customers 
and clients

Supporting black talent 
makes a better business

I’ve worked at Barclays in New York for two 
and a half years after I transferred from London. 
It has been an incredible journey and coming 
to America has provided a very different 
perspective on issues such as 
#blacklivesmatter.

My day job is as a relationship manager, 
but my passion role is co-chair of our Black 
Professionals Forum, which is part of Embrace, 
Barclays international network dedicated to 
championing our multicultural workforce.

It’s important to support Black talent in the 
financial service industry – and not just within 
Barclays. We’ve created an action plan for 
colleagues to open up new opportunities to 
attract, develop and add to our Black talent. 
It will also help break down the unconscious 
bias deeply ingrained in all of us.

We are now expanding our plan to other 
ethnically diverse colleagues. We are also going 
to enhance our long-standing support for 
citizenship programmes that are dedicated to 
tackling racial inequalities in communities.

We are working with 
colleagues, customers, 
clients and communities 
to attract, develop and add 
to our Black talent.

Toks Sotande-Peters 
Relationship Director,  
International Corporate Banking 
New York City

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Our people and culture
The strength and success of Barclays is in our people. We want to 
support their health and wellbeing, enable them to build their career 
and empower and motivate them to be able to provide excellent service.

Supporting  
our colleagues

Events over the last 12 months have affected all our lives, 
and the disruption has been significant. Nevertheless, 
we have continued to invest in our colleagues in order 
to strengthen our business and protect our culture. 
Our people have shown extraordinary adaptability and 
resilience, and thanks to them so has Barclays.

As ever, our approach to our people is informed by the latest 
thinking in behavioural and data science, and by our capacity 
to track effectiveness and progress over time.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Measuring success

Colleague engagement

83%2019: 77%

Females at Managing Director 
and Director level

26%2019: 25%

“I would recommend Barclays 
as a good place to work”

87%2019: 80%

“I believe that my team and I do 
a good job of role modelling the 
Values every day” 

94%2019: 92%

Adapting to challenge
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, colleagues 
around the world have been working incredibly hard 
to continue to support our customers and clients. 
Many were designated as frontline or critical workers 
in the countries in which they work. 70,000 colleagues 
moved to remote working. At all times, we have worked 
tirelessly to prioritise each other’s safety and wellbeing, 
as well as to taking all necessary steps to slow the 
spread of the virus.

We put in place a set of global principles to ensure we 
were doing as much as possible to support our people. 
This included instigation of new working patterns and 
technology. We also helped colleagues cope with 
some of the personal challenges the pandemic created, 
including offering paid leave to support self-quarantine, 
sickness or care for dependants, financial help with 
childcare and advice made available to help protect 
physical and mental health. Through our colleague 
surveys, we have also regularly checked in with our 
people to better understand the impact that working 
through the pandemic has had.

Barclays continues to believe that people working 
together in the same physical location reinforces our 
culture and helps with collaboration and inspiration. 
Where possible, and in line with local government 
guidance, we have instigated gradual returns to the 
office in certain parts of the business and in certain 
parts of the world. In time, with the safety and wellbeing 
of colleagues as our first priority, we envisage more 
people will return to on-site working. In advance of 
this we have already put in place additional measures 
to ensure we are COVID-secure, including risk 
assessments at our sites and Return to Office Crews 
to support social distancing and minimise risks.

Over the last 12 months, we have learnt an enormous 
amount about the benefits and challenges of working 
more flexibly. Ultimately, we believe this will inform our 
ambitions for future ways of working.

Hiring the best people
We continue to focus on hiring people with skills that 
help us accelerate our digital transformation, as well as 
the fast-changing needs of our customers and clients. 

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Our people and culture continued

We are investing in our key sites, including our global 
campuses, strategically placed in both urban and rural 
areas. At the heart of our hiring strategy is our ability 
to match locations to the local talent pool in that area. 
This includes reaching out to local communities and 
upskilling local students. We are acting swiftly to adapt 
to changes in hiring demands and volumes because 
of COVID-19, particularly in customer-facing areas 
where it is now, more than ever, key that we are 
providing support.

We retain an emphasis on hiring from within. In 2020, 
we filled around 36% of role vacancies internally and 
added a further 961 graduates to our internal pipeline 
of future leaders. This was one of our most gender 
diverse class of graduates ever, with almost 40% 
female. COVID-19 has meant moving all candidates to 
a virtual experience, including for over 2,500 graduates, 
interns and apprentices. To ensure individuals feel 
supported and connected to the business, we 
have appointed talent coaches and created extra 
opportunities for virtual networking and collaboration 

so that social connections are formed. We also 
continue to invest in our flagship career development 
programmes, including our AFTER programme to 
support those who have been in the armed forces.

People with different perspectives and life experiences 
make our organisation stronger. We are committed to 
attracting, developing and retaining a workforce that 
is as diverse and inclusive as possible. We are an equal 
opportunities employer and our policies require us to 
give full and fair consideration to all populations based 
on their competencies, strengths and potential. As ever, 
we are increasingly relying on data and analytics so we 
can understand how to improve our hiring process.

We also know the importance of measuring our 
progress. In particular, we have set ourselves a number 
of targets to ensure we are creating a more gender 
diverse workforce. Our ambition is to achieve 28% 
female Managing Directors and Directors by the end 
of 2021. Currently 26% of our Managing Directors and 
Directors are female, and 29% of our UK Managing 
Directors and Directors are female.

 “Over the last 12 months, 

we have learnt an enormous 
amount about the benefits 
and challenges of working 
more flexibly. Ultimately, 
we believe this will inform 
our ambitions for future ways 
of working.

034

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Developing talent for the future
In response to the pandemic, all development content 
went virtual in 2020, and we invested a total of £23m 
in training. We launched e-learning programmes to 
help people working from home during the COVID-19 
pandemic, as well as online training to provide 
information to help keep everyone safe. Through our 
regular Here to Listen surveys, we have listened carefully 
to what colleagues have told us about the realities of 
working remotely, and tailored our training and support 
materials accordingly.

A wide range of development opportunities are available 
to help colleagues build their careers, delivered through 
our digital learning platform, Learning Lab, which makes 
development more available than ever. We also continue 
to operate our two flagship leadership development 
programmes: our Enterprise Leaders Programme; and 
our Strategic Leaders Programme, driven by our belief 
that quality leadership makes a difference to our 
success. We track the progression of people that 
have participated in these programmes to see how 
effective they are.

We have invested in the tools, programmes and 
technology needed to enable colleagues to work 
smarter, collaborate more easily and so that we can 
unlock the power of the connections between our 
people. In our latest Your View survey, 77% of colleagues 
told us they have the work tools and resources needed 
to achieve excellent performance, up 21 percentage 
points on last year. We also want to help colleagues 
balance their work life with their personal commitments, 
supporting career development opportunities at each 
life stage. We offer enhanced maternity, paternity, 
adoption and shared parental entitlements in all our 
major jurisdictions.

We remain committed to closing pay gaps at Barclays. 
Our UK pay gaps for 2020 are disclosed at  
home.barclays/diversity 

Female colleagues

Females at Managing Director and Director level
%

28% target by 2021

2020

2019

26

25

Females on Board of Directorsa
%

33% target by 2020

2020

2019

25

33

Females on Group ExCo and ExCo  
direct reports
%

33% target by 2020

2020

2019

29

26

Females in Barclays
%

Female
Male

46

2020

54

Note
a  With the appointment of Julia Wilson (effective 1 April 2021) and 
Sir Ian Cheshire stepping down from the Board at the conclusion 
of the 2021 AGM, the percentage of females on the BPLC Board 
of Directors will increase to 33%. You can read more about gender 
diversity on the Board in the report of the Board Nominations 
Committee on page 82 of Part 2 of the Report. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Our people and culture continued

Highlights

Graduate hires

961

Average training hours per annum 
per employee (payroll)

13

Voluntary employee turnover

6%

Employee turnover

9%

Note
Under the Companies Act 2006, Barclays is required to report on 
the gender breakdown of our employees, ‘senior managers’, and the 
Board of Barclays PLC’s Directors. The Group’s global workforce was 
89,015 (48,447 male, 40,563 female, 5 unavailable), with 495 senior 
managers (388 male, 107 female), and the Board of Barclays PLC 
had 12 directors (9 male, 3 female) as at 31 December 2020. This 
is on a headcount basis, including colleagues on long term leave. 
Unavailable refers to colleagues who do not record their gender 
in our systems. ‘Senior managers’ includes Barclays PLC Group 
Executive Committee members, their direct reports and directors 
on the boards of undertakings of the Group, but excludes Directors 
on the Board of Barclays PLC. Where such persons hold multiple 
directorships across the Group they are only counted once. 
The definition of ‘senior managers’ within this disclosure has 
a narrower scope than the Managing Director and Director 
female representation data provided above.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Creating an inclusive and supportive culture
Creating an inclusive and supportive culture is not only 
the right thing to do, but also best for our business. 
It creates a sense of belonging and value and enables 
colleagues to perform at their best. We focus on five 
areas: disability, gender, LGBT+, multicultural, and 
multigenerational. Each area is embedded in the 
business through colleague networks to provide support 
and advice, create development opportunities and raise 
awareness of issues and challenges. Membership of our 
colleague diversity networks is at an all-time high, with 
over 23,000 colleagues now involved in one or more of 
our diversity networks. This also influences our people 
policies, teaching us how we need to adapt to give our 
people the support they need to succeed. 

In 2020, we increased our focus on embedding a culture 
of inclusion and encouraged colleagues to become 
allies in the workplace. Through a new toolkit we 
supported them to take conscious, positive steps to 
make everyone feel that they belong, and develop 
empathy towards another group’s challenges or issues. 
In our Your View survey, 84% of colleagues told us they 
believe we are all in this together at Barclays, while 82% 
say they believe leaders are committed to building a 
diverse workforce. 

We also closely track the ever-changing composition 
of our people through online dashboards, to make sure 
that our senior leaders understand the diverse makeup 
and needs of the organisation they lead. In 2020, we 
launched our Inclusion Index, which is one way we have 
been able to measure how included our colleagues feel. 
It has enabled us to use data to assess the impact of 
our initiatives and lay a benchmark for monitoring 
progress year on year. Our overall Inclusion Index score 
for 2020 is 76%, while 89% of colleagues say they feel 
included in their team.

Events last year rightly prompted organisations like ours 
to appraise what we have been doing to aid the fight 
against racism, and to ask ourselves whether we can 
do more. Over recent months, Barclays has worked 
extensively with its Black colleague forums in both the 
UK and the US to produce a Race at Work Action Plan. 
The plan comprises a thorough set of actions that will 
open up new opportunities to attract, develop, and 
add to our great Black talent, using data to measure 
success. From 2021, we will expand our plan to include 
all ethnically diverse groups as well as actions to 
enhance our long-standing support for citizenship 
programmes dedicated to tackling racial inequalities 
in communities, as well as support of this agenda for 
customers and clients.

We want to become one of the most accessible and 
inclusive FTSE companies for all our customers, clients 
and colleagues. We require managers to give full and fair 
consideration to those with a disability on the basis of 
strengths, potential and ability, both when hiring and 
managing. We also ensure opportunities for training, 
career development and promotion are available to all. 
As part of the UK Government Disability Confident 
scheme, we encourage applications from people with 
a disability, or a physical or mental health condition. In 
response to feedback at the end of 2019, we undertook 
a review of workplace adjustment processes in order to 
improve our colleagues’ experience.

Through our BeWell programme, we continue to 
provide expert advice and guidance on the practical 
steps colleagues can take to look after their physical 
and mental health. In 2020, our Mental Health 
Awareness e-learning became mandatory, and we 
regularly check in with managers to ensure they are 
supporting colleagues’ wellbeing. We were also one of 
the first businesses to sign up to the Mental Health at 
Work Commitment. In our Your View survey, 83% of 
colleagues told us that Barclays supports their efforts 
to enhance their wellbeing.

You can find more information in our Diversity and 
Inclusion report available at  
home.barclays/annualreport

Employee statistics

Number of employees split by region 
000s

3.3

2020

2019

47.7

10.2

21.8

47.8

9.8

20.4

2.8

UK

Europe

Americas

Asia Paci�c

Number of employees split by grade 
%

2020

8

2019

7

39

39

Senior (Managing Director and Director) 
Middle (Assistant Vice President and Vice President)
Junior (Business Analyst grades)

Split by full time/part time
%

Total
83.0

Total
80.8

53

54

90

10

2020

Full time
Part time

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Our people and culture continued

COVID-19 support

Supporting our colleagues
£m

Full pay for colleagues 
unable to work
Childcare support 
and overtime 
IT kit, infrastructure 
and home o�ce 
equipment
Grocery vouchers and 
meal provision for 
critical workers
Additional �nancial and 
outplacement support

2m

14m

20m

32m

£119m

in support for 
colleagues

51m

We spent £119m in 2020 to support our 
colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic 

Note
Costs have been taken from multiple sources across our locations. 
Some of these costs are estimated, and some are reliant on 
employee self-reporting. The overtime costs include all overtime 
paid above the normal hourly rate.

A continuous conversation with colleagues 
We think colleague engagement should be a two-way 
exercise, with equal weight placed on listening to our 
people as it is on keeping them informed. We want to 
be able to consider our colleagues’ perspective when 
we make decisions, including at the most senior level.

Our regular Here to Listen and Your View surveys are a 
key part of how we track engagement. In 2020, in part in 
response to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
we improved the effectiveness and regularity of how 
we do this. 

We saw a 5 percentage point increase in the response 
rate to our annual Your View employee engagement 
survey with 67% of colleagues responding. The results 
showed an increase in our engagement levels, up 
6 percentage points, to 83%, and an increase of 
7 percentage points, to 87%, of colleagues saying they 
would recommend Barclays as a good place to work. We 
were also very pleased to see that our colleagues have 
continued their focus on customer and client feedback, 
with 81% responding favourably to this question. In 
addition, 94% of respondents said they believe they 
and their teams do a good job of role modelling the 
Values every day, an increase of 2 percentage points.

Overall, we are encouraged by our ability to work 
remotely in many more roles than we had previously 
thought possible. Our colleagues told us that they 
enjoyed having more flexibility in their lives, with 78% 
saying they have been able to balance personal and 
work demands, and 76% saying there is effective 
collaboration between teams.

With that said, we recognise there are also areas where 
we need to do more. We saw a 1 percentage point drop 
to 78% this year in the number of colleagues who feel 
it is safe to speak up, while colleague feedback also 
indicates we have room to make our internal processes 
more user friendly, with only 65% of colleagues saying 
work processes make it easy for employees to 
be productive.

 “Creating an inclusive and 

supportive culture is not only 
the right thing to do, but also 
best for our business. It 
creates a sense of belonging 
and value and enables 
colleagues to perform 
at their best.

036

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Our people and culture continued

We make sure we are keeping everyone up to date 
on the strategy, performance and progress of the 
organisation through a strategic, multichannel 
approach. This combines leader-led engagement, 
digital and print communication, blogs, vlogs and 
podcasts. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
this year we also provided additional regular updates 
to colleagues to provide practical advice and support, 
including via a dedicated COVID-19 intranet page.

We also engage with our people collectively through a 
strong and effective partnership with Unite, as well as 
the Barclays Group European Forum, which represents 
all colleagues within the European Union, and other 
colleague forums. In 2020 we worked together closely 
with the specific goal of ensuring the safety and 
wellbeing of our colleagues throughout the COVID-19 
pandemic. Unite strongly supported the transition of 
many colleagues to homeworking, as well as the 
introduction of measures to protect colleagues working 
in our branches and offices. As we progress to return 
more colleagues to work, our union partners remain 
centrally involved. 

We regularly brief our union partners on the strategy 
and progress of the business, seeking their input on 
ways in which we can improve the colleague experience 
of working for Barclays. The collective bargaining 
coverage of Unite in the UK represents around 84% 
of our UK workforce and 50% of our global workforce. 
We consult in detail with colleague representatives 
on major change programmes affecting our people. 
We do this to help us minimise compulsory job losses 
wherever possible, including through voluntary 
redundancy and redeployment.

Our policies
Our people policies are designed to provide equal 
opportunities and create an inclusive culture, in line with 
our Values and in support of our long-term success. 
They also reflect relevant employment law, including 
the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights and ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles 
and Rights at Work.

We expect our people to treat each other with dignity 
and respect, and do not tolerate discrimination, 
bullying, harassment or victimisation on any grounds.

We are committed to paying our people fairly and 
equitably relative to their role, skills, experience and 
performance – in a way that balances the needs of all 
our stakeholders. That means our remuneration policies 
reward sustainable performance that is in line with our 
Purpose and Values, as well as our risk expectations. You 
can find more information in our Fair Pay Report, available 
on home.barclays/annualreport

We encourage our people to benefit from Barclays’ 
performance by enrolling in our share ownership plans, 
further strengthening their commitment to the 
organisation. The Directors’ Remuneration Report 
sets out updates on remuneration outcomes 
and developments during 2020, including the 
implementation of the new Directors’ Remuneration 
Policy approved at the 2020 AGM.

For more information on our Fair Pay Report 
go online at home.barclays/annualreport

We maintain an engagement approach that is in 
line with the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) 
governance requirements. This extends to those 
who work for us indirectly as well, such as contractors, 
although in a more limited way. As of 2020, our supplier 
Code of Conduct requires organisations with more 
than 250 employees to demonstrate that they have 
an effective workforce engagement approach of 
their own.

The results from our surveys are an important part 
of the conversations our Executive Committee and 
Board have about our culture and how we run Barclays. 
We also update the Board and its relevant sub-
committees throughout the year. 

We monitor our culture across the organisation, and in 
individual business areas, through culture dashboards. 
These combine colleague survey data with other 
metrics about our business, so leadership can identify 
areas of continued strength of our culture and areas 
of focus for leaders. 

In addition to these data sources, our leaders engage 
regularly with colleagues locally to hear what they think. 
Where possible this year, leaders visited branches 
or trading floors to support colleagues during the 
COVID-19 pandemic. However, the majority of 
engagement activities moved to virtual forums, with 
opportunities for face-to-face engagement being more 
limited due to social distancing requirements, including 
large-scale virtual town halls, training and development 
activity, mentoring, informal breakfast sessions, 
committee membership, ex-officio roles, diversity and 
wellbeing programmes, focus and consultative groups.

Direct engagement, a comprehensive reporting 
approach and dedicated time at Board meetings, helps 
our Board take the issues of interest to our colleagues 
into account in their decision-making. This has enabled 
them to confirm that our workforce engagement 
approach is effective.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Ethnicity split

Global
%
2020

55

39 3 3

   White      

   Asian      

   Black      

Other ethnically 
diverse colleagues

United Kingdom
%
2020

81

14 3 2

   White      

   Asian      

   Black      

Other ethnically 
diverse colleagues

USA
%
2020

49

32

9

10

   White      

   Asian      

   Black      

Other ethnically 
diverse colleagues

Other ethnically diverse colleagues category includes Hispanic/
Latino, Mixed, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and 
Native American. USA and UK relate to Country and not Region. 
Colleagues with an undeclared ethnicity and/or are based in 
continental Europe and the Middle East (21% of our global 
population) have been excluded from all calculations

Multi-generational split

Age of employees
%

*0.3

*0.5

21.8

22.8

Colleagues with an 
undeclared age 
(0.03% of our 2020 
global population) 
have been 
excluded from 
all calculations

* <20

>=20 & <30
>=30 & <40
>=40 & <50
>=50 & <60
> 60 years

38.5

38.4

22.9

13.7

22.6

13.1

2.8

2.6

2020

2019

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Making a difference for society

A new era in 
sustainable farming

Cutting-edge technology and analytics allow us 
to grow a wide variety of pesticide-free food 
with a longer shelf life, without compromising 
the highest food safety standards. Plus, we use 
97% less water than a regular farm, taking up 
only 1% of the footprint and delivering 300 
times the yield.

Demand for fresh, locally grown, nutritious 
food is increasing. Thanks to our partnership 
with Barclays and the Unreasonable Impact 
programme, 80 Acres Farms can continue to 
meet that demand. By connecting us to 
investors, we’ve been able to build and launch 
our first fully-automated vertical farm in 
Hamilton, Ohio. And an additional grant from 
the Unreasonable Impact COVID-19 Response 
Initiative helped us get fresh, healthy food to 
those who needed it most through lockdown.

Like all of us at 80 Acres Farms, I am passionate 
about enhancing sustainability and food 
security in farming. By providing fresh food 
with a significantly reduced environmental 
impact, we lead the way in the future of 
farming, with the potential to unlock an exciting 
new era in agriculture, and, crucially, help tackle 
climate change.

By providing fresh food 
with a significantly reduced 
environmental impact, 
we lead the way in 
next-generation farming.

Mike Zelkind 
CEO, 80 Acres Farms 
Hamilton

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Our society and environment
Our success is judged not only by commercial performance, 
but also by how we act sustainably and responsibly for each  
other and the long term.

For the common good 
and the long term

We believe that we can, and should, make a positive 
difference for society – globally and locally. We do that 
through the choices we make about how we run our 
business, and through the commitments we make 
proactively to support others in our communities 
to achieve their goals.

We prize sustainability, and are passionate 
about leaving things better than we found them. 
We cannot be successful in the long term without 
recognising that we are at our best when our clients, 
customers, communities, and colleagues all progress.

Measuring success

Social and environmental 
financing 

 £60.9bn

2019: £34.8bn

Operational carbon emissions
tonnes CO2 equivalent

83,072

2019: 134,347

Renewable Electricity RE100 
target (started 2019)

74%2019: 60%

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Tackling climate change
We believe Barclays can make a real contribution 
to tackling climate change and help accelerate the 
transition to a low-carbon economy. 

Our net zero ambition
It is our ambition to be a net zero bank by 2050. We are 
already net zero in the context of our own emissions; 
our focus now is on reducing the client emissions that 
we finance. That starts with aligning our financing with 
the Paris Climate Agreement – the international treaty 
on climate change adopted in 2015.

To help us do that, it was necessary to create a 
methodology that builds on and extends existing 
industry approaches beyond just lending, to include 
capital markets. This better reflects the breadth of our 
support for clients through our investment bank, and 
we are the first bank to implement such an approach. 
We call our methodology BlueTrack™.

What does ‘net zero’ mean?

Stopping global warming requires halting further 
human addition of long-lived greenhouse gases 
(GHGs) to the atmosphere. This can be achieved 
by stopping emissions, or by removing the same 
amount of GHGs from the atmosphere as are 
added in a given year. Achieving either of these 
outcomes can be referred to as having reached 
‘net zero emissions’. We expect to use some level 
of negative emissions to offset any residual 
gap-to-net-zero, although our approach is 
principally focused on emissions reduction.

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Our society and environment continued

Sustainable finance –  
performance against targets (2018 to 2020)

Social and environmental financing - 
against a target of £150bn by 2025
£bn

124.2

150

Achieved to date

Target by 2025

Social, environmental and sustainability linked 
financing facilitated
£bn

2020

2019

2018

41.2

14.8

5.0

23.9

7.8

3.1

21.8

5.3

1.4

Social

Environmental

Sustainability-linked

Green financing - against a target of £100bn 
by 2030 
£bn

32.4

100

Achieved to date

Target by 2030

Green financing facilitated 
£bn

2020

2019

2018

7.8

1.4

5.3

0.3

14.8

2.8

Total
60.9

Total
34.8

Total
28.5

Total
17.6

Total
9.2

Total
5.7

Environmental

Sustainability-linked (green)

040

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Accelerating the transition
We have also committed to providing £100bn of green 
financing by 2030, to help accelerate the transition to 
a low-carbon economy. Green financing supports the 
transition by providing investment that is specifically 
focused on green activity, including for renewables, 
energy efficiency and sustainable transport. This 
includes specific products such as Green Loans, 
Green Project Finance, and Green Bonds, and there 
is increasing demand for more innovative products, 
such as Sustainability Linked Loans and Bonds. 

Barclays is committed to two targets for financing 
under our Framework: £150bn of social and 
environmental financing from 2018 to 2025, 
and £100bn of green financing from 2018 to 2030.

We facilitated a total of £60.9bn in total social, 
environmental and sustainability-linked financing 
in 2020, up 75% from £34.8bn in 2019.

 On a cumulative basis since 2018, we have facilitated 
£124.2 bn against our £150bn social and environmental 
financing commitment, and accelerated delivery 
against our £100bn green financing commitment, with 
a total of £32.4bn to date driven by growing momentum 
across our businesses, products and geographies. We 
hope to continue this acceleration as we work closely 
with our clients to help deliver the investment required 
to make the transition.

In 2020, we updated our Sustainable Finance 
Framework, which sets out our approach to classifying 
financing as sustainable, and references industry 
guidelines and principles. We welcome and encourage 
greater global harmonisation in the way this financing 
is defined, and will be working with other financial 
institutions and stakeholders towards this goal. 

We also issued the second Barclays Green Bond in 
October 2020. Funds from the £400m bond are 
allocated to mortgages on energy efficient residential 
properties in England and Wales. More than half the 
funds raised will be allocated to refinance Barclays’ 
Green Home Mortgage products, which are offered 
to customers at a discount provided their property 
meets certain energy efficiency thresholds.

Our Sustainable Impact Capital Initiative will invest 
£175m of equity capital in sustainability-focused 
start-ups, helping to accelerate our clients’ transition 
to a net zero future. We hope these investments will 
advance innovative carbon-efficient technologies 
and supply-chains, and help to develop viable markets 
for carbon capture and sequestration.  Through the 
initiative, we aim to fill growth-stage funding gaps 
and help accelerate and scale catalytic and strategic 
solutions to environmental challenges. As of the end 
of 2020, we have invested £24m and are actively 
working on more. 

Managing our operational footprint 
We use high-quality offsets to eliminate any residual 
or unavoidable emissions from our own operations, 
making us net zero today for what are called Scope 1 
and 2 emissions.

We are committed to going further to minimise the 
absolute emissions that we need to offset. As a 
member of the RE100 initiative, we are committed to 
sourcing 100% renewable electricity – targeting 90% 
by 2021 and 100% by 2030 at the latest.

In 2020, we continued our work on improving the 
operational efficiency of our property portfolio, 
achieving a total of 8GWh of energy savings. In parallel, 
we have continued to increase our procurement of 
renewable electricity to 74% across our operations 
in the UK, continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, 
Singapore and the US. We are on track to meet our 
2021 target.

In combination, these factors have contributed to 
a further reduction of our Scope 1 and 2 carbon 
emissions, which now stand at 71% below our 
2018 baseline.

Managing climate-related risks
As well as playing our part in accelerating the transition 
to a low-carbon economy, we also have an important 
role to play in managing climate-related risks, 
particularly as a significant institution in the global 
financial system.

We broadly categorise climate risks into three types: 
transition risk, physical risk and connected risk. Within 
these broad categories we identify a number of factors 
arising from climate change which we monitor over the 
short, medium and long term. We manage these risks 
through our Enterprise Risk Management Framework 
(ERMF). It sets our strategic approach for risk 
management by defining standards, objectives 
and responsibilities for all areas of Barclays. It is 
complemented by frameworks, policies and standards, 
aligned to individual Principal Risks.

In March 2020 we released our updated Climate 
Change Statement which sets out our approach to 
managing the impact of our climate-related activities. 
We have developed an internal standard to reflect 
these positions in more detail and, together with other 
climate-related statements and standards (such as 
the Forestry & Agricultural Commodities), these now 
determine our approach to climate change and relevant 
sensitive sectors. These standards sit under the 
management of Reputation risk within the ERMF 
and are enforced through an existing transaction 
origination, review and approval process.

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Our society and environment continued

During the year we focused on augmenting our 
enhanced due diligence approach for clients in the 
energy sub sectors covered by our Climate Change 
Statement, such as thermal coal, oil sands, and 
hydraulic fracturing (commonly referred to as fracking). 

All in-scope clients in these sub sectors are now 
required to complete a detailed due diligence 
questionnaire on an annual basis, which is used to 
evaluate their performance on a range of environmental 
and social issues, such as use of tailings dams or 
community engagement approach, for example. 
This annual review generates a reputation risk rating 
(low, medium, high), which in turn determines whether 
further review and client engagement may be required. 

As we have undertaken the annual review process, 
we have evolved our approach to address certain 
parameters, such as when general corporate purposes 
conglomerate financing would require enhanced due 
diligence on business interests that touch these energy 
sub-sectors (in the case of oil sands and fracking, for 
example, we apply a 10% of group revenue test, 
amongst other factors that we consider).

See more about climate change risk management 
in the Risk Review, pages 159 to 160 of Part 2 of 
the Annual Report, and within our TCFD Report 
available at home.barclays/esg

Barclays’ position statements are available online 
at our ESG resources hub at home.barclays/esg

Climate-related disclosures

Barclays welcomes the work of the Taskforce 
on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) 
to help identify the information needed by 
investors, lenders, and insurance underwriters 
to appropriately assess and price climate-related 
risks and opportunities.

We firmly support the taskforce’s view that 
increasing transparency makes markets 
more efficient and economies more stable 
and resilient.

More detailed information about the climate-
related governance, strategy, risk management 
and metrics used by Barclays is available in our 
dedicated TCFD report.

For more information go to our TCFD Report  
at home.barclays/annualreport

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Measuring success

LifeSkills – No. of people upskilled 
in the UK per year 

2.33m

2019: 2.31m

Connect with Work – No. of 
people placed into work globally

49,700

2019: 66,600

Unreasonable Impact – 
ventures supported

1632019: 124

Supporting our communities
Making retail banking accessible and safe 
We want as many people as possible to be able to 
benefit from access to financial services. We continue 
to see growing demand from many of our customers 
for more digital ways to bank, not least as a result 
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our investment in 
technology means millions more customers who 
have access to digital tools are able to use our online 
and mobile banking channels to take advantage 
of accessible features.

We continue to improve our customer experience for 
those who have accessibility requirements. Our main 
digital channels are all accredited by AbilityNet, a leading 
UK accessibility charity. To help encourage and educate 
our suppliers, partners and corporate clients we have 
published a supplier guide to accessibility.

We are working to ensure that customers who rely on 
cash – including older and more vulnerable customers 
– can still access it and get the support they need 
from Barclays.

Access to a transactional bank account enables 
consumers to benefit from bill reductions paid by direct 
debit and access to cheaper goods and services online. 
There were more than 614,000 Barclays Basic Current 
Accounts open at the end of 2020, serving the financial 
needs of those who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for 
an account.

We also provide free banking to over 134,000 small, 
not-for-profit organisations through our Community 
Accounts, including sports and community clubs, 
religious groups, and local charities. 

To help keep our customers safe, we have invested 
millions of pounds in multi-layered security systems 
that protect against fraud and scams. We prevent 
thousands of attempted fraudulent transactions 
every day.

To support a comprehensive approach to tackling 
increasingly common and sophisticated scams, we 
have been able to play an important role in the creation 
of the Contingent Reimbursement Model code, 
which is a step forward in helping to protect customers 
and reimburse those who have been victims of 
criminal activity.

Supporting our suppliers
Our engagement with suppliers is important. The 
Directors have regard, via management oversight, to 
the need to foster business relationships with suppliers 
and, as such, engage with them to ensure adherence 
to the Barclays’ Supplier Code of Conduct and Supply 
Control obligations which cover our expectations 
of suppliers.

Adherence is confirmed through pre-contract 
attestation. Further, Barclays PLC is a signatory to the 
Prompt Payment Code in the UK, committing to pay 
our suppliers within clearly defined terms. In 2019, we 
achieved 88% (2018: 85%) on-time payment by value 
to our suppliers, meeting our public commitment to the 
suppliers of 85%.

To see more about how we manage and support our  
supply chain, please see page 36 of our ESG Report 
at home.barclays/esg

For more information on our  
role in our communities  
please see our ESG Report  
at home.barclays/esg

 “We are working to ensure 

that customers who rely on 
cash can still access it and 
get the support they need 
from Barclays.

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■■ Unreasonable Impact: A partnership between 
Barclays and Unreasonable Group, helping 
fast-growing, social and environment-focused 
companies all over the world to accelerate their 
business and create hundreds of new jobs, while 
solving some of society’s most pressing problems. 
With advice and guidance from a community of 
world-class mentors and industry specialists, the 
programme has so far supported 163 growth-stage 
ventures. By 2022, we aspire to have supported 250 
high-growth businesses through the programme. 
In 2020, Barclays and Unreasonable Group launched 
the Unreasonable Impact COVID-19 Response 
Initiative that provided US$2 million in grants for 
entrepreneurial solutions addressing challenges 
resulting from the global pandemic.

Supporting our employees and the 
communities where they work
Alongside these high-impact programmes, we also help 
our employees to make a difference on the issues that 
matter most to them personally, by supporting them to 
volunteer their time and skills in their own community 
and by matching their financial contribution with our own.

Building skills, breaking down barriers
A strong, inclusive economy is a better economy for 
everyone. A vibrant, skilled workforce ensures that 
businesses can thrive, and that individuals, along with 
their families and wider communities, can achieve 
financial independence and security. We are helping 
to build skills and break down barriers to work wherever 
we find them, to enable people to succeed now and 
in the future. 
■■ LifeSkills: Giving people across the UK the skills,
knowledge and confidence they need to be 
ready for the world of work – now and in the future. 
We have already helped 12.4 million people through 
the programme since 2013 and we are committed to 
helping a further 3.6 million by 2022. We have made 
good progress towards our target, with 2.33 million 
upskilled through the programme in 2020.

■■ Connect with Work: Providing people from often 
overlooked communities with vital work skills and 
connecting them to businesses that are recruiting, 
including Barclays’ clients and suppliers. By the 
end of 2020 we helped more than 100,000 
people around the world into work with more 
than 4,200 businesses, and successfully adapted 
our programmes to more effectively support job 
seekers and our partners facing a new employment 
landscape in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
We aspire to place 250,000 people into work 
through the programme by 2022.

■■ Eagle Labs: Our UK network of branch-based 

spaces that support individuals and businesses 
to innovate and grow. Eagle Labs are helping drive 
transformation in SMEs and across industry sectors, 
through local collaborations with industry-leading 
companies, universities and start-ups.

Barclays COVID-19 
Community Aid Package

In April 2020, Barclays established a £100m 
COVID-19 Community Aid Package to support 
communities impacted by the social and 
economic crisis caused by the pandemic. 

The support consists of two components: 
donations to charity partners around the world 
to support vulnerable people impacted by the 
crisis; and a commitment to match colleagues’ 
personal donations and active fundraising 
efforts for their chosen charities supporting 
COVID-19 relief.

The donations have been deployed through 
partnerships with trusted charities who are able 
to have a direct and immediate impact on the 
communities in which we operate.

Highlights:
■■ £100m committed, which is supporting more 

than 250 charities globally. Of the £95m 
donated to date, £59m is already funding 
COVID-19 relief efforts 

■■ 9m+ meals provided to vulnerable 

communities across the US 

■■ 65,000+ hygiene kits distributed to people 

across Asia Pacific

■■ 13+ UK NHS hospitals supported to meet 

the immediate and urgent needs of patients, 
staff and volunteers.

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Making a difference for our investors

Introducing 

BlueTrack™ is Barclays’ methodology for measuring  
our financed emissions, and tracking them at a 
portfolio level against the goals of the Paris Climate 
Agreement using independent benchmarks. We’re 
effectively setting a ‘carbon limit’ on the activity we 
finance. Our approach is also helping us to embed 
climate impact in our financing decisions, so that 
we can make active choices to re-shape our portfolio.

BlueTrack™ covers capital markets activity as well  
as lending. It will cover all sectors over time, starting 
with targets for the Energy and Power sectors, which 
between them are responsible for up to three-quarters 
of all emissions globally.

Our Power portfolio emissions intensity will reduce  
by 30% by 2025, on the way to alignment with the 
benchmark by 2035; our Energy portfolio absolute 
emissions will reduce by 15% by 2025, and continue  
to track the benchmark reduction on an ongoing basis.

Our online dashboard tracks our progress against 
those targets. It also shows the fuel mix of our 
portfolios, not just the overall ‘carbon limit’.  
This reflects our focus on the transition to a 
low-carbon economy, and shows specifically how  
we are accelerating the shift from higher-emissions 
to lower-emissions activity.

You can find out more about BlueTrack™, 
and track our progress through our dashboard, 
at home.barclays/netzero. 

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Summary financial review
We continue to build a strong, diversified business  
that can deliver attractive and sustainable returns.

Preserving our  
financial integrity

In 2020, Barclays helped support the economy during 
the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating our strengths, 
our Values and our resilience. 

Management focused on preserving the financial and 
operational integrity of the firm so support for clients 
and customers, for colleagues and for the communities 
in which we live and work could be maximised.

Barclays provided over 680k payment holidays 
to customers, c.£27bn of COVID-19 support to UK 
businessesa and helped businesses and institutions 
access global capital markets, including underwriting 
c.£1.5tn of new issuanceb. Barclays also waived c.£100m 
of interest and fees to customers, and committed 
£100m to a COVID-19 Community Aid Package.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Financial performance in 2020
Barclays’ diversified business model delivered a resilient 
operating performance, allowing capital distributions 
to shareholders equivalent to 5.0p per share.

Despite the pandemic, Barclays remained profitable 
every quarter during 2020 and delivered a full year 
Group profit before tax of £3.1bn (2019: £4.4bn, 
including a PPI provision of £1.4bn), attributable profit 
of £1.5bn (2019: £2.5bn), a RoTE of 3.2% (2019: 5.3%) 
and EPS of 8.8p (2019: 14.3p).

Total income increased 1% to £21.8bn versus prior year 
due to the following: 

Within Barclays International, CIB income of £12.5bn, 
up 22% due to strong Markets income reflecting 
market share gainsc in a buoyant trading environment, 
as well as strong Banking income, resulting in the best 
ever year on a comparable basis for both businessesd. 
CC&P income of £3.4bn, down 22%, driven by lower 
credit card balances, margin compression and reduced 
payments activity.

Barclays UK income of £6.3bn, down 14% versus prior 
year reflecting lower unsecured lending balances and 
interest rates, and COVID-19 customer support 
actions, partially offset by mortgages growth.
Pre-provision profitse were broadly stable at £8.1bn 
despite the pandemic, benefiting from the Group’s 
diversified business model, which included a strong 
performance in CIB offset by headwinds in Barclays UK 
and CC&P.

Credit impairment charges increased to £4.8bn (2019: 
£1.9bn) due to the deterioration in economic outlook 
driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current year 

charge is broadly driven by £2.3bn of non-default 
provision for expected future customer and client 
stress and £0.8bn of single name wholesale loan 
charges. The expected credit loss provision remains 
highly uncertain as the economic impact of the global 
pandemic continues to evolve.

Group operating expenses increased 1% to £13.7bn 
which included structural cost actions and additional 
COVID-19 related costs, resulting in a cost: income 
ratio, excluding litigation and conduct, of 63%. 

Our CET1 capital ratio increased 130bps in the year 
to 15.1%, reflecting headroom of 3.9% above our 
maximum distributable amount (MDA) hurdle of 11.2%.

Barclays understands the importance of delivering 
attractive total cash returns to shareholders and 
announced a total payout equivalent to 5.0p per share, 
consistent with the temporary guardrails announced 
by the PRA in December 2020, comprising 1.0p 2020 
full year dividend and the intention to initiate a share 
buyback of up to £700m, which is expected to 
commence in Q121.

Notes
a Total payment holidays granted as at 31 December 2020, business 

lending and commercial paper issuance data as at 12 and 15 February 
2021 respectively.

b  Across Equity and Debt Capital Markets in Q220-Q420.
c  Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor Analysis. Market 

share represents Barclays share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. 
Analysis is based on Barclays internal business structure and internal 
revenues.

d  Period covering Q114-Q420. Pre-2014 financials were not restated 

following re-segmentation in Q116.

e  Excluding litigation and conduct.

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Financial metrics
CET1 ratio
The CET1 ratio is a measure of the capital strength and 
resilience of Barclays. The Group’s capital management 
objective is to maximise shareholder value by prudently 
managing the level and mix of its capital. This is to 
ensure the Group and all of its subsidiaries are 
appropriately capitalised relative to their minimum 
regulatory and stressed capital requirements, and to 
support the Group’s risk appetite, growth, and strategic 
options while seeking to maintain a robust credit 
proposition for the Group and its subsidiaries.

The ratio expresses the Group’s CET1 capital as a 
percentage of its RWAs. RWAs are a measure of the 
Group’s assets adjusted for their associated risks.

Operating expenses
Barclays views operating expenses as a key strategic 
area for banks; those which actively manage costs 
and control them effectively will gain a strong 
competitive advantage.

Cost: income ratio
The cost: income ratio measures operating expenses 
as a percentage of total income and is used to assess 
the productivity of our business operations.

Group RoTE
RoTE measures our ability to generate acceptable 
returns for shareholders. It is calculated as profit after tax 
attributable to ordinary shareholders as a proportion of 
average shareholders’ equity excluding non-controlling 
interests and other equity instruments adjusted for the 
deduction of intangible assets and goodwill.

This measure indicates the return generated by 
the management of the business based on 
shareholders’ tangible equity. Achieving a target RoTE 
demonstrates the organisation’s ability to execute its 
strategy and to align management’s interests with 
those of its shareholders. RoTE lies at the heart of 
the Group’s capital allocation and performance 
management process.

046

Barclays PLC 
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Our performance in 2020
CET1 ratio
The CET1 ratio increased to 15.1% (2019: 13.8%), 
reflecting headroom of 3.9% above the MDA hurdle 
of 11.2%.

CET1 capital increased by £5.5bn to £46.3bn reflecting 
resilient capital generation through £7.9bn of profits 
before tax, excluding credit impairment charges of 
£4.8bn, and a £1.0bn increase due to the cancellation 
of the full year 2019 dividend. These increases were 
partially offset by £0.9bn of AT1 coupons paid and the 
announced 1.0p full year 2020 dividend. The CET1 
capital increase also reflects regulatory measures 
for IFRS 9 transitional relief, prudent valuation and 
qualifying software assets.

RWAs increased by £11.1bn to £306.2bn primarily due 
to higher market volatility, increased client activity and 
a reduction in credit quality within CIB, partially offset 
by lower consumer lending.

The Group remains in a strong capital position, 
acknowledging likely headwinds in 2021 including 
procyclical effects on RWAs, reversal of regulatory 
forbearance applied through 2020 and increased 
pension contributions.

Operating expenses
Operating expenses increased 1% to £13.7bn, including 
structural cost actions and additional COVID-19 related 
costs, resulting in a cost: income ratio, excluding litigation 
and conduct, of 63% (2019: 63%).

COVID-19 related expenses are likely to remain 
elevated in 2021. However, the Group will continue 
to drive efficiencies while investing in its franchise 
where appropriate.

For further detailed analysis of our financial 
performance in 2020, please see our full Financial 
review and our Financial statements on pages 239 to 
258,  and pages 259 to  376 respectively of Part 2 of 
the Annual Report 
For more information on our global tax contribution 
as well as our approach to tax, please see our 
Country Snapshot report avaliable at  
home.barclays/annualreport

CET1 ratio
%

2020

2019

2018

Cost: income ratioa
%

15.1

2020

13.8

13.2

2019

2018

The Group targets a CET1 ratio in the range of 13-14%.

Cost discipline remains a priority and we continue to target 
a cost: income ratio below 60% over time.

Operating expensesa,b
£bn

13.7

13.6

13.9

2020

2019

2018

Group RoTEa
%

2020

2019

2018

3.4

63

63

66

9.0

8.5

COVID-19 related expenses are likely to remain elevated in 2021. 
However, the Group will continue to drive efficiencies while 
investing in its franchise where appropriate. 

Barclays continues to target greater than 10% RoTE over time. 
However, given the COVID-19 pandemic, a meaningful 
improvement in returns versus 2019 was not possible due to 
the challenging operating environment.

a  Excluding litigation and conduct.
b  2018 excludes litigation and conduct and a GMP charge of £140m.

Cost: income ratio
The Group cost: income ratio, excluding litigation and 
conduct, was stable at 63% (2019: 63%), as favourable 
income was offset by £0.4bn of structural cost actions 
and additional COVID-19 related costs.

Cost discipline remains a priority and management 
continues to target a cost: income ratio below 60% 
over time.

Group RoTE
RoTE, excluding litigation and conduct, was 3.4% (2019: 
9.0%) due to lower profit before tax including materially 
higher credit impairment charges relating to the 
COVID-19 pandemic and higher operating expenses, 
partially offset by favourable income.

The Group continues to target a RoTE of greater than 
10% over time.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Summary financial review continued

Consolidated summary income statement

Consolidated summary balance sheet

For the year ended 31 December
Net interest income
Net fee, commission and other income
Total income

Credit impairment charges
Net operating income

Operating costs
UK bank levy 
Operating expenses 
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses

Other net income

Profit before tax
Tax charge
Profit after tax
Non-controlling interests
Other equity instrument holders
Attributable profit

Selected financial statistics
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Cost: income ratio

Performance measures excluding litigation and conducta
Profit before tax
Attributable profit
Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Cost: income ratio

2020
£m
8,122
13,644
21,766

2019
£m
9,407
12,225
21,632

(4,838)
16,928

(1,912)
19,720

(13,434)
(299)
(13,733)
(153)
(13,886)

(13,359)
(226)
(13,585)
(1,849)
(15,434)

23

71

3,065
(604)
2,461
(78)
(857)
1,526

8.8p
8.6p
3.2%
64%

3,218
1,638
3.4%
63%

4,357
(1,003)
3,354
(80)
(813)
2,461

14.3p
14.1p
5.3%
71%

6,206
4,194
9.0%
63%

Note
a Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section on page 253 of Part 2 of the Annual Report for further information and calculations of 

performance measures excluding litigation and conduct

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

As at 31 December
Assets
Cash and balances at central banks 
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowings
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities 
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Equity
Called up share capital and share premium
Other equity instruments
Other reserves
Retained earnings 
Total equity excluding non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

Net asset value per ordinary share
Tangible net asset value per share
Number of ordinary shares of Barclays PLC (in millions)

Year-end USD exchange rate
Year-end EUR exchange rate

2020
£m

2019
£m

 191,127 
 101,367 
 342,632 
 9,031 
 127,950 
 175,151 
 302,446 
 78,688 
 21,122 

150,258
83,256
339,115
3,379
114,195
133,086
229,236
65,750
21,954
 1,349,514  1,140,229

 481,036 
 85,423 
 14,174 
 75,796 
 16,341 
 47,405 
 249,765 
 300,775 
 11,917 

415,787
67,341
14,517
76,369
18,156
36,916
204,326
229,204
11,953
 1,282,632  1,074,569

 4,637 
 11,172 
 4,461 
 45,527 
 65,797 
 1,085 
 66,882 

4,594
10,871
4,760
44,204
64,429
1,231
65,660
 1,349,514  1,140,229

315p
269p
 17,359 

1.37
1.12

309p
262p
17,322

1.32
1.18

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Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Managing risk
Barclays is exposed to internal and external risks as part of its ongoing 
activities. These risks are managed as part of our business model.

Enterprise Risk Management Framework
At Barclays, risks are identified and overseen through 
the ERMF, which supports the business in its aim to 
embed effective risk management and a strong risk 
management culture.

The ERMF governs the way in which Barclays identifies 
and manages its risks.

The management of risk is then embedded into each 
level of the business, with all colleagues being 
responsible for identifying and controlling risk.

Risk appetite
Risk appetite defines the level of risk we are prepared 
to accept across the different risk types, taking into 
consideration varying levels of financial and operational 
stress. Risk appetite is key to our decision-making 
processes, including ongoing business planning and 
setting of strategy, new product approvals and business 
change initiatives.

The Group sets its risk appetite in terms of 
performance metrics as well as a set of mandate and 
scale limits to monitor risks. During 2020, the Group’s 
performance remained within its risk appetite limits.

Three lines of defence
The first line of defence is comprised of the revenue-
generating and client-facing areas, along with all 
associated support functions, including Finance, 
Treasury, Human Resources and Operations and 
Technology. The first line identifies the risks, sets the 
controls and escalates risk events to the second line 
of defence.

The second line of defence is made up of Risk and 
Compliance and oversees the first line by setting limits, 
rules and constraints on their operations, consistent 
with the risk appetite.

The third line of defence is comprised of Internal Audit, 
providing independent assurance to the Board and 
Executive Committee on the effectiveness of 
governance, risk management and control over current, 
systemic and evolving risks.

Although the Legal function does not sit in any of the 
three lines, it works to support them all and plays a key 
role in overseeing Legal risk throughout the Group. The 
Legal function is also subject to oversight from the Risk 
and Compliance functions (second line) with respect to 
the management of operational and conduct risks.

Monitoring the risk profile
Together with a strong governance process, using 
business and Group level Risk Committees as well as 
Board level forums, the Board receives regular 
information in respect of the risk profile of the Group, 
and has ultimate responsibility for Group risk appetite 
and capital plans. Information received includes 
measures of risk profile against risk appetite as well as 
the identification of new and emerging risks.

During 2020, Barclays ran a range of scenario analyses 
to determine potential outcomes of the COVID-19 
pandemic which informed management actions. 
One of the scenarios was a macroeconomic stress test 
which considered, among other factors, a no deal Brexit 
and a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in which 
scientific progress was limited to the extent that no 
vaccine was available throughout 2021. In addition, 
a Group-wide, exploratory stress test was performed 
against a severe but plausible climate scenario, testing 
vulnerability to disorderly transition risks and elevated 
physical risks. The aim of the tests was to identify key 
vulnerabilities that were most relevant and material to 
the Group’s business model and geographical footprint. 
The results of these tests met Group risk appetite.

We believe that our structure and governance supports 
us in managing risk in the changing economic, political 
and market environments.

For further detailed analysis of approach to risk 
management and risk performance, please see our 
full Risk review on pages 143 to 238 of Part 2 of 
the Annual Report 

 “We believe that our structure 

and governance supports us 
in managing risk in the 
changing economic, political 
and market environments.

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Financial review

Financial statements

Managing risk continued

The Enterprise Risk Management Framework defines eight Principal Risks
Financial Principal Risks

Principal Risks

How risks are managed

Non-financial Principal Risks

Principal Risks

How risks are managed

Credit risk

Market risk

Treasury and 
Capital risk

The risk of loss to the Group from the failure 
of clients, customers or counterparties, 
including sovereigns, to fully honour their 
obligations to the Group, including the 
whole and timely payment of principal, 
interest, collateral and other receivables.

The risk of loss arising from potential 
adverse changes in the value of the Group’s 
assets and liabilities from fluctuation in 
market variables including, but not limited 
to, interest rates, foreign exchange, equity 
prices, commodity prices, credit spreads, 
implied volatilities and asset correlations.

Liquidity risk:
The risk that the Group is unable to meet 
its contractual or contingent obligations 
or that it does not have the appropriate 
amount, tenor and composition of funding 
and liquidity to support its assets.
Capital risk:
The risk that the Group has an insufficient 
level or composition of capital to support 
its normal business activities and to meet 
its regulatory capital requirements under 
normal operating environments or stressed 
conditions (both actual and as defined for 
internal planning or regulatory testing 
purposes). This includes the risk from the 
Group’s pension plans.
Interest rate risk in the banking book:
The risk that the Group is exposed to capital 
or income volatility because of a mismatch 
between the interest rate exposures of its 
(non-traded) assets and liabilities.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Credit risk teams identify, evaluate, sanction, 
limit and monitor various forms of credit 
exposure, individually and in aggregate.

Operational 
risk

The risk of loss to the Group from 
inadequate or failed processes or systems, 
human factors or due to external events 
where the root cause is not due to Credit 
or Market risks.

A range of complementary approaches are 
used to identify and evaluate Market risk and 
to capture exposure to Market risk. These are 
measured, controlled and monitored by Market 
risk specialists.

Treasury and Capital risk is identified and 
managed by specialists in Capital Planning, 
Liquidity, Asset and Liability Management and 
Market risk. A range of approaches are used 
appropriate to the risk, such as: limits; plan 
monitoring; internal and external stress testing.

Model risk

Conduct risk

The risk of potential adverse consequences 
from financial assessments or decisions 
based on incorrect or misused model 
outputs and reports.

The risk of detriment to customers, clients, 
market integrity, effective competition or 
Barclays from the inappropriate supply of 
financial services, including instances of 
wilful or negligent misconduct.

Reputation 
risk

The risk that an action, transaction, 
investment, event, decision or business 
relationship will reduce trust in the Group’s 
integrity and/or competence.

Legal risk

The risk of loss or imposition of penalties, 
damages or fines from the failure of the 
Group to meet its legal obligations including 
regulatory or contractual requirements.

Operational risk comprises the following risks: 
data management and information, execution 
risk, financial reporting, fraud, payments 
processing, people, physical security, premises, 
prudential regulation, supplier, tax, technology 
and transaction operations.

It is not always cost effective or possible to 
attempt to eliminate all Operational risks.

Operational risk is managed across the 
businesses and functions through an internal 
control environment with a view to limiting the 
risk to acceptable residual levels.

Models are independently validated and 
approved prior to implementation and their 
performance is monitored on a continual basis.

The Compliance function sets the minimum 
standards required, and provides oversight 
to monitor that these risks are effectively 
managed and escalated where appropriate.

Reputation risk is managed by embedding 
our Purpose and Values and maintaining a 
controlled culture within the Group, with 
the objective of acting with integrity, 
enabling strong and trusted relationships 
with customers and clients, colleagues and 
broader society.

The Legal function supports colleagues 
in identifying and managing legal risks.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Viability statement
The financial statements and accounts have been prepared 
on a going concern basis.

Provision 31 of the 2018 UK Corporate Governance 
Code requires the Directors to make a statement in 
the Annual Report regarding the viability of the Group, 
including an explanation of how they assessed the 
prospects of the Group, the period of time for which 
they have made the assessment and why they consider 
that period to be appropriate.

Time horizon
In light of the analysis summarised below, the Board 
has assessed the Group’s current viability, and confirms 
that the Directors have a reasonable expectation that 
the Group will be able to continue in operation and 
meet its liabilities as they fall due over the next three 
years. This time frame is used in management’s 
Working Capital and Viability Report (WCR), prepared at 
the start of February 2021. The WCR is a formal 
projection of capital and liquidity based upon formal 
profitability forecasts. The availability of the WCR gives 
management and the Board sufficient visibility and 
confidence on the future operating environment for 
this time period.

The three-year time frame has also been 
chosen because:
■■ it is within the period covered by the formal medium 
term plans approved by the Board which contain 
projections of profitability, cash flows, capital 
requirements and capital resources

■■ it is also within the period over which internal stress 

testing is carried out

■■ it is representative of the period and level of 
anticipated regulatory change in the financial 
services industry.

The Directors are satisfied that this period is sufficient 
to enable a reasonable assessment of viability to 
be made.

Considerations
In making its assessment the Board has:
■■ carried out a robust and detailed assessment of 
the Group’s risk profile and material existing and 
emerging risks (see material existing and emerging 
risks section), in particular those risks which senior 
management believes could cause the Group’s 
future results of operations or financial condition to 
differ materially from current expectations or could 
adversely impact the Group’s ability to meet 
regulatory requirements

■■ reviewed how those risks are identified, managed 
and controlled (further detail provided on pages 48 
to 49)

■■ reviewed the draft statutory accounts and the 

in-depth disclosure of the financial performance 
of the Group

■■ considered the WCR which provides an assessment 
of forecast CET1, leverage, Tier 1 and total capital 
ratios, as well as the build-up of MREL up to the end 
of 2023

■■ considered the Group’s medium-term business plan
■■ reviewed the Group’s liquidity and funding profile, 

including forecasts of the Group’s internal Liquidity 
Risk Appetite (LRA) and regulatory liquidity 
coverage ratios

■■ considered the Group’s viability under specific 

internal stress scenarios

■■ considered the stability of the major markets 

in which it operates, supply chain resiliency and 
regulatory changes

■■ considered the sustainability of any future capital 

distributions;

■■ considered scenarios which might affect the 

operational resiliency of the Group

■■ considered factors that may inform the impact of 
the COVID-19 pandemic, including (among other 
things), provision and future removal of government 
and central bank support schemes, changing 
macroeconomic variables, further waves of the 
pandemic, successful deployment of vaccines and 
emergence of new strains

■■ considered the impact of the Group’s ambition to be 

a net zero carbon bank by 2050 and support its 
clients’ transition to a low-carbon economy

■■ reviewed the possible impact of legal, competition 
and regulatory matters set out in Note 26 to the 
financial statements on pages 337 to 341.

Assessment
Risks faced by the Group’s business, including in 
respect of financial, conduct and operational risks, are 
controlled and managed within the Group in line with 
the ERMF. Executive management sets a risk appetite 
for the Group, which is then approved by the Board. Risk 
and Compliance set limits, within which businesses are 
required to operate.

Management and the Board then oversee the ongoing 
risk profile. Internal Audit provides independent 
assurance to the Board and Executive Committee over 
the effectiveness of governance, risk management 
and control over current and evolving risks.

A full set of material risks to which the organisation 
is exposed can be found in the material existing 
and emerging risks on pages 147 to 158 in Part 2 
of the Report.

Certain risks are additionally identified as key themes 
and monitored closely by the Board and Board 
Committees. These are chosen on the basis of their 
potential to impact viability over the time frame of 
the assessment but in some instances the risks exist 
beyond this time frame.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Viability statement continued

These particular risks include:
■■ The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused 

disruption to the Group’s customers, suppliers 
and staff globally and It remains unclear how the 
COVID-19 pandemic will evolve through 2021 and 
beyond, which from a commercial, regulatory and 
risk perspective could be significantly different to 
past crises and persist for a prolonged period. 
Impacts on the Group could include reduced 
profitability (from lower income and higher expected 
credit loss (ECL) charges) as well as the impact the 
COVID-19 pandemic may have on the management 
of (among other things) Operational risk.

■■ The consequences of the UK’s exit from the EU are 
unpredictable and diverse, difficult to predict and 
may impact over a prolonged period. In particular, 
uncertainty as to the effectiveness of the EU-UK 
Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the manner 
in which trading arrangements will be enforced by 
both the EU and the UK and uncertainty over 
current and future provision of financial services 
to EEA-based clients.

■■ Legal proceedings, competition, regulatory and 

conduct matters giving rise to the potential risk of 
fines, loss of regulatory licences and permissions and 
other sanctions, as well as potential adverse impacts
on our reputation with clients and customers and on
investor confidence and/or potentially resulting in
impacts on capital, liquidity and funding.

■■ Embedding climate risk into the Group’s risk 

framework in line with regulatory expectations, 
and adapting the Group’s operations and business 
strategy to address both the financial risks resulting 
from: (i) the physical risk of climate change; and (ii) the 
risk from the transition to a low-carbon economy.
■■ Sudden shocks or geopolitical unrest in any of the 
major economies in which the Group operates 
which could impact credit ratings, alter the 
behaviour of depositors and other counterparties 
and affect the ability of the firm to maintain 
appropriate capital and liquidity ratios.

■■ Evolving Operational risks (notably cybersecurity, 

technology and resilience) and the ability to respond 
to the new and emerging technologies in a 
controlled fashion.

As a universal bank with a diversified and connected 
portfolio of businesses, servicing customers and clients 
globally, the Group is impacted in the longer term by a 
wide range of macroeconomic, political, regulatory and 
accounting, technological, social and environmental 
developments. The evolving operating environment 
presents opportunities and risks which we continue 
to evaluate and take steps to appropriately adapt our 
strategy and its delivery. 

Stress tests
The Board has also considered the Group’s viability 
under specific internal stress scenarios. The latest 
macroeconomic internal stress test, conducted in 
Q4 2020, considered the potential impacts of:
■■ a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 

which scientific progress is limited, with no vaccine 
available through 2021

■■ the UK exiting from the EU Withdrawal Agreement 

on WTO terms

■■ US political and social tensions and worsening 
US-China trade relations with escalating tariffs
■■ increasing EU sovereign risk due to increases in 

budget deficits.

All of the above could result in, among other things, 
a loss of income or increased impairment. The stress 
test outcome for macroeconomic tests shows our full 
financial performance over the horizon of the scenario 
and focuses on the CET1 capital ratio.

In addition, Barclays conducted a Group-wide, 
exploratory stress test against a severe but plausible 
climate scenario, testing vulnerability to disorderly 
transition risks and elevated physical risks. The aim of 
the analysis was to identify key vulnerabilities that were 
most relevant and material to the Group’s business 
model and geographical footprint.

The Group-wide stress testing framework also includes 
reverse stress testing techniques which aim to identify 
and analyse the circumstances under which the Group’s 
business model would no longer be viable. Examples 
include extreme macroeconomic downturn scenarios, 
or specific idiosyncratic events, covering Operational 
risk (for example, cyber-attacks), adverse outcomes in 
legal proceedings, competition, regulatory and conduct 
matters and capital/liquidity events.

Legal proceedings, competition, regulatory and 
remediation/redress conduct matters are also 
assessed as part of the stress testing process. Capital 
and Liquidity Risk Appetite are set at a level designed to 
enable the Group to withstand various stress scenarios. 
As part of this process, management also identified 
actions, including cost reductions and withdrawal from 
lines of business, available to restore the Group to its 
desired capital flight path. These internal stress tests 
informed the conclusions of the WCR.

Based on current forecasts, incorporating key known 
regulatory changes to be enacted and having 
considered possible stress scenarios, the current 
liquidity and capital position of the Group continues to 
support the Board’s assessment of the Group’s viability.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Non-financial information statement
We use a variety of tools to track and measure our strategic delivery, and collect both 
quantitative and qualitative information to get the full picture of our performance.

Certain of the non-financial information required pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 
is provided by reference to the following locations:

Non-financial information

Section

Business model

Business model

Policies

Non-financial information statement

Principal Risks

Risk review 

Principal risk management 

Risk performance

Key performance indicators

Key performance indicators

Pages

14

52

48

161*

167*

* in Part 
2 of the 
Report

22 

The Non-Financial Reporting requirements contained in Sections 414CA and 414CB of the 
Companies Act 2006 are addressed within this section by means of cross reference in order to 
indicate in which part of the strategic narrative the respective requirements are embedded. We 
have used cross referencing as appropriate to deliver clear, concise and transparent reporting.

We have a range of policies and guidance (also available at home.barclays/esg) that support 
our key outcomes for all of our stakeholders. Performance against our strategic non-financial 
performance measures, as shown on pages 22 to 31, is one indicator of the effectiveness and 
outcome of policies and guidance.

Across Barclays, policies and statements of intent are in place to ensure consistent governance 
on a range of issues. For the purposes of the Non-Financial Reporting requirements, these 
include, but are not limited to:

Environmental matters

Policy statement

Description

Climate Change 
statement

The Barclays Position on Climate Change sets out our approach to energy sectors 
with higher carbon-related exposures from extraction or consumption, and/or those 
with an impact in certain sensitive environments, namely thermal coal, Arctic oil and 
gas, oil sands and hydraulic fracturing. The statement outlines the important role 
Barclays plays in ensuring that the world’s energy needs are met, while helping to limit 
the threat that climate change poses to people and to the natural environment.

World Heritage Site 
and Ramsar Wetlands 
statement

We understand that certain industries, and in particular mining, oil and gas, and power, 
can have negative impacts on areas of high biodiversity value including UNESCO 
World Heritage Sites (WHS) and Ramsar Wetlands (RW). Our WHS and RW statement 
outlines our client due diligence approach to preserving and safeguarding these sites.

Climate Change 
Financial and 
Operational Risk 
Policy 

Forestry and  
Agricultural 
Commodities 
statement

In 2019, we published a ‘Climate Change Financial Risk and Operational Risk Policy’. 
This introduced climate change as an overarching risk impacting certain Principal 
Risks: Credit risk, Market risk, Treasury and Capital risk and Operational risk. The 
policy is jointly owned by the relevant Principal Risk Leads with oversight by the Board 
Risk Committee. For more information, please see the Risk section on pages 143 to 
238 in Part 2 of the Report.

We recognise that forestry and agribusiness industries are responsible for producing 
a range of commodities such as timber, palm oil and soy that are often associated with 
significant environmental and social impacts, particularly in relation to biodiversity loss, 
tropical deforestation and climate change. Our Forestry and Agricultural Commodities 
Statement outlines our due diligence approach for clients involved in these activities, 
ensuring that we support clients that promote sustainable forestry and agri-business 
practices while respecting the rights of workers and local communities.

Colleagues

Policy statement

Description

Board Diversity 
Policy

Code of Conduct

The Board Diversity Policy sets out the approach to diversity on the Boards 
of Barclays.

The Barclays Code of Conduct outlines the Values and Behaviours which govern our 
way of working across our business globally. It constitutes a reference point covering 
all aspects of colleagues’ working relationships, specifically (but not exclusively) 
with other Barclays employees, customers and clients, governments and regulators, 
business partners, suppliers, competitors and the broader community.

052

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Financial statements

Non-financial information statement continued

Social matters

Policy statement

Description

Human rights

Policy statement

Description

Donations

Tax

Sanctions

Barclays works in partnership with non-profit organisations, including charities and 
NGOs, to develop high-performing programmes and volunteering opportunities 
that harness the skills and passion of our employees. Barclays has chosen to partner 
with a small number of organisations, allowing us to have deeper relationships and 
ultimately enabling us to have the greatest impact on our communities in which we 
operate. Barclays does not accept unsolicited donation requests.

Human rights

Modern slavery

Our Tax Principles are central to our approach to tax planning, for ourselves or on 
behalf of our clients. Since their introduction in 2013 we believe our Tax Principles 
have been a strong addition to the way we manage tax, ensuring that we take into 
account all of our stakeholders when making decisions related to our tax affairs. 
The same applies to our Tax Code of Conduct.

Sanctions are restrictions on activity with targeted countries, governments, entities, 
individuals and industries that are imposed by bodies such as the United Nations 
(UN), the EU, individual countries or groups of countries. The Barclays Group 
Sanctions Policy is designed to ensure that the Group complies with applicable 
sanctions laws in every jurisdiction in which it operates.

Supply chain

We operate in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and take 
account of other internationally accepted human rights standards. We also promote 
human rights through our employment policies and practices, through our supply 
chain and through the responsible use of our products and services.

Barclays recognises its responsibility to comply with all relevant legislation including 
the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. In accordance with the requirements of the Act, 
we release an annual Barclays Group Statement on Modern Slavery, which outlines 
the actions we have taken to address the risks of modern slavery and human 
trafficking in our operations, supply chain, and customer and client relationships.

Our supply base is diverse, including start-ups, SMEs, and businesses owned, 
controlled and operated by under-represented segments of society as well as 
multinational corporations. We recognise that these partnerships have significant 
direct and indirect environmental and social impacts. We actively encourage our 
supplier partners to meet Barclays’ requirements in order to meet our obligations 
to our stakeholders.

The defence industry We provide financial services to the defence sector within a specific policy framework. 

Each proposal is assessed on a case-by-case basis and legal compliance alone does 
not automatically guarantee our support. The Barclays Statement on the Defence 
Sector outlines our appetite for defence-related transactions and relationships.

Data protection

Across Barclays, the privacy and security of personal information is respected and 
protected. Our Privacy Statement governs how we collect, handle, store, share, use 
and dispose of information about people. We regard sound privacy practices as a key 
element of corporate governance and accountability.

Anti-bribery and anti-corruption

Policy statement

Description

Bribery and 
corruption

We recognise that corruption can undermine the rule of law, democratic processes 
and basic human freedoms, impoverishing states and distorting free trade and 
competition. Our statement reflects the statutory requirements applicable in the 
UK as derived from the UN and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 
Development conventions on corruption.

Anti-money 
laundering and 
counter-terrorist 
financing

Barclays’ Anti-Money Laundering Policy is designed to ensure that we comply with 
the requirements and obligations set out in UK legislation, regulations, rules and 
industry guidance for the financial services sector, including the need to have 
adequate systems and controls in place to mitigate the risk of the Group being used 
to facilitate financial crime.

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Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Shareholder information

Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Looking ahead to the 2021 AGM, the Board currently 
intends to hold the AGM on 5 May 2021 at 11:00am, 
subject to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any 
UK Government guidance on social distancing, 
non-essential travel and/or public gatherings.

The arrangements for the Company’s 2021 AGM and 
details of the resolutions to be proposed, together with 
explanatory notes, will be set out in the Notice of AGM 
to be published on the Company’s website  
(home.barclays/agm)

Guidance on whether physical attendance by 
shareholders will be possible will be determined nearer 
the time of the AGM. We will keep the considerable 
benefits of shareholder engagement in the AGM at the 
forefront of our planning for the 2021 AGM. Further 
details will be provided in the Notice of AGM.

Keep your personal 
details up to date
Please remember to tell Equiniti if:
■■ You move
■■ You need to update your bank or building 

society details.

If you are a Shareview member, you can update your 
bank or building society account or address details 
online. If you hold 2,500 shares or less, you can update 
details quickly and easily over the telephone using the 
Equiniti contact details overleaf. If you hold more than 
2,500 shares you will need to write to Equiniti.

Key dates

1 April 2021
Full year dividend  
payment date

30 April 2021
Q1 Results  
Announcement

5 May 2021
Annual General Meeting  
at 11.00am

Dividends
The Barclays PLC 2020 full year dividend for the 
year ended 31 December 2020 will be 1.0p per share, 
making the 2020 total dividend 1.0p.

Save time and receive your dividends faster by 
Choosing to have them paid directly into your 
bank or building society account
It is easy to set up and your money will be in your bank 
account on the dividend payment date. If you hold 
2,500 shares or less, you can provide your bank or 
building society details quickly and easily over the 
telephone using the Equiniti contact details overleaf. 
If you hold more than 2,500 shares, please contact 
Equiniti for details of how to change your payment 
instruction.

Dividend Re-investment Plan
Barclays has decided to cease to offer the scrip 
dividend programme and will no longer offer a scrip 
alternative for dividends. For those shareholders who 
wish to elect to use their cash dividends to purchase 
additional ordinary shares in the market, rather than 
receive a cash payment, Barclays has arranged for its 
registrar, Equiniti, to provide and administer a dividend 
re-investment plan (DRIP). 

Further details regarding the DRIP can  
be found at home.barclays/dividends and 
www.shareview.co.uk/info/drip

Managing your shares online
Shareview 
Barclays shareholders can go online to manage their 
shareholding and find out about Barclays performance 
by joining Shareview. Through Shareview, you: 
■■ will receive the latest updates from Barclays direct to 

your email; 

■■ can update your address and bank details online;
■■ can vote in advance of general meetings.

To join Shareview, please follow these three easy steps:

Step 1  Go to portfolio.shareview.co.uk 

Step 2  Register for electronic communications by 
following the instructions on screen

Step 3  You will be sent an activation code in the post 

the next working day

Returning funds to shareholders
Over 60,000 shareholders did not cash their Shares Not 
Taken Up (SNTU) cheque following the Rights Issue in 
September 2013. In 2020, we continued the tracing 
process to reunite these shareholders with their SNTU 
monies and any unclaimed dividends and by the end of 
the year, we had returned approximately £26,978 to our 
shareholders, (2019: approximately £23,000). Since 
2015, we have returned approximately £4.2m to our 
shareholders.

Donations to charity
We launched a Share Dealing Service in October 2017 
aimed at shareholders with relatively small 
shareholdings for whom it might otherwise be 
uneconomical to deal. One option open to shareholders 
was to donate their sale proceeds to ShareGift. As a 
result of this initiative, the total donated to ShareGift 
since 2015 is over £461,267.

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Shareholder information 

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Shareholder information continued

Shareholder security 

Useful contact details

Shareholders should be wary of any cold calls 
with an offer to buy or sell shares. Fraudsters use 
persuasive and highpressure techniques to lure 
shareholders into high-risk investments or scams. 
You should treat any unsolicited calls with caution. 

Please keep in mind that firms authorised by the 
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are unlikely to 
contact you out of the blue. You should consider 
getting independent financial or professional 
advice from someone unconnected to the 
respective firm before you hand over any money. 

Report a scam

If you suspect that you have been approached by 
fraudsters please tell the FCA using the share 
fraud reporting form at fca.org.uk/scams. You 
can also call the FCA Helpline on 0800 111 6768 
or through Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Equiniti
The Barclays share register is maintained by Equiniti. 
If you have any questions about your Barclays shares, 
please contact Equiniti by visiting shareview.co.uk

0371 384 2055a
(in the UK)

+44 121 415 7004
(from overseas)

0371 384 2255a
(for the hearing impaired in the UK)

+44 121 415 7028
(for the hearing impaired from overseas)

Aspect House 
Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA

To find out more, contact Equiniti or visit:  
home.barclays/dividends

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)
ADRs represent the ownership of Barclays PLC  
shares which are traded on the New York Stock 
Exchange. ADRs carry prices, and pay dividends, 
in US dollars.

If you have any questions about ADRs,  
please contact Shareowner Services: 
StockTransfer@equiniti.com or visit adr.com

Alternative formats

Shareholder documents can 
be provided in large print, audio 
CD or Braille free of charge by 
calling Equiniti.

0371 384 2055a 
(in the UK)
+44 121 415 7004
(from overseas)

Audio versions of the  
Strategic Report will also 
be available at the AGM.

+1 800 990 1135
(toll free in US and Canada)

+1 651 453 2128
(outside the US and Canada))

Shareowner Services  
PO Box 64504, St Paul, MN 55164-0504, USA

Delivery of ADR certificates and overnight mail 
Shareowner Services, 1110 Centre Point Curve, 
Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120, USA

Qualifying US and Canadian resident ADR holders 
should contact Shareowner Services for further 
details regarding the DRIP

Shareholder Relations
To give us your feedback or if you have any  
questions, please contact:
privateshareholderrelations@barclays.com

Shareholder Relations Barclays PLC 
1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP

Share price
Information on the Barclays share price and 
other share price tools are available at:  
home.barclays/investorrelations

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Note
a Lines open 8.30am to 5.30pm (UK time) Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Strategic 
report

Understanding Barclays
Chairman’s introduction
Chief Executive’s review
Operating environment
Our strategy
Our business model
Engaging with our stakeholders
Section 172(1) Statement
Key performance indicators

Making a difference for our 
customers and clients:

Barclays UK
Barclays International: Corporate 
and Investment Bank
Barclays International: Consumer, 
Cards and Payments

2
4
6
9
11
14
16
18
22

26

28

30

Making a difference for our colleagues:

Our people and culture

Making a difference for society:

Tackling climate change
Supporting our communities

Making a difference for our investors:

Financial review
Managing risk
Viability statement
Non-financial information statement

33

39
42

45
48
50
52

Governance 

Governance contents
Directors’ report
Remuneration report

Risk review

Financial 
review

Risk review contents 
Risk management 
Material existing and emerging risks 
Climate change risk management 
Principal risk management 
Risk performance 
Supervision and regulation 

Financial review contents 
Key performance indicators 
Consolidated summary 
income statement 
Income statement commentary 
Consolidated summary 
balance sheet 
Balance sheet commentary 
Analysis of results by business 
Non-IFRS performance measures 

59
60
108

143
145
147
159
161
167
232

239
240

242
243

244
245
246
253

Financial  
statements

Financial statements contents 
Consolidated financial statements 
Notes to the financial statements 

259
279
286

Shareholder 
information

Key dates, Annual General Meeting, 
dividends, and other useful information 54

.

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Making a difference for our colleagues

Support for frontline  
workers like me

My team and I worked in-branch throughout 
the pandemic, making sure all our customers 
– especially those who are more vulnerable –  
were fully supported. I saw first-hand how 
challenging things were for everyone and the 
daily fear and anxiety people felt.

It was important to me to ensure we looked 
after each other. One thing that really helped 
was that we had paid time off to visit and care 
for loved ones if we needed it.

Leading a wellbeing day across my two 
branches in Southampton also helped my 
team and had a direct positive impact on their 
families, reducing stress. That meant we could 
do more to help our customers. And not just 
with banking.

Barclays donated 20 iPads and 10 Bluetooth 
speakers to the intensive care unit when my 
dad contracted coronavirus and went into a 
coma. It meant that those of us who were 
unable to be with our loved ones, could see and 
speak to them whenever we wanted. It made 
a massive difference to so many people.

My dad is better now, and my team and I are 
so much stronger thanks to the support we’ve 
had – and the support we have given to all 
our customers.

I saw first-hand how 
challenging things were for 
everyone and the daily fear  
and anxiety people felt.”

Lisa Griffiths
Local Manager, Barclays UK 
Southampton

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Our Governance

Welcome to our Governance report. 
This report explains the composition 
of our Board and Executive Committee, 
how our governance framework operates 
and our key areas of focus in 2020.

Directors’ report
■■ Board of Directors 
■■ Executive Committee 
■■ Purpose-led decision making 
■■ Key areas of focus in 2020 
■■ Key priorities 
■■ Board Audit Committee report 
■■ Board Nominations Committee report 
■■ Board Risk Committee report 
■■ How we comply 
■■ Other statutory information 

Remuneration report 

60
64 
65
68
69
72
82
87
96
102

108

Aim of our governance
The primary aim of our governance is that it: 
■■ seeks to ensure that our decision-making 

is aligned to our Purpose and Values

■■ creates long-term sustainable value for our 
shareholders, having regard to the interests 
of all our stakeholders

■■ is effective in providing constructive 
challenge, advice and support to 
management

■■ provides checks and balances and drives 
informed, collaborative and accountable 
decision-making.

Compliance with the  
Code and Regulations 
Our Governance report reflects the 
requirements of the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the ‘Code’) and the 
Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) 
Regulations 2018 (the ‘Regulations’). 

To view our specific compliance as against 
the Code, please see pages 96 to 101.

Certain additional information, signposted 
throughout this report, is available at 
home.barclays/corporategovernance 

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Directors’ report: Board of Directors
Focused on protecting the health and wellbeing of our colleagues 
and supporting our customers, clients and other stakeholders, while 
maintaining the financial and operational integrity of the Barclays Group.

Embedding our corporate 
Purpose in everything we do

Overview of key 
developments in 2020
The challenges presented by the COVID-19 
pandemic reinforced the importance for the 
Board of our corporate Purpose in everything 
we do and, in particular, embedding it in our 
response to the pandemic. We want to reinforce 
that clarity and conviction about our Purpose 
and our Values, and stay true to that way of 
thinking about how we take action at pace. 
Accordingly, during 2020, the Board approved 
the introduction of a new, extended narrative 
of the Group’s Purpose and the refreshed 
descriptions of our Values to make sure they are 
still relevant for the challenges ahead. You can 
read more about how the Board oversaw the 
evolution of our Purpose and Values on page 69. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board 
has been keenly focused on protecting the 
health and wellbeing of our colleagues and 
supporting our customers, clients and other 
stakeholders, while at the same time maintaining 
the financial and operational integrity of the 
Barclays Group.

Nigel Higgins
Group Chairman

Appointed:  
2 May 2019

Jes Staley 
Group Chief Executive

Appointed:  
1 December 2015

Relevant skills and experience
Jes has nearly four decades of extensive 
experience in banking and financial services. 
He brings a wealth of investment banking 
knowledge to the Board as well as strong 
executive leadership, and this contribution 
is reflected in Barclays’ strategy and long-
term sustainable success of the business. 
He previously worked for more than 30 years 
at JP Morgan where he initially trained as a 
commercial banker, later advancing to the 
leadership of major businesses involving 
equities, private banking and asset 
management, and ultimately heading 
JP Morgan’s Global Investment Bank.

Key current appointments
Board Member, Bank Policy Institute; Board 
Member, Institute of International Finance

Board Committee membership
None

Relevant skills and experience
Nigel is the Group Chairman. He is also 
Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC. 

Nigel has extensive experience in, and 
understanding of, banking and financial services, 
gained through a 36-year career at Rothschild 
& Co. where he was most recently Deputy 
Chairman. Prior to that he was Chairman of the 
Group Executive Committee and Managing 
Partner of Rothschild & Co.

He is a seasoned business leader with a strong 
track record in leading and chairing a range of 
organisations and in acting as a strategic adviser 
to multiple major international corporations and 
governments. The breadth of Nigel’s knowledge 
and operational experience with international 
banking groups, building teams and culture and 
growing businesses are all hugely beneficial to 
Barclays, and enables Nigel to contribute to the 
strategic direction and long-term sustainable 
success of Barclays.

Key current appointments
Chairman, Sadler’s Wells; Non-Executive 
Director, Tetra Laval Group

Board Committee membership
Board Nominations Committee (Chair)

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Brian Gilvary
Senior Independent Director

Appointed:  
1 February 2020

Crawford Gillies
Non-Executive 

Appointed:  
1 May 2014

Mike Ashley
Non-Executive

Appointed:  
18 September 2013

Relevant skills and experience
Brian was appointed to the Board with effect 
from 1 February 2020 and took on the role of 
Senior Independent Director on 1 January 2021. 
He is an experienced executive having served on 
the Board of BP p.l.c. as Chief Financial Officer 
from 2012 to 2020. Brian’s BP career spanned 
Upstream, Downstream and Trading based in 
the UK, USA and Europe. Previously, he held 
several senior financial and commercial roles, 
including member of the Board of TNK-BP (a BP 
Russian JV), Chief Executive of BP’s commodity 
trading division and Commercial Director of the 
downstream division.

His other senior-level experience includes 
serving on the Boards of various commercial 
and charitable organisations. Brian was also 
Chairman of the FTSE 100 Group of Finance 
Directors from 2018-2020, a member of the UK 
Treasury Financial Management Review Board 
from 2014-2017 and has served on various 
HRH Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community 
Leadership Teams from 2007 to 2009. Brian 
brings to the Board his extensive experience of 
management, finance and strategy gained at BP 
and other public and private boards, along with 
deep experience of US and UK shareholder 
engagement. His experience with, and 
understanding of, the challenges and 
opportunities inherent in advancing a sustainable 
energy future will be invaluable as Barclays 
considers how it can help to accelerate the 
transition to a low-carbon world.

Key current appointments
Non-Executive Director, Air Liquide S.A; 
Executive Chairman, INEOS Energy, an INEOS 
group company 

Board Committee membership
Board Remuneration Committee, Board 
Nominations Committee (from 1 January 2021), 
Board Risk Committee (from 1 January 2021)

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Relevant skills and experience
Crawford is a senior member of the Board having 
held the role of Senior Independent Director 
prior to 1 January 2021. He is also Chair of 
Barclays Bank UK PLC (subject to regulatory 
approval). He has extensive business 
transformation and management experience 
at executive and board level spanning over 
30 years. Beneficial to the Board and to Barclays’ 
strategy and long-term sustainable success is 
his key understanding of stakeholder needs and 
his experience in international and cross-sector 
organisations, strong leadership and strategic 
decision-making.

Key current appointments
Chairman, Edrington Group

Board Committee membership
Board Audit Committee, (until 31 December 
2020), Board Nominations Committee, 
Board Remuneration Committee (Chair)

Relevant skills and experience
Mike has deep knowledge of accounting, 
auditing and associated regulatory issues, 
having previously worked at KPMG for over 
20 years. Mike’s former roles include acting as 
the lead engagement partner on the audits of 
large financial services groups including HSBC, 
Standard Chartered and the Bank of England, 
as Head of Quality and Risk Management for 
KPMG Europe LLP and as KPMG UK’s Ethics 
Partner. The Board benefits from his extensive 
experience in accounting, auditing and financial 
reporting and therefore Mike continues 
to contribute to the long-term sustainable 
success of the business.

Key current appointments
Member, Cabinet Office Board; Member, 
International Ethics Standards Board for 
Accountants; Member, ICAEW Ethics Standards 
Committee; Treasurer, The Scout Association

Board Committee membership
Board Audit Committee (Chair), Board 
Nominations Committee, Board Risk 
Committee

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Directors’ report: Board of Directors continued

Tim Breedon CBE
Non-Executive

Appointed:  
1 November 2012

Mohamed A. El-Erian
Non-Executive

Appointed:  
1 January 2020

Dawn Fitzpatrick
Non-Executive

Appointed:  
25 September 2019

Relevant skills and experience
Dawn is a highly experienced financial executive 
who holds the role of Chief Investment Officer 
at Soros Fund Management LLC. Her previous 
experience includes 25 years with UBS and 
its predecessor organisations, most recently 
as Head of Investments for UBS Asset 
Management. Her knowledge of the businesses 
and markets in which the Group operates further 
strengthens the depth and range of relevant 
sector skills and experience across the Board. 
This enables Dawn to challenge and contribute 
effectively to the Group’s operations and the 
long-term sustainable success of the business.

Key current appointments
Chief Investment Officer, Soros Fund 
Management LLC; Member, The New York 
Federal Reserve’s Investor Advisory Committee 
on Financial Markets; Member, Advisory Board 
and Investment Committee of the Open Society 
Foundations’ Economic Justice Programme

Board Committee membership
Board Risk Committee

Relevant skills and experience
Mohamed is a highly respected economist and 
investor, with considerable experience in the 
asset management industry and multilateral 
institutions. He is the President of Queens’ 
College Cambridge and a part-time adviser 
to Allianz, the corporate parent of Pacific 
Investment Management Company (PIMCO 
LLC), where he formerly served as Chief 
Executive and Co-Chief Investment Officer. As 
well as serving on several advisory committees 
and boards, Mohamed is a regular columnist for 
Bloomberg Opinion and a contributing editor at 
the Financial Times. He has also published widely 
on international economic and financial topics. 
He spent 15 years at the IMF, where he served as 
Deputy Director before moving to the private 
sector and financial services. Mohamed’s acute 
knowledge and understanding of international 
economics and the financial services sector 
strengthens the Board’s capacity for overseeing 
the strategic direction and development of the 
Group. Mohamed’s knowledge and experience 
enable him to contribute to the long-term 
sustainable success and strategy of the 
business.

Key current appointments
Lead Independent Director, Under Armour Inc.; 
Chief Economic Adviser, Allianz SE; Chairman, 
Gramercy Funds Management; Senior Adviser, 
Investcorp Bank BSC; President, Queens’ 
College, Cambridge University 

Board Committee membership
Board Risk Committee

Relevant skills and experience
Tim’s continued contribution to Barclays’ 
strategy and long-term sustainable success 
comes from his extensive financial services 
experience, knowledge of risk management 
and UK and EU regulation, as well as an 
understanding of key investor issues. He had 
a distinguished career with Legal & General, 
where, among other roles, he was the Group 
CEO until June 2012; this experience enables 
Tim to provide challenge, advice and support 
to management on business performance 
and decision-making.

Key current appointments
Chairman, Apax Global Alpha Limited; 
Non-Executive Director, Quilter PLC

Board Committee membership
Board Audit Committee, Board Nominations 
Committee, Board Remuneration Committee, 
Board Risk Committee (Chair)

Sir Ian Cheshire
Non-Executive

Appointed:  
3 April 2017

Relevant skills and experience
Sir Ian is a member of the Board and until 
31 December 2020 was Chair of Barclays Bank 
UK PLC. He contributes to the Board’s 
substantial business experience, particularly in 
the international retail sector from his lengthy 
executive career at the Kingfisher Group, as well 
as experience in sustainability and environmental 
matters which are important to the Group’s 
strategy and long-term sustainable success. 
Sir Ian holds strong credentials in leadership, 
is involved with many charitable organisations, 
such as The Prince of Wales’s Charitable 
Foundation, and is highly regarded by the 
Government for his work with various 
Government departments.

Key current appointments
Chairman, Menhaden plc; Trustee, Institute 
for Government; Non-Executive Director, 
British Telecommunications plc

Board Committee membership
Board Nominations Committee 
(until 31 December 2020)

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Mary Francis CBE
Non-Executive

Appointed: 
1 October 2016

Tushar Morzaria 
Group Finance Director

Appointed:  
15 October 2013

Diane Schueneman
Non-Executive

Appointed:  
25 June 2015

Relevant skills and experience
Mary has extensive and diverse board-level 
experience across a range of industries, 
including her previous Non-Executive 
Directorships of the Bank of England, Alliance 
& Leicester, Aviva, Centrica and Swiss Re Group. 
Through her former senior executive positions 
with HM Treasury, the Prime Minister’s Office, 
and as Director General of the Association of 
British Insurers, she brings to the Board a strong 
understanding of the interaction between public 
and private sectors, skills in strategic decision-
making and reputation management and 
promotes strong board governance values, 
which enables her to continue to contribute 
effectively to the long-term sustainable success 
of the Group.

Key current appointments
Non-Executive Director, Valaris PLC; Senior 
Independent Director, PensionBee Ltd; Member 
of Advisory Panel, The Institute of Business 
Ethics; Member, UK Takeover Appeal Board

Board Committee membership
Board Remuneration Committee

Relevant skills and experience
Tushar is a chartered accountant and joined 
the Barclays Board and Executive Committee 
as Group Finance Director in October 2013. 
As part of his role he is responsible for Finance, 
Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations and Strategy. 
His extensive knowledge of strategic financial 
management, investment banking and 
operational and regulatory relations enable 
him to contribute effectively to Barclays’ 
long-term sustainable success. He has worked 
in investment banking for most of his career and 
held various roles at SG Warburg, Credit Suisse 
and JPMorgan. Immediately prior to joining 
Barclays he was CFO of the Corporate and 
Investment Bank at JPMorgan Chase. Tushar is 
currently Chair of the Working Group on Sterling 
Risk Free Reference Rates and a Non-Executive 
Director on the BP p.l.c board and a member of 
its Audit and Remuneration Committees.

Key current appointments
Non-Executive Director, BP p.l.c; Member, 
100 Group Main Committee; Chair, Sterling 
Risk Free Reference Rates Working Group

Board Committee membership
None

Relevant skills and experience
Diane is a member of the Board, Chair of 
Barclays Execution Services Limited and a 
member of the Board of Barclays US LLC. 
She brings to Barclays a wealth of experience 
in managing global, cross-discipline business 
operations, client services and technology in 
the financial services industry, which enables her 
to robustly challenge the Group’s strategy and 
support the long-term sustainable success of 
Barclays. Diane had an extensive career at Merrill 
Lynch, holding a variety of senior roles, including 
responsibility for banking, brokerage services 
and technology provided to the company’s retail 
and middle market clients.

Key current appointments
None

Board Committee membership
Board Audit Committee, Board Nominations 
Committee, Board Risk Committee

Stephen Shapiro
Group General Counsel  
and Group Company Secretary

Appointed:  
1 November 2017

Relevant skills and experience
Stephen joined Barclays in November 
2017 as Group Company Secretary and was 
subsequently appointed Group General Counsel 
in August 2020, in addition to his role as Group 
Company Secretary. Before joining Barclays 
Stephen served as the Group Company 
Secretary and Deputy General Counsel of 
SABMiller plc, and prior to this, he practised law 
as a partner in a law firm in South Africa, and 
subsequently in corporate law and M&A at 
Hogan Lovells in the UK. Stephen has extensive 
experience in corporate governance, legal, 
regulatory and compliance matters. Stephen 
serves as Vice Chair of the GC100, the 
association of General Counsel and Company 
Secretaries working in FTSE 100 companies, 
and has previously served as Chairman of the 
ICC UK’s Committee on Anti-Corruption.

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Directors’ report: Executive Committee
Balancing the skills and experience that we need to deliver  
our strategic ambitions. 

Strategically strengthened 
and developed further

In 2020 we refreshed the composition of the 
Executive Committee (ExCo) to ensure, as our 
most senior management forum for the Group, 
it continues to have the right balance of skills and 
experience that we need to deliver our strategic 
ambitions. Through the appointments made 
during the year, we have sought to further 
strengthen the senior management of the 
Group, bringing fresh perspectives and talents 
to bear on important areas of our business.

We have created a new role on the ExCo to 
ensure that societal engagement and our 
climate change ambitions are at the heart of our 
decision-making. We have also created the roles 
of Co-President of Barclays Bank PLC, so that 
our Corporate Bank, Banking and Markets 

businesses work more closely together, 
driving stronger collaboration across the CIB 
and delivering the Power of One Barclays for 
the benefit of our customers and clients:

New roles
Head of Public Policy and Corporate 
Responsibility
Sasha Wiggins

Global Head of Banking and Co-President 
of Barclays Bank PLC
Paul Compton

Global Head of Markets and Co-President 
of Barclays Bank PLC
C.S. Venkatakrishnan

Paul and Venkat were previously members 
of the ExCo in their respective capacities 
as President of Barclays Bank PLC and Group 
Chief Risk Officer; Joe McGrath stepped down 
from the ExCo on 31 December 2020 and 
we are immensely grateful for his continued 
contribution as Chairman of Investment Banking. 

New Appointments to the ExCo
Group Chief Risk Officer
Taalib Shah

Group General Counsel
Stephen Shapiro 

Bob Hoyt stepped down as the Group General Counsel 
in July 2020.

Jes Staley 
Group Chief Executive

Tushar Morzaria 
Group Finance Director

Mark Ashton Rigby 
Group Chief  
Operating Officer

Paul Compton 
Global Head of Banking  
and Co-President of  
Barclays Bank PLC

Alistair Currie
Head of Corporate Banking

Stephen Dainton 
Deputy Head of Markets

Matt Hammerstein
Chief Executive Officer,  
Barclays UK

Laura Padovani 
Group Chief  
Compliance Officer

Tristram Roberts 
Group Human  
Resources Director

Taalib Shah
Group Chief  
Risk Officer

Stephen Shapiro
Group General Counsel and  
Group Company Secretary

Ashok Vaswani 
Chief Executive Officer,  
Consumer Banking  
& Payments

C.S. Venkatakrishnan
Global Head of Markets  
and Co-President of  
Barclays Bank PLC

Sasha Wiggins
Group Head of  
Public Policy &  
Corporate Responsibility

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Directors’ report
The Board views governance as how it makes decisions and provides 
oversight in order to promote Barclays’ success for the long-term benefit of 
its shareholders having regard to the interests of its other key stakeholders. 

Purpose-led decision-making 
and stakeholder accountability

Our governance framework 
The Board views governance as how it makes 
decisions and provides oversight in order to 
promote Barclays’ success for the long-term 
benefit of its shareholders having regard to 
the interests of its other key stakeholders – 
our clients, customers, colleagues and the 
communities in which we operate. Effective 
governance facilitates the delivery of Barclays’ 
Purpose and strategy, particularly in 
challenging times. 

Barclays is a large, diversified organisation. The 
Board is committed, through our governance 
model, to driving purpose-led decision-
making and to delivering accountability to our 
stakeholders. Our Group-wide governance 
framework has been designed to facilitate the 
effective management of the Group across its 
diverse businesses by our Group CEO and his 
ExCo, while preserving the constructive 
challenge, support and oversight of the Group’s 
major subsidiary boards in the UK, Ireland and 
the US, consistent with their respective legal 
and regulatory responsibilities and in compliance 
with UK ring-fencing requirements. 

The Barclays PLC (BPLC) Board is responsible 
for setting the strategic direction and risk 
appetite of the Group and is the ultimate 
decision-making body for matters of 
Group-wide strategic, financial, regulatory 
or reputational significance.

BPLC is the Group Parent company and has a 
premium listing on the London Stock Exchange. 
Each of its main operating entities, Barclays Bank 
PLC (BBPLC), Barclays Bank UK PLC (BBUKPLC), 
Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays US LLC and 
Barclays Bank Delaware, has its own board 
comprising Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors. Each also has its own board committees. 
These main operating companies are supported 
by BX, the Group-wide service company 
providing technology, operations and functional 
services to businesses across the Group. 

Membership of the BPLC and BBPLC Boards was 
consolidated and streamlined in 2019, and this 
has led to significantly improved coordination 
and efficiency and reduced complexity and 
unnecessary duplication. Membership of the 
BBPLC Board became a subset of the BPLC 
Board, with all members of the BPLC Board, 
except the Senior Independent Director (SID), 
the Chairman of BBUKPLC and one other 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Non-Executive Director, also serving on the 
Board of BBPLC. In 2020, the Nominations 
Committee reviewed the effectiveness of the 
consolidated structure and considered that this 
partial consolidation continued to deliver its 
intended benefits and was operating effectively, 
giving due regard to matters relevant to each 
individual entity. You can read more about the 
Nominations Committee’s role in driving and 
reviewing the effectiveness of our governance 
framework on pages 82 to 86.

Board composition
In 2020, the Board welcomed the addition 
of two new Non-Executive Directors: 
■■ Mohamed A. El-Erian, who was appointed 

on 1 January 2020

■■ Brian Gilvary, who was appointed on 

1 February 2020. 

Both appointments have brought valuable 
insight and experience to the Board, relevant to 
the markets and geographies in which Barclays 
operates. 

In December 2020, the Board was very pleased 
to announce that Julia Wilson will join the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 
1 April 2021. She will also join the Audit 
Committee. Julia’s appointment reflects our 
commitment to strengthening our Board 
through the addition of further highly respected 
individuals with strong financial services 
expertise. She will bring significant corporate 
finance, tax and accounting experience to the 
Board and we look forward to welcoming her 
ahead of our AGM.

As reported in our 2019 Annual Report, 
Matthew Lester stepped down from the Board 
on 1 January 2020. Mary Anne Citrino stepped 
down from the Board on 30 September 2020 in 
order to dedicate more time to her other board 
commitments. We are grateful to them both for 
their service to Barclays. 

In line with the Group’s plans for orderly 
succession, Sir Ian Cheshire stepped down as a 
Non-Executive Director and Chair of BBUKPLC 
on 31 December 2020 and was succeeded by 
Crawford Gillies with effect from 1 January 2021 
(subject to regulatory approval). Crawford’s track 
record and deep knowledge of the Group, 
including BBUKPLC, position him well for this 
role. He remains on the BPLC Board alongside 

the BBUKPLC Board and we consider the 
ongoing benefits of having the Chair of one 
of our principal subsidiaries as a member of 
the BPLC Board to be significant. Upon his 
appointment to the BBUKPLC Board, 
Crawford ceased to be the SID of BPLC and 
was succeeded in that role by Brian Gilvary 
with effect from 1 January 2021. 

Sir Ian has agreed to remain on the BPLC Board 
until the AGM in May 2021 to help ensure a 
smooth transition. The Board is enormously 
grateful to Sir Ian for the tremendous work that 
he has undertaken on behalf of the Group and 
BBUKPLC in particular. Crawford will continue 
to chair the Remuneration Committee until 
1 March 2021, when he will be succeeded in 
that role by Brian Gilvary (subject to regulatory 
approval). At that time, Brian will have served as 
a member of the Remuneration Committee for 
12 months as recommended by the Code. 
Brian also joined the Risk and Nominations 
Committees with effect from 1 January 2021. 
You can read more about the membership of 
each of our Board Committees on pages 72 
to 94 and 141 to 142.

Efforts are ongoing to further complement the 
current range of skills on the Board through 
the recruitment of an additional Non-Executive 
Director with technology experience. The 
benefits of increased diversity remain at the 
forefront of this search. We continue to believe 
that a Board with the right balance of skills, 
experience and diversity – of gender, ethnicity, 
cognitive and personal strengths and social 
backgrounds – is critical to the sustainable 
delivery of value to our shareholders. 

Tim Breedon will have been on the Board for 
nine years in November 2021 and Mike Ashley 
will have been on the Board for nine years in 
September 2022 and, therefore, the Board is 
currently focused on identifying and developing 
potential successors for their roles as Risk 
Committee Chair and Audit Committee 
Chair, respectively. 

You can read more about the Board’s 
composition, diversity and succession planning, 
including recent changes and the appointment 
of Julia Wilson in the report of the Nominations 
Committee on pages 84 to 85. 

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Directors’ report continued 

Board Governance Framework 

Barclays PLC
Responsible for the overall leadership of the Group (with direct oversight of matters relating to reputation, environment and culture)

Audit  
Committee 

Nominations  
Committee

Risk  
Committee 

■■ Assesses the integrity 
of the Group’s financial 
statements 
■■ Evaluates the 

effectiveness of the 
Group’s internal controls
■■ Scrutinises the activities 
and performance of 
internal and external 
auditors

■■ Reviews and monitors the 
Group’s whistleblowing 
policies

■■ Reviews the composition 

■■ Monitors and recommends 

of the Board 

■■ Recommends the 

appointment of new 
Directors 

■■ Considers succession 
plans for key Board and 
ExCo positions

■■ Oversees the annual 
Board effectiveness 
review

the Group’s financial, 
operational and legal risk 
appetite

■■ Monitors the Group’s 
financial, operational, 
conduct and legal risk 
profile

■■ Considers and reports 
on key financial and 
non-financial risk issues
■■ Oversees conduct and 
compliance and the 
leadership of the Risk and 
Compliance functions 

Remuneration Committee

■■ Sets overarching 

principles and parameters 
of remuneration across 
the Group

■■ Considers and approves 
remuneration for the 
Chair, Executive Directors, 
other senior executives 
and certain Group 
employees

■■ Oversees remuneration 

issues

For more information 
see page 72

For more information 
see page 82

For more information 
see page 87

For more information 
see page 141

Principal Committees
The principal Committees of the Board, and 
the core responsibilities of each Committee, are 
described in the ‘Board Governance Framework’ 
table above. 

The remit of each Committee is set out in brief 
in the table, and you can read more about the 
Committees and their work on pages 72 to 94 
and 141 to 142.

Measuring Board and 
Committee effectiveness 
We believe that an effective board is one 
which delivers value for its stakeholders – our 
shareholders, clients, customers, communities 
and colleagues. We assess the effectiveness of 
our Board, its Committees and Board members 
each year.

In respect of 2020, the Board effectiveness 
review was conducted internally, in line with the 
Code, by the Group Company Secretary, 
overseen by the SID. The SID and Group 
Company Secretary are well placed to do this, 
having previously conducted the 2019 review 
using broadly similar methodology. As the Code 
requires an externally facilitated evaluation to 
be undertaken every three years, in 2021 our 
effectiveness review will be undertaken by an 
external evaluator.

You can read more about the 2020 process 
and progress against the 2019 review on 
pages 85 to 86.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

2

3

8

8

3

Board composition as at 31 December 2020 

Balance of Non-Executive Directors – Executive Directors 
No. of Directors
The Board considers all of the Non-Executive Directors to be independent.

1

Chairman
Non-Executive Directors
Executive Directors

Gender balance
No. of Directors

Male
Female

9

9

As at the conclusion of our 2021 AGM, there will be 8 male and 4 female directors.

Board allocation of timea
%

2020

2019

Strategy formulation and implementation monitoring
Finance (including capital and liquidity)
Governance and risk (including regulatory issues)
Other (including remuneration)

58

7

50

16

27

25

Length of tenure (Chairman and Non-Executive Directors)
No. of Directors

4

3

0-3 years
3-6 years
6-9 years

Industry experienceb
No. of Directors

12

8

7

3

2

2

Financial
services 

Political/regulatory
experience 

Current/recent
Chair/CEO 

Accountancy/
auditing 

Operations/
technology 

Retail/
marketing 

International experiencec
No. of Directors

9

6

7

International
(UK)

International
(US)

International
(Rest of the World)

Notes
a  The percentages are subject to rounding and therefore may not equal 100% when rounded.  

Including ad hoc meetings.
Individual Directors may fall into one or more categories. 
In relation to board experience based on the location of the headquarters/registered office of a company. 

b 
c 

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Directors’ report continued 
Effective governance facilitates the delivery of Barclays’ Purpose and strategy, 
particularly in challenging times. 

Key areas of  
focus in 2020 

We believe that effective governance facilitates 
the delivery of Barclays’ Purpose and strategy, 
particularly in challenging times. Throughout the 
COVID-19 pandemic, our Board has been keenly 
focused on protecting the health and wellbeing 
of our workforce and supporting our customers, 
clients and other stakeholders, while ensuring 
that Barclays remains secure and resilient, both 
financially and operationally. The challenges 
created by the COVID-19 pandemic provided 
the Board with a unique opportunity to consider 
how to balance decisions in a way that optimises 
our Purpose and takes into account the interests 
of all our stakeholders. 

As highlighted in our Chairman’s introduction, 
this requires a Board in which constructive 
challenge, openness and diversity of background 
and opinion are prized, along with a commitment 
to act fairly and in the interests of all our 
stakeholders. The Board is well placed 
to help Barclays stay true to its Purpose.

You can read more about the key areas of 
focus for the Board in 2020 on pages 68 to 70.

The Board discharged its responsibilities in 2020 
as described in the high-level flow diagram on 
this page.

Board  
responsibilities

Setting strategy
and

Challenging and 
supporting management 
to drive sustainable 
value creation for 
our shareholders
through

Compliance with law 
and regulation

all in
Setting risk  
appetite and risk 
management

Entrepreneurial and 
ethical leadership
and by

and
Effective internal and 
financial control

Engaging with our 
stakeholders
and

within a framework of
that aligns our Values 
with our strategy

Promoting our  
culture and Purpose

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Key priorities 

Reviewing our Purpose and Values 
In 2019, the Board considered, together with 
management, the extent to which our Purpose 
had been fully embedded across the Group. 
While concluding that our Purpose was 
integrated into many of our key processes and 
decision-making forums, the Board was of the 
view that there was potential for our Purpose 
to be reinvigorated such that it is better 
connected with our stakeholders and what 
we do on a day-to-day basis as a bank and is 
deeply embedded in our decision-making. 

The last 12 months have been immensely 
challenging for the firm and our colleagues, 
but they have also shown Barclays at its best: 
who we are, what we stand for, and how quickly 
we can move to get things done.

We want to reinforce that clarity and conviction 
about our Purpose and our Values, and stay true 
to that way of thinking about how we take action 
at pace. Accordingly, during 2020, the Board 
approved the introduction of a new, extended 
narrative of the Group’s Purpose and the 
refreshed descriptions of our Values to make sure 
they are still relevant for the challenges ahead. 

Our reinvigorated Purpose to ‘deploy finance 
responsibly to support people and businesses, 
acting with empathy and integrity, championing 
innovation and sustainability, for the common 

 “The last 12 months 

have been immensely 
challenging for the firm 
and our colleagues, 
but they have also shown 
Barclays at its best: 
who we are, what we 
stand for, and how 
quickly we can move 
to get things done.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

good and the long term’ is intended to serve as 
an expression of purpose which encapsulates 
our position as a universal bank providing global 
financial services and resonates with colleagues 
and all of our stakeholders. 

We updated and refreshed the language in the 
descriptors for each Value to better reflect who 
we are today, modern societal expectations, and 
things we should explicitly prioritise – such as 
inclusion and sustainability. Our Values remain 
core to how we individually ‘show up’ in the 
organisation; they are our moral compass and 
will continue to be used as a mandatory measure 
of individual performance.

We believe that positive culture, supported by 
effective leadership and a consistent ‘tone from 
the top’, is crucial to our success. As such, 
culture remains a core focus for the Board and 
it is reviewed in a number of ways including: 
■■ analysis of colleague survey results, reviewing 
and discussing colleague sentiment and 
feedback on areas including colleague 
wellbeing and engagement

■■ direct engagement with colleagues locally 
to hear their views through channels such 
as town hall meetings, talent sessions and 
office visits

■■ review of our people policies, which are 
designed to provide equal opportunities 
and create an inclusive culture, in line 
with our Values and in support of our 
long-term success. 

The Board reviewed Barclays’ method of 
workforce engagement during 2020 and 
concluded that it had been effective, with many 
direct engagement mechanisms moving to 
digital channels. Our workforce policies and 
practices were also reviewed and the Board 
agreed they were consistent with our Values and 
supported the long-term sustainable success 
of the Group. Feedback from our colleagues 
indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic had 
accentuated many aspects of our culture, 
manifesting itself in improved execution speeds, 
higher levels of colleague engagement and a 
belief among a majority of colleagues that our 
culture had improved. The Board has also 
carefully reviewed and endorsed how we define 
the way in which we want to get things done 
at Barclays – what we will call our mindset: 
‘Empower. Challenge. Drive.’

Alongside our strategy, and our strong 
commercial positioning, our Purpose, Values and 
Mindset will provide the foundations to move to 
the next phase of our cultural and commercial 
journey, supporting us in fulfilling our obligations 
to our shareholders, colleagues, customers, 
clients and wider society, in the spirit of the 
common good.

How the Board thinks about strategy 
The current COVID-19 related challenges are 
unprecedented in nature and, as the Board has 
discussed at length, the macroeconomic 
environment brings a significant degree of 
uncertainty. This has far-reaching impacts 
across the Group, raising significant matters 
for consideration by the Board in the context 
of the Board’s responsibility for the long-term 
sustainable success of Barclays, generating 
value for shareholders and contributing to wider 
society, as well as for the culture of the Group 
more broadly. It has also required the Board to 
focus on how best to try to protect the health 
and wellbeing of colleagues and customers and, 
particularly in the context of the AGM 
arrangements, that of shareholders as well. 
Updates presented to the Board through 
the pandemic have reported on a range of 
stakeholder interests including matters which 
are key to the Group’s reputation, such as 
business model impacts, colleague 
considerations, support for customers, clients 
and the communities in which Barclays operates, 
engagement with regulators, and the Group’s 
support for customers and communities 
through the pandemic. You can find further 
details of this in our Section 172 Statement 
on pages 18 to 21.

To clearly establish and implement the Group’s 
strategy, and be effective, with management, 
in addressing the challenges arising from the 
pandemic, the Board has continued to deepen 
its understanding of the Group’s business and 
the risks and opportunities it faces. As such, 
a prioritised series of ‘deep dives’ forms an 
important part of each Board meeting, enabling 
the Board to spend a good proportion of its time 
considering longer-term and strategic issues 
and the Group’s operational resilience, with 
strategy considered at every Board meeting, 
rather than in a set piece event once a year. This 
has been particularly beneficial in the context of 
the dynamic and evolving environment during 

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Directors’ report continued 

in our Section 172 Statement on pages 18 to 21. 
The Board will keep the considerable benefits 
of shareholder engagement in the AGM at the 
forefront of its planning for the 2021 AGM. 
This is an evolving situation and we will keep 
shareholders apprised of our plans as they 
develop. Further information will be made 
available in our 2021 Notice of Meeting 
and on our website in due course.

Climate change 
The Board has direct oversight of social and 
environmental matters, including climate 
change. The Board recognised that Barclays can, 
and should, make a real contribution to tackling 
climate change, and help to accelerate the 
transition to a low-carbon economy. In the first 
quarter of 2020 the Board established a Board 
Climate Committee, to oversee our activities 
in this critically important area. 

You can read more about our climate change 
strategy and stakeholder engagement in our 
Section 172 Statement on pages 18 to 21 and 
in  the Society and environment section of our 
Strategic report on pages 39 to 44. You can also 
find out more about our climate change plans on 
our website at home.barclays/climatechange

Our investor and stakeholder 
engagement
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
limiting the scope for ‘in-person’ meetings due 
to restrictions introduced during the course of 
the year, we were able to continue our extensive 
engagement programme with institutional 
equity and fixed income investors through 
a range of ‘virtual’ formats. Our Executive 
Directors, as well as other senior management 
representatives, supported by our Investor 
Relations team, engaged regularly with existing 
shareholders and target investors throughout 
the year. Our engagement programme also 
included a series of video conference calls with 
our major shareholders and other stakeholders 
(including proxy advisory agencies and investor 
associations) on our climate change ambition 
and commitments. In addition, throughout the 
year our Chairman, Nigel Higgins, frequently 
spoke with our shareholders and other 
stakeholders. You can read more about our 
continued engagement with our investors 
in our Strategic report on pages 16 to 21. 

Meaningful engagement with our colleagues has 
long been a key priority of the Board and you can 
read about our workforce engagement model 
in the People and culture section on pages 33 
to 37. More information about our broader 
stakeholder engagement is described in 
the Strategic report on pages 16 to 21.

2020, and has allowed the Board to discuss 
the impact of the pandemic on the different 
businesses within the Group and to provide 
support and constructive challenge to 
management in addressing diverse challenges 
by business and geography. The approval of 
the Group’s Medium Term Plan (MTP), in which 
our strategy is embedded, was reviewed by 
the Board at its September, November and 
December meetings.

Deep dive topics were informed by discussions 
with our shareholders and other stakeholders, 
as well as formal and informal Board discussions. 
In response to the growing pandemic, during 
2020 our deep dives programme was kept 
under review to give time to the discussion 
of new topics flowing directly from the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 

Deep dive topics discussed by the Board 
during the year covered a wide range of topics, 
including our Purpose and Values, the Group’s 
operational mindset during the COVID-19 
pandemic, the unwinding of crisis measures, 
and our climate change strategy, alongside 
updates from selected individual businesses 
and from key Group functions including 
Compliance, Legal, Risk and HR. 

As in previous years, we gave considerable focus 
to developments in the regulatory environment, 
to our key correspondence with regulators 
during the year in the context of their annual 
assessments and reviews, and to our 
engagement with our principal regulators 
in the UK and the US in particular. 

The oversight of risk profile and of our control 
environment is also a core Board responsibility 
and, in addition to the detailed oversight of these 
matters by the relevant Board Committees, has 
been addressed at Board meetings throughout 
the year. 

Governance through the pandemic
Given the dynamic environment brought about 
by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board needed 
to operate in ‘crisis’ mode and shift its focus 
from long-term value creation to addressing 
the short and medium-term implications of the 
pandemic. As part of the Board’s direct oversight 
of matters relating to reputation, updates 
were presented to the Board throughout 
the COVID-19 pandemic reporting on a range 
of stakeholder interests and matters key to 
our reputation. 

You can read more about the Board’s response 
to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 
difficult decision to cancel our ordinary share 
full year 2019 dividend, the establishment of a 
Board COVID-19 Response Committee and the 
need to revise our 2020 AGM arrangements in 
order to comply with UK Government guidance 
and to protect the health and wellbeing of our 
shareholders, colleagues and other stakeholders 

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 “The Board recognised 

that Barclays can, 
and should, make a 
real contribution to 
tackling climate change, 
and help to accelerate 
the transition to a 
low-carbon economy.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Making a difference for  
our customers and clients

The choice for America’s 
best brands

This year, we were delighted to be able to 
celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Barclays’ 
partnership with Wyndham Rewards, part of 
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, in the US. It’s a 
really long-standing relationship and one that 
we’re incredibly proud of.

There are lots of reasons for our success over 
so many years, including the great personal 
relationships between our teams. We’ve also 
thought about ways we can help maximise 
applications for the Wyndham Rewards 
co-branded credit card, for instance by tailoring 
marketing and discount offers to customers 
making a booking at one of Wyndham’s 
branded hotels. 

It is fantastic that we are able to enhance our 
customers’ experience, while supporting our 
partner to bring together all of its businesses 
through its rewards programme. 2020 also 
brought the launch of our new Wyndham 
Rewards Earner Card suite of products – 
enhanced consumer cards and a brand new 
small business card product.

I am also really pleased that, for the second 
consecutive year, the Wyndham Rewards Visa 
Card was named the winner of the USA Today 
10 Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Travel 
& Hotel Co-Branded Credit Card.

Nichelle Evans 
Managing Director, Travel & Affinity 
Partnerships, US Consumer Banking 
Wilmington

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Directors’ report: Board Audit Committee report
Ensuring the independence and effectiveness 
of the internal and external audit functions.

Maintaining robust internal 
controls throughout the pandemic

Dear Fellow Shareholders
2020 was a challenging year in terms of monitoring 
the internal and business controls environment 
alongside reviewing the Group’s financial 
performance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The calculation of expected credit loss (ECL) 
in accordance with IFRS 9 was a major focus 
for the Committee during the year as the 
calculation of credit impairment charges proved 
challenging due to ongoing macroeconomic 
uncertainty and evolving consensus. The ECL 
models are based on historical relationships 
between macroeconomic variables and credit 
impairment outcomes that pre-dated the 
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular 
the unprecedented level of government support 
provided to businesses and consumers in both 
the UK and in the US. Given the forward-looking 
nature of IFRS 9 provisioning, the ECL models 
showed, as expected, a significant degree of 
sensitivity to the current economic uncertainty. 
While, as noted below, the Committee is 
satisfied that the overall ECL provision level 
is appropriate, it must be recognised that the 
profit and loss impact reflects the difference 
between the opening and closing stock of 
provisions after accounting for write-offs in the 
period. The lack of significant increases in the 
latter at present, due to government support 
measures, magnifies the sensitivity of the 
provision charge to changes in assumptions.

To date the impact of climate change on the 
Group’s financial statements has been very 
limited. However, the Committee expects that 
to change over time and will continue to keep 
under review both this and the extent and 
accuracy of disclosures regarding the Group’s 
environmental impact.

In relation to Barclays’ internal control 
environment, the Committee noted that 
the Barclays Internal Control Environment 
Programme (BICEP) which commenced 
in January 2017 and was focused on 
strengthening the internal control environment 

across the Group, successfully completed in 
March 2020. The Group’s control environment 
is now in a much stronger position, which helped 
to deal with the operational challenges which 
the COVID-19 pandemic has presented. 
Management has operated within a robust 
framework for identifying and responding to 
control issues with appropriate reporting to the 
Committee and other Board Committees. The 
Committee was pleased to note that, effective 
25 June 2020, the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) 
announced the termination of its enforcement 
action initiated against Barclays Bank PLC in May 
2015 with regard to business practices relating 
to its US FX, Rates, Commodities, Government 
Bonds and Credit Derivatives activities; the FRB 
was satisfied with the remediation actions taken 
by the Group to enhance its firm-wide 
compliance systems and controls relating to 
those activities. Termination of the action was 
contingent upon completion by the Group of 
a review of relevant policies and procedures, 
which has now been achieved.

In assessing general control issues for disclosure 
in this Annual Report, the Committee continued to 
apply similar concepts to those used for assessing 
internal financial controls for the purposes of the 
US Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOx). The Committee 
remained of the view that there are no control 
issues that are considered to be a material 
weakness and which merit specific disclosure.

During 2020, I held regular meetings with the 
Chair of the BBUKPLC  Board Audit Committee 
and with the Chair of the Barclays US LLC Audit 
Committee. I also attended the meetings of the 
Barclays Bank Ireland PLC Audit Committee and 
BBUKPLC Audit Committee which considered 
the main year-end accounting issues, and I will be 
attending the Barclays US LLC Audit Committee 
meeting in March 2021. The Chair of the 
BBUKPLC Board Audit Committee attended the 
meeting of the Committee at which the control 
environment of BBUKPLC was considered as part 
of the Committee’s year-end evaluation. I also 

continued to meet frequently with members 
of senior management, including the Group 
Finance Director and Chief Internal Auditor. 

Barclays Internal Audit (BIA) is a key component 
in supporting the Committee’s work. I am 
pleased with the way that the function has 
performed throughout the year, particularly 
in scoping, performing and reporting the 
outcomes of its work both to management and 
the Committee in an environment where the 
scope of its audit plan, as approved in December 
2019, has had to change owing to the 
operational and risk challenges brought on by 
the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic took 
hold, I spoke weekly with the Chief Internal 
Auditor and her key management team. A BIA 
Contingency Plan was established and invoked in 
response to the pandemic, outlining heightened 
management, reporting and escalation 
protocols for BIA, both as a Third Line of 
Defence and a function within the Group.

I have also continued my regular engagement 
with the Group’s regulators, both in the UK and 
US. This has encompassed not only my work as 
the Chair of the Committee, but also my role as 
the Group’s Whistleblowing Champion. In that 
respect, I oversaw the production of the second 
of three annual reports which we agreed to 
submit to the FCA and PRA in the UK and to the 
New York Department of Financial Services 
regarding our whistleblowing programme.

Committee effectiveness
The 2020 Committee effectiveness review 
was conducted in accordance with the Code. 
This internal review involved completion of a 
tailored questionnaire by Committee members 
and standing attendees (which included our 
external lead audit engagement partner), 
in line with the approach adopted for all Board 
Committees in 2020. The review is an important 
part of the way Barclays monitors and improves 
Committee performance and effectiveness, 
maximising strengths and highlighting areas 
for further development. 

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Financial statements

The results confirm that the Committee is 
operating effectively. It is considered well-
constituted and provides an effective and 
appropriately broad level of challenge and 
oversight of the areas within its remit. It was 
suggested that the Committee may benefit 
from an additional member with specialist 
financial reporting and management expertise, 
with feedback noting that this would be 
addressed following the appointment of Julia 
Wilson as a new member of the Committee 
when she joins the BPLC Board in April 2021. 
In particular, the review indicates that the 
Committee has continued to operate effectively 
in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

My role as Chair in balancing a demanding agenda 
efficiently so that time is allocated to the most 
significant items for discussion was recognised. 
The Committee has a broad remit and has taken 
on additional responsibilities during recent years, 
for example the oversight of tax matters, so 
continued focus on this area will be beneficial. 

The review commented that the Committee’s 
interaction with the Board, Board Committees 
and senior management is considered effective, 
noting in particular that the Committee’s 
interaction with the Board Risk Committee 
works well. The review highlighted that reporting 
to the Committee on issues relevant to the 
Committee’s remit relating to BBUKPLC had 
been streamlined and effective. Following the 
consolidation of the membership of the 
Committee with the BBPLC Board Audit 
Committee, coverage of BBPLC matters within 
concurrent meetings was considered adequate. 

Changes to Committee composition
Having taken on the role of Chair of BBUKPLC 
at the end of December 2020, Crawford Gillies 
left the Committee. I look forward to welcoming 
Julia Wilson as a new member of the Committee 
when she joins the BPLC Board in April 2021.

Looking ahead
In 2021, the Committee will continue to monitor 
the key IFRS 9 processes, particularly in light of 
the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
the uncertain economic environment and 
related impact upon the Group. There is 
always a balance to be struck between the 
sophistication of models and the ability to adapt 
them to changing circumstances and run them 
on a timely basis using different assumptions 
and scenarios. In implementing IFRS 9, the 
Group developed a number of highly complex 
and sophisticated models for ECL which have 
been particularly challenged in the pandemic, 
which is a situation also impacting a number of 
the Group’s peers. Going forward, therefore, 
management is looking to simplify the model 
environment significantly, while at the same time 
making it more readily responsive to major 
changes in the economic environment. These 
changes will also provide increased flexibility 
to perform sensitivity analysis. The Committee 
is fully supportive of this effort and will be 
monitoring this development closely.

The Committee will also seek to monitor the 
sustainability of the continuing evolution of the 
internal control environment, notwithstanding 
so many Group processes having ‘returned to 
Satisfactory’ as part of the now successfully 
completed BICEP initiative; and to continue the 
scrutiny of the control issues and new working 
arrangements resulting from, or associated with, 
the impact of the  COVID-19 pandemic. We will 
also be looking to assess the reporting of control 
issues – with increasing focus on the remaining 
key areas of focus – as well as to monitor the 
satisfactory completion of various ongoing 
remediation programmes.

Mike Ashley
Chair, Board Audit Committee

17 February 2021

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Directors’ report: Board Audit Committee report continued 

Role of the Committee
The role of the Committee is to review 
and monitor, among other things:
■■ the integrity of the Group’s financial 

statements and related announcements
■■ the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 

controls

■■ the independence and effectiveness of 
the internal and external audit process

■■ the Group’s relationship with the 

external auditors

■■ the effectiveness of the Group’s 

whistleblowing policies and procedures.

The Committee’s terms of reference 
are available at home.barclays/who-we-are/
our-governance/board-committees

Board Audit  
Committee

Committee members

Member 

Mike Ashley 

Tim Breedon

Crawford Gillies

Diane Schueneman 

Meetings attended/
eligible to attend

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

Committee allocation of time
%

2020

2019

4

5

23

36

11

11

15

17

39

11

12

16

Control Issues
Business Control Environment
Financial Results
Internal Audit Matters
External Audit Matters
Other (including litigation, 
governance and compliance)

Committee composition and meetings
The Committee is composed solely of 
independent Non-Executive Directors, with 
membership designed to provide the breadth 
of financial expertise and commercial acumen 
it needs to fulfil its responsibilities. Its members 
as a whole have recent and relevant experience 
of the banking and financial services sector, 
in addition to general management and 
commercial experience; and are financially 
literate. In particular, Mike Ashley, who is the 
designated financial expert on the Committee 
for the purposes of SOx, is a former audit 
partner who, during his executive career, acted 
as lead engagement partner on the audits of 
a number of large financial services groups. 
When she joins the Committee in April 2021, 
Julia Wilson will also bring deep technical 
experience to the Committee, including 
corporate finance, tax and accounting expertise. 
You can find more details of the experience 
of the current Committee members in their 
biographies on pages 61 to 63.

During 2020, the Committee met 10 times 
(2019: 10 times) and the chart opposite shows 
how the Committee allocated its time. 
Attendance by members at Committee 
meetings is also shown opposite. Committee 
meetings were attended by representatives 
from management, including the Group CEO, 
Group FD, Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Controls 
Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Operating 
Officer, Group General Counsel and Group Chief 
Compliance Officer, as well as representatives 
from the businesses and other functions, and 
from BBPLC senior management reflecting the 
streamlined operation of the BPLC and BBPLC 
Committee meetings.

The lead audit engagement partner of KPMG, 
Michelle Hinchliffe, also attended Committee 
meetings. The Committee held a number of 
separate private sessions with each of the Chief 
Internal Auditor and the lead audit engagement 
partner during 2020, which were not attended 
by management.

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Area of focus

Reporting issue

Role of the Committee

Conclusion/action taken

Fair, 
balanced and 
understandable 
reporting
(including Country- 
by-Country 
Reporting 
and Modern Slavery 
Statement)

In light of the Board’s 
obligation under the 
Code, the Committee 
assesses external 
reporting to ensure 
it is fair, balanced 
and understandable.

■■ In addition to this Annual Report and associated 

year-end reports, the Committee also reviewed the 
Group’s quarterly reports and the presentations 
to analysts. 

■■ The Committee informed these reviews by:

–  consideration of reports of the Disclosure 

Committee which included views on content, 
accuracy and tone

–  direct questioning of management, including the 
Group CEO and Group FD, on the transparency 
and accuracy of disclosures

–  consideration of management’s response to 

letters issued by the Financial Reporting Council 
(FRC) and other industry reporting guidance

–  evaluation of the output of the Group’s internal 
control assessments and SOx s404 internal 
control process

–  consideration of the results of management’s 

processes relating to financial reporting matters 
and evidencing the representations provided to 
the external auditors.

Going concern 
and long-term 
viability
(refer to the Viability 
Statement on 
pages 50 and 51)

Barclays is required to 
assess whether it is 
appropriate to prepare the 
financial statements on a 
going concern basis and 
also, in accordance with 
the Code, Barclays must 
provide a statement of 
its viability.

The Committee considered both the going concern 
assumption and the form and content of the Viability 
Statement having regard to:
■■ the Medium Term Plan (MTP) and Working Capital 

Review (WCR)

■■ the forecasted liquidity and funding profile
■■ the results of stress tests based on internal 
assumptions as reviewed by the Board 
Risk Committee

■■ current risk and strategy disclosures
■■ changes to capital ratios.

The Committee considered the 
extensive disclosures regarding 
the COVID-19 pandemic relating 
not just to the impact on the 
financial statements, but also to 
the actions taken and support 
provided by the Group to ensure 
they met the required standard. 
In relation to the former, the 
Committee considered in 
particular the ECL judgements 
and disclosures from a IFRS 9 
perspective in light of guidance 
issued by regulators as part of 
their response to the COVID-19 
pandemic, including (among 
other things) capital measures 
in relation to IFRS 9 transitional 
relief and impact of government 
support schemes and other 
support measures from central 
banks and regulators.

Having evaluated all of the 
available information, the 
assurances by management and 
underlying processes used to 
prepare the published financial 
information, the Committee 
concluded and advised the Board 
that the 2020 Annual Report and 
financial statements are fair, 
balanced and understandable.

The Committee recommended 
to the Board that the financial 
statements should be prepared 
on a going concern basis and 
that there were no material 
uncertainties that may cast 
significant doubt on the Group’s 
ability to continue as a going 
concern; and noted that capital 
ratios remained above minimum 
mandatory requirements.

The Committee also agreed 
that the appropriate time frame 
for the Viability Statement 
continued to be three years 
and recommended the Viability 
Statement to the Board 
for approval.

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Area of focus

Reporting issue

Role of the Committee

Conclusion/action taken

Impairment 
of Financial 
Instruments
(refer to Note 7 
to the financial 
statements)

Goodwill and 
Intangible 
Impairments
(refer to Note 22 to 
the financial 
statements)

ECLs are modelled using 
a range of forecast 
economic scenarios. 
They use forward-looking 
models which require 
judgements to be made 
over modelling 
assumptions, including:
■■ the determination 
of macroeconomic 
scenarios to be used
■■ the methodology for 
weighting scenarios
■■ the establishment 

of criteria to 
determine significant 
deterioration in 
credit quality
■■ the application 
of management 
adjustments to the 
modelled output.

The latter has been 
particularly relevant 
in 2020 as the models 
were not designed to 
take account of the 
unprecedented level 
of government support 
for both businesses and 
consumers during 
the COVID-19 pandemic.

The valuations of goodwill 
and intangible assets 
are assessed on the basis 
of discounted forecast 
future earnings, which 
in the current economic 
circumstances are 
significantly reduced. 
In addition, given the 
nature of the Group’s 
business and the 
significant component 
of earnings attributable 
to net interest income, 
such forecasts are 
particularly sensitive to 
the level of long-term 
interest rates and the 
shape of the yield curve.

As part of its monitoring, the Committee considered 
a number of reports from management on:
■■ the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
■■ the impact of the uncertain macroeconomic 

environment and effectiveness of government 
support measures

■■ the continued development and embedding of 
controls over the internal processes supporting 
the ECL calculation and related assessment of 
SOx compliance (including by the external auditors)

■■ model changes 
■■ regeneration of the macroeconomic variables 

and associated weighting

■■ adjustments made to the modelled output to reflect 

updated data and known model deficiencies, including 
in relation to the impact of government support

■■ comparisons between actual experience 

and forecast losses.

Having considered and 
scrutinised the reports, 
the Committee agreed with 
management’s conclusion 
that the impairment provision 
(including specifically the 
£4,838m for credit impairment 
charges) was appropriate. In 
particular, the Committee agreed 
with the judgement exercised 
by management in determining 
post-model adjustments on the 
assumption that government 
support is likely largely to defer, 
rather than eliminate, the impact 
of the current economic stresses.

The Committee also agreed 
with management that it was 
important to develop the ECL 
models so that they are more 
responsive to changing 
economic scenarios.

In light of the increased 
inherent uncertainty of the 
ECL calculation, the Committee 
encouraged management to 
continue increasing disclosures 
relating to the provision and its 
sensitivity to key variables.

The Committee considered the allocation of goodwill 
and intangibles to the cash generating units, ensuring 
consistency with the treatment adopted in prior years. 
The Committee also discussed with management 
methodology for assessing value in use given the 
reduction in headroom which required a more detailed 
review than in earlier years. In particular, the Committee 
reviewed the basis for allocating net tangible equity to 
the relevant cash generating units. The Committee also 
considered management’s forecast future earnings 
(as shown by the MTP after taking account of subsequent 
key changes in the macroeconomic environment 
which might be expected to impact the impairment 
assessment) and the extrapolation of those earnings out 
beyond that time. Finally, the Committee considered the 
sensitivity analyses prepared by management, which 
indicated what changes to assumptions would trigger 
the need for impairment.

The Committee was satisfied 
that the forecasts supported the 
recoverability of the goodwill and 
intangibles and no impairment 
was required. As expected, 
however, the headroom was 
significantly decreased from prior 
years and the sensitivity analyses 
illustrated that comparatively 
small changes in key assumptions 
could lead to impairment. The 
Committee therefore carefully 
reviewed the disclosures made to 
ensure that the key sensitivities 
and the potential impacts were 
appropriately highlighted.

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Area of focus

Reporting issue

Role of the Committee

Conduct 
provisions 
(refer to Note 24 to 
the financial 
statements)

Barclays makes 
certain assumptions 
and estimates, 
analysis of which 
underpins provisions 
made for the costs 
of customer redress.

Legal, 
competition and 
regulatory 
provisions
(refer to Notes 24 
and 26 to the 
financial 
statements)

Valuations
(refer to Notes 13 to 
17 to the financial 
statements)

Barclays is engaged in 
various legal, competition 
and regulatory matters 
which may give rise to 
provisioning based on 
the facts.

The level of provisioning 
is subject to management 
judgement on the basis 
of legal advice and is, 
therefore, an area of 
focus for the Committee.

Barclays exercises 
judgement in the 
valuation and disclosure 
of financial instruments, 
derivative assets and 
certain portfolios, 
particularly where quoted 
market prices are 
not available.

With a view to evaluating adequacy of the provisions, 
the Committee analysed:
■■ the judgements and estimates made with regard to 
Barclays’ provisioning for the remaining PPI claims
■■ the estimated extent of compensation payable to 
customers in respect of non-delivery of certain 
expected benefits

■■ the possibility of conduct issue claims arising as a 
result of the changed working environment in the 
context of the COVID-19 pandemic

■■ the possibility of claims arising from the Group’s 

participation in government loan schemes to support 
customers against the impact of the pandemic, 
taking account of work carried out by the Risk 
Committee on the underlying risks and management’s 
mitigating actions.

The Committee evaluated advice on the status of current 
legal, competition and regulatory matters. It considered 
management’s judgements on the level of provision to 
be taken and accompanying disclosure.

Conclusion/action taken

The Committee noted that, 
following the imposition of 
the deadline in relation to 
PPI claims, the significance 
of conduct provisions has 
considerably declined. 

The Committee agreed with 
management that the overall 
level of provision in relation to 
the various conduct matters 
was adequate and appropriate 
at £497m as at the end of 
the year.

The Committee discussed 
provisions and utilisation and, 
having reviewed the information 
available to determine what 
was both probable and could be 
reliably estimated, the Committee 
agreed that the level of provision 
at the year end was appropriate. 
The Committee also considered 
that the disclosures made 
provided the appropriate 
information for investors.

The Committee:
■■ evaluated reports outlining the Group’s material 

valuation judgements

■■ monitored the valuation methods applied, including 

changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

■■ considered pensions liability valuations. 

The Committee noted that there 
were no new significant valuation 
judgements at the end of 
the year.

The Committee was satisfied 
with the accounting treatment 
in respect of the various matters.

Tax
(refer to Note 9 
to the financial 
statements)

Barclays is subject to 
taxation in a number of 
jurisdictions globally and 
makes judgements with 
regard to provisioning 
for tax at risk and to 
the recognition and 
measurement of deferred 
tax assets.

The Committee is responsible for considering the Group’s 
tax strategy and overseeing compliance with the Group’s 
Tax Code of Conduct. In this regard the Committee 
received reports from the Tax Management Oversight 
Committee and, in particular, considered the upward 
revaluation of UK deferred tax assets due to cancellation 
of a scheduled 2% UK corporation tax cut which had 
been due to take place in April 2020 and additional tax 
considerations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Committee reviewed the appropriateness 
of provisions made for uncertain tax positions.

The Committee also confirmed that the estimates 
and assumptions used in assessing the recoverability 
of deferred tax assets were supported by the MTP.

The Committee was satisfied 
that specific strategies were in 
line with the Group’s Tax Code 
of Conduct and on behalf of 
the Board approved the UK Tax 
Strategy statement published 
as part of the Country-by-
Country Report.

The Committee noted that the 
uncertain tax positions covered 
a diverse range of issues and, 
as a consequence, agreed with 
management’s view that there 
was not a significant risk of a 
material adjustment during the 
next year.

The Committee was also satisfied 
that deferred tax assets 
recognition was appropriate.

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Area of focus

Reporting issue

Role of the Committee

Conclusion/action taken

Internal controls 
and business 
control 
environment
(read more about 
Barclays’ internal 
control and risk 
management 
processes on 
pages 100 to 101)

The effectiveness 
of the overall control 
environment, including 
the status of any 
significant control 
issues and the 
progress of specific 
remediation plans.

Raising concerns

Internal audit

The adequacy of the 
Group’s arrangements to 
allow employees to raise 
concerns in confidence 
and anonymously without 
fear of retaliation; and 
the outcomes of any 
substantiated cases.

The performance of BIA 
and delivery of the internal 
audit plan, including scope 
of work performed, the 
level of resources, and 
the methodology and 
coverage of the internal 
audit plan.

External audit

The work and 
performance of KPMG.

The Committee:
■■ monitored finalisation of BICEP which completed at 

the end of March 2020 as well as ongoing sustainability 
of the enhanced control environment

■■ evaluated and tracked the status of the most 

significant control issues through regular reports 
from the Chief Controls Officer, including updates on 
lessons learned and progress relating to remediation 
areas, as well as priorities looking forward to sustain 
and strengthen the control environment

■■ focused on reports relating to individual businesses 
and functions on the control aspects of key matters 
such as IBOR transition and post-Brexit transition 
period control preparedness, operational resilience 
and controls, particularly in the context of the impact 
of the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber security and data 
management controls

■■ received independent evaluations from BIA 

and external auditors.

The Committee has received reports from 
management and monitored whistleblowing metrics 
and retaliation reports.

The Committee has during the year:
■■ monitored BIA’s implementation of the first year of its 
three-year internal audit plan ending December 2022

■■ approved the establishment of the Internal Audit 
Contingency Plan, in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic

■■ reviewed BIA’s audit reports in relation to specific 
audits, noting that any planned audits cancelled in 
2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic would be 
rescheduled for 2021, as appropriate

■■ tracked the levels of adverse audits and issues raised 

by BIA and monitored related remediation plans
■■ discussed BIA’s assessment of the management 
control approach and control environment in the 
Group companies and functions.

The Committee:
■■ met with key members of the KPMG audit team to 

discuss the 2020 Audit Plan and KPMG’s areas of focus
■■ assessed regular reports from KPMG on the progress 
of the 2020 audit and any material accounting and 
control issues identified

■■ discussed KPMG’s feedback on Barclays’ critical 

accounting estimates and judgements

■■ discussed KPMG’s draft report on certain control areas 

and the control environment ahead of the 2020 
year end

■■ considered the draft SOx control report and the draft 

audit opinion.

The Committee has focused 
on the ability of the Group to 
maintain strong internal controls 
in the context of the challenges 
brought about by the COVID-19 
pandemic, the huge increase in 
number of staff working remotely 
and the pressure on systems, 
branch facilities and customer 
service levels generally.

During 2020 the Committee 
received reports, including a 
year-end annual report, on 
whistleblowing from management 
and noted that the whistleblowing 
programme continued to operate 
satisfactorily during the  
COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Committee received BIA’s 
annual review of its charter 
and reviewed BIA’s performance 
report, including quality 
assurance. 

The Committee also agreed BIA’s 
proposed 2021 Audit Plan, 
noting the related methodology, 
deliverables and level of resources 
to be allocated in respect of 
internal audit execution and 
delivery, data analytics, people, 
diversity and leadership as well as 
governance and management 
information.

The Committee approved the 
2020 Audit Plan and the main 
areas of focus for the year.

Read more about the 
Committee’s role in assessing the 
performance, effectiveness and 
independence of the external 
auditor on the next page.

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Financial statements

External auditor 
Following an external audit tender in 2015, 
KPMG was appointed as Barclays’ Statutory 
Auditor with effect from the 2017 financial year. 
Michelle Hinchliffe of KPMG is Barclays’ lead 
audit engagement partner and was appointed to 
this role with effect from the 2018 financial year.

Assessing external auditor 
effectiveness, objectivity and 
independence and non-audit services
The Board Audit Committee is responsible for 
assessing the effectiveness, objectivity and 
independence of the Group’s auditor, KPMG. 
This responsibility was discharged throughout 
the year at formal Committee meetings, 
during private meetings with KPMG and through 
discussions with key Group executives. 
In addition to the matters noted above, 
the Committee also:
■■ approved the terms of the audit engagement 

letter and associated fees, on behalf of 
the Board

■■ discussed and agreed revisions to the Group 
policy on the Provision of Services by the 
Group Statutory Auditor (the Policy) and 
regularly analysed reports from management 
on the non-audit services provided to 
Barclays

■■ evaluated and approved revisions to the 

Group policy on Employment of 
Employees or Workers from the Statutory 
Auditor and ensured compliance with 
the policy by regularly assessing reports 
from management detailing any 
appointments made

■■ was briefed by KPMG on critical accounting 
judgements and estimates and internal 
controls over financial reporting
■■ assessed any potential threats to 

independence that were self-identified 
and reported by KPMG

■■ considered and discussed the audit quality 
inspection report on KPMG issued by the 
FRC’s Audit Quality Review (AQR) team in 
relation to its review of KPMG’s audit of the 
financial statements for the period ended 
31 December 2018.

As well as receiving the AQR team’s formal 
report the Committee benefited, as on a 
previous occasion, from a presentation by the 
AQR team which was greatly appreciated. This 
presentation, which was also attended by the 
Chair of the BBUKPLC Board Audit Committee, 
allowed the Committee to discuss the main 
findings of the AQR in some detail. As 
foreshadowed last year, the AQR team had 
identified certain areas for improvement in 
KPMG’s audit work, particularly in relation to 
the depth of substantive testing of financial 
derivative instruments and both controls and 
substantive work in relation to ECL estimates 
under IFRS 9. Again, as noted last year, KPMG 
had already increased its coverage of these 
areas both in the 2019 audit and in planning for 
its 2020 audit. It became apparent, however, 
during the Committee’s discussions with the 
AQR team and subsequent interaction with 
KPMG, that the expectations continue to evolve 
particularly in relation to the substantive testing 
of IFRS ECL models, requiring some element of 
code review and reperformance of nearly all of 
the Group’s models by KPMG. The Committee 
acknowledges that the level of audit work 
required is a matter of auditor judgement and 
more work can always be carried out, and the 
AQR team’s comments can be helpful in this 
respect. However, we do have some concern 
over the level of incremental audit evidence 
obtained from these procedures, particularly in 
the current year when the models themselves 
are more than usually supportive of the 
judgement necessarily exercised by 
management, rather than determinative of the 
level of impairment provision required. We are 
also conscious of the need to balance the 
sufficiency of audit evidence needed with the 
time required, by both auditors and the Group’s 
own employees, to execute on this expanded 
level of work. The Committee encouraged 
KPMG to continue its dialogue with the AQR 
team on addressing the feedback and to amend 
its approach to the audit work as required, but 
at the same time to seek to arrive at a more 
general consensus with both the other major 
firms and audit regulators on an appropriate 
approach for the future. 

KPMG’s performance, independence and 
objectivity during 2020 were also formally 
assessed at the beginning of 2021 by way of 
a questionnaire completed by key stakeholders 
across the Group, including the chairs of the 
Board Audit Committees of the Group’s main 
operating companies (BBUKPLC, Barclays 
US LLC and Barclays Bank Ireland PLC). 
The questionnaire was designed to evaluate 
KPMG’s audit process and addressed matters 
such as the quality of planning and 
communication, technical knowledge, the level 
of scrutiny and challenge applied and KPMG’s 
understanding of the business, as well as key 
issues relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition, as in the prior year, KPMG nominated 
a senior partner of the audit team reporting to 
the lead audit engagement partner to have 
specific responsibility for ensuring audit quality. 
The Committee therefore met with the partner 
concerned, without the lead audit engagement 
partner present, to receive a report on his 
assessment of audit quality bearing in mind 
particularly the comments received from the 
AQR team.

Taking into account the result of all of the 
above, the Committee considered that KPMG 
maintained its independence and objectivity 
and that the audit process was effective. 

Non-audit services
In order to safeguard the auditor’s independence 
and objectivity, Barclays has in place a policy 
setting out the circumstances in which the 
auditor may be engaged to provide services 
other than those covered by the Group audit. 
The Policy applies to all Barclays subsidiaries and 
other material entities over which Barclays has 
significant influence. The core principle of the 
Policy is that non-audit services (other than 
those legally required to be carried out by the 
Group’s auditor) should be performed by the 
auditor only in certain controlled circumstances. 
The Policy sets out those types of services that 
are permitted (‘Permitted’ services). A summary 
of the Policy can be found at home.barclays/
who–we-are/our-governance/auditor-
independence.

The Policy is reviewed on an annual basis 
to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that 
it reflects applicable rules and guidelines. 

The Policy is aligned both with the FRC’s 
requirements and with KPMG’s own internal 
policy on non-audit services for FTSE 350 
companies which broadly restricts non-audit 
work to services that are ‘closely related’ to the 
audit. The Committee approved an updated 
Policy in 2020 which reflected the revised 
FRC Ethical Standard ‘white list’ of permitted 
non-audit/additional services.

Any changes to the Policy are approved at 
a Group level by the Committee. This is in 
accordance with laws applicable in the UK 
and FRC guidance, pursuant to which audit 
committees of Public Interest Entities (such 
as Barclays) are required to approve non-audit 
services provided by their auditors to such 
entities; and subsidiary Public Interest Entities 
in the UK – such as BBUKPLC and BBPLC – 
can rely on the approval of non-audit services 
by the ultimate parent’s Board Audit Committee. 
Pursuant to the Policy, audit services and the 
fee cap are monitored by the relevant Board 
Audit Committee, as appropriate.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report: Board Audit Committee report continued 

 “2020 was a challenging 

year in terms of 
monitoring the internal 
and business controls 
environment alongside 
reviewing the Group’s 
financial performance 
in light of the COVID-19 
pandemic.

Under the Policy, except for specific categories 
of ‘Permitted’ services that require explicit 
Committee approval, the Committee has 
pre-approved all ‘Permitted’ services for 
which fees are less than £100,000. However, all 
proposed work, regardless of the amount of the 
fees, must be sponsored by a senior executive 
and recorded on a centralised online system, with 
a detailed explanation of the clear commercial 
benefit arising from engaging the auditor over 
other potential service providers. The lead audit 
engagement partner must also confirm that the 
engagement has been approved in accordance 
with the auditor’s own internal ethical standards 
and does not pose any threat to the auditor’s 
independence or objectivity. All requests to 
engage the auditor are assessed by independent 
management (who are not involved in any work to 
which the proposed engagement relates) before 
work can commence. Requests for ‘Permitted’ 
service types in respect of which the fees are 
expected to meet or exceed the above threshold 
but expected to be less than £250,000 must be 
approved by the Chair of the Committee before 
work is permitted to begin. Services where the 
fees are expected to be £250,000 or higher 
must be approved by the Committee as 
a whole. All expenses and disbursements 
must be included in the fees calculation.

During 2020, all engagements for which 
expected fees met or exceeded the above 
thresholds were evaluated by either the 
Committee Chair or the Committee members 
as a whole, who, before confirming any approval, 
assured themselves that there was justifiable 
reason for engaging the auditor and that its 
independence and objectivity would not be 
threatened. No requests to use KPMG were 
declined by the Committee in 2020 (2019: 
none). On a quarterly basis, the Committee 
scrutinised details of individually approved and 
pre-approved services undertaken by KPMG 
in order to satisfy itself that they posed no risk 
to independence, either in isolation or on an 
aggregated basis.

For the purposes of the Policy, the Committee 
has determined that any pre-approved service 
of a value of under £50,000 is to be regarded as 
trivial in terms of its impact on Barclays’ financial 
statements and has required the Group Financial 
Controller to specifically review and confirm to 
the Committee that any pre-approved service 
with a value of between £50,000 and £100,000 
may be regarded as such. The Committee 
undertook a review of pre-approved services 
at its meeting in December 2020.

The fees payable to KPMG for the year ended 
31 December 2020 amounted to £59m 
(2019: £56m), of which £12m (2019: £11m) 
was payable in respect of non-audit services. 
A breakdown of the fees payable to the auditor 
for statutory audit and non-audit work can be 
found in Note 40 of the financial statements. 
Of the £12m of non-audit services provided by 
KPMG during 2020, the significant categories 
of engagement, i.e. services where the fees 
amounted to more than £500,000, included:
■■ audit related services: services in connection 
with Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS) audits 
(while the CASS audit fell within the auditor’s 
scope of services, the fees for such 
services did not form part of the global 
fee arrangements and therefore required 
separate Committee approval pursuant 
to the Policy)

■■ audit related services: services in connection 
with regulatory, compliance and internal 
control reports and audit procedures, 
required by law or regulation to be provided 
by the Statutory Auditor

■■ other attest and assurance services: 

ongoing attestation and assurance services 
for treasury and capital markets transactions 
to meet regulatory requirements, 
including regular reporting obligations 
and verification reports.

The Statutory Audit Services for 
Large Companies Market Investigation 
(Mandatory Use of Competitive 
Tender Processes and Audit Committee 
Responsibilities) Order 2014
An external audit tender was conducted in 2015 
and the decision was made to appoint KPMG 
as Barclays’ external auditor with effect from 
the 2017 financial year, with PwC resigning as 
the Group’s statutory auditor at the conclusion 
of the 2016 audit.

Barclays is in compliance with the requirements 
of The Statutory Audit Services for Large 
Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory 
Use of Competitive Tender Processes and 
Audit Committee Responsibilities) Order 2014, 
which relates to the frequency and governance 
of tenders for the appointment of the external 
auditor and the setting of a policy on the 
provision of non-audit services.

Provided that KPMG continues to maintain 
its independence and objectivity, and the 
Committee remains satisfied with its 
performance, the Group has no intention of 
tendering for an alternative external auditor 
before the end of the current required period 
of 10 years.

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Making a difference for society

LifeSkills added real,  
practical value

Many of our students are teenagers who 
are about to make the transition to further 
education or the job market. It’s an important 
stage, and ensuring they are fully prepared 
can make a real difference to their futures.

We have a solid careers curriculum, but when 
Barclays approached us last year and offered 
to share their LifeSkills programme, we were 
delighted to be getting extra support. Together 
we created a series of lessons that help them 
feel more confident about the kinds of things 
they will soon be doing – whether that’s coming 
across well in an interview, or knowing how to 
open up their first bank account.

The pupils find it all really practical and 
engaging – you know when a lesson is good 
when the kids ask for a bit more time at the 
end! Now we include the content as part of 
our regular lessons, and it continues to prove 
extremely valuable.

We created a series of lessons 
with Barclays that added 
engaging and practical 
content for pupils.

Simon Gallacher 
Principal Teacher, Park School  
Kilmarnock

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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081

 
Directors’ report: Board Nominations Committee report
Ensuring that we have the right balance of skills, experience, 
diversity of background and opinion

Delivering effectiveness  
and diversity 

Board Nominations  
Committee

Committee members

Member 

Nigel Higgins 

Mike Ashley 

Tim Breedon

Crawford Gilles

Sir Ian Cheshire 

Diane Schueneman 

Meetings attended/
eligible to attend

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

6/7

8/8

Committee allocation of time
%

2020

2019

9

9

19

25

54

11

7

44

10

12

Corporate governance matters 
Board and Board Committee composition 
Succession planning and talent 
Board effectiveness 
Other 

Note
Including ad hoc meetings.

Balancing decisions in a way that optimises our 
Purpose requires a Board in which constructive 
challenge, openness and diversity of background 
and opinion are prized, along with a commitment 
to act fairly and in the interests of all stakeholders. 
Achieving this - through its focus on the 
composition of the Board, its Committees and 
the ExCo and ensuring that each has the right 
balance of skills, experience and diversity of 
background and opinion and by creating a 
pipeline of succession to these and other senior 
management key roles – is the main role of the 
Nominations Committee.

Key to the Board’s effectiveness is how the 
Board operates in practice – we continue to 
focus on simplification in the context of our 
agendas, papers and presentations. As part 
of our drive for simplification, the Board and 
Committee membership of BPLC and BBPLC 
was consolidated and streamlined in 2019 to 
increase effectiveness and reduce duplication 
while still enabling the appropriate focus on 
matters relevant to each entity. You can read 
more about this partial consolidation on page 
65. The Committee reviewed the effectiveness 
of the consolidated Board and Committee 

Nominations  
Committee

Identifying skills gaps

Leading appointments

Reviewing effectiveness 
and effecting change

Ensuring succession 
planning for key  
roles in place

Reviewing core  
skills and time 
commitment

Maintaining effective 
Board, Committee and 
ExCo composition

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structure in 2020 and remains confident that 
the consolidated structure delivers its intended 
benefits in our governance processes while 
ensuring that the spirit of the ring-fencing 
legislation is respected in any decision-making 
affecting BBUKPLC. In discharging its 
responsibilities, the Committee takes into 
account feedback from key stakeholders 
(including our regulators and shareholders) 
and Board discussions more widely.

The Committee considered the effectiveness of 
the Board during the COVID-19 pandemic and 
concluded that the Board had performed well 
through the pandemic, with the establishment 

of a Board COVID-19 Crisis Response 
Committee and its very regular cadence of 
meetings. As a practical matter, the Board was 
required to convene remotely in order to comply 
with government guidance. Informal Board 
discussions also took place during this period, 
the objective of which was to operate as a virtual 
alternative for the sort of conversations the 
Board would generally have informally when 
meeting together in person. These informal 
discussions also had the aim of maintaining 
the Board’s connectivity and collegiality, and 
of helping to draw out some of the questions 
on the Board’s mind during this period for 

discussion during the Board meetings. 
The Committee concluded that collaboration 
between the Board and senior management 
had helped ensure an effective and robust 
response to the pandemic. You can read 
more about our Board governance during 
the pandemic on pages 69 to 70.

Committee membership 
The Committee is composed solely of 
Non-Executive Directors and is chaired by 
our Group Chairman. Details on Committee 
membership and meeting attendance are 
set out on page 82. 

Principal activities 
The Committee’s allocation of time during 2020 is 
set out on page 82 and the Committee’s principal 
activities during 2020 are set out opposite.

Committee responsibilities

1   Ensuring the right individuals are appointed 
– in line with suitability criteria – who can 
discharge the duties and responsibilities 
of Directors.

2   Effective ExCo, Board and Committee 

composition, through focus on 
appointment and succession based on 
merit and skill, through a diversity lens.

3   Leading candidate search and identification.

4   Regular review of succession planning 

and recommendations for key executive 
and non-executive roles.

5   Monitoring of time commitments for 

incoming and existing Directors to ensure 
sufficient time for effective discharge 
of duties.

6   Monitoring compliance against corporate 
governance guidelines and the Diversity 
Policy, including yearly review and any 
recommendations for enhancements.

7   Ensuring compliance by the Board with 
legal and regulatory requirements.

8   Individual Director, Board and Committee 
effectiveness reviews and implementing 
any required actions.

9   Considering and authorising, subject to 
ratification by the Board, any conflicts 
of interest.

Approval of changes to ExCo roles and remits. 

Approval of key executive appointments including Group Head of 
Corporate, Public and Regulatory Affairs, Group General Counsel, 
Group Chief Risk Officer and Heads of Banking and Markets.

Consideration and approval of changes in the composition of the Group’s 
main subsidiary boards. 

Candidate evaluation for both executive and non-executive current and 
future roles including review of core skills and (for internal candidates) 
scrutiny of internal feedback. 

Review of the balance of skills and diversity on the Board, and leading the 
search and recruitment process (including conflict analysis) for potential 
candidates. The Committee utilised external search consultants Egon 
Zehnder and Spencer Stuart to facilitate the targeted external mapping 
and search processes based on agreed and reviewed criteria. 

1   2   3   4  

1   2   3   4

1   2   3   4

1   2   3   4

1   2   3   4   6   9  

Directors’ tenure and effectiveness review, and identifying candidates 
for re-election. 

1   2   4   6   7   8  

Approval of the appointment of Brian Gilvary as Senior Independent 
Director and to the Nominations and Risk Committees. 

Approval of appointment of Julia Wilson as an additional Non-Executive 
Director, effective 1 April 2021, and approval of changes in Board 
Committee composition during the year.

Review of ExCo composition and succession planning for strengths 
and diversity of the development of ExCo members and key successors.

Review of recommendations and suggested improvements arising from 
the 2019 Board effectiveness review. 

Approved that the 2020 effectiveness review be conducted internally, led 
by the Group Company Secretary with support from the SID and 
Nominations Committee oversight. 

Consideration of Director training and development, including revision 
of deep dive schedule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Review and approval of size, composition and succession planning 
for Board and the Board Committees. 

Board effectiveness through the COVID-19 pandemic, including 
COVID-19 emergency cover plan for key executive roles. 

1   2   3   4   5  

1   2   3   5  

2   3   4   6  

1   2   7   8  

8

7   8

1   2   5  

7   8

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Directors’ report: Board Nominations Committee report continued 

Changes to the Board in 2020
We welcomed two new Non-Executive Directors 
to the Board in 2020 – Mohamed A. El-Erian 
(appointed 1 January 2020) and Brian Gilvary 
(appointed 1 February 2020). Their respective 
skills and experience are set out in their 
biographies on pages 60 to 63. The Board was 
also very pleased to announce that Julia Wilson 
(currently the Finance Director of 3i Group PLC 
and Senior Independent Director of Legal & 
General Group PLC) will join the Board as a 
Non-Executive Director and a member of the 
Board Audit Committee with effect from 1 April 
2021. Julia will be retiring as Senior Independent 
Director of Legal & General Group PLC in March 
2021, before taking up her role on the Board. 
Julia’s appointment reflects Barclays’ 
commitment to strengthening the Board 
through the addition of further highly 
respected individuals with strong financial 
services expertise.

As reported in our 2019 Annual Report, 
Matthew Lester stepped down from the Board 
on 1 January 2020. Mary Anne Citrino stepped 
down from the Board on 30 September 2020.

Further details regarding changes to our Board 
composition during 2020 are provided in the 
Directors’ report on pages 65 to 70.

Board composition 
The appointment of Julia Wilson, effective 
1 April 2021, will temporarily increase the size of 
the Board from 12 to 13 before it reduces to 12 
following the resignation of Sir Ian Cheshire at 
the conclusion of the 2021 AGM. While we are 
keen to bring a further Director with technology 
experience on board, we have not yet identified 
a suitable candidate. We intend to carry on 
our search, with the primary aim of finding a 
candidate with sufficient board experience 
and the relevant skills to make a meaningful 
contribution to Board deliberations. We strongly 
believe that the Board remains effective taking 
into account the need to be small enough 
to operate in an effective, efficient and 
collaborative manner and the need to be large 
enough to have an appropriate mix of skills and 
diversity and to support succession planning 
and the additional roles and responsibilities of 
some of our Directors on the Boards of BBPLC, 
BBUKPLC, Barclays US LLC and BX.

 “Effective succession 

planning should take into 
account contingency 
planning

As mentioned above, the Committee is keen to 
complement the current range of skills on the 
Board with additional technology experience to 
enhance the Board’s ability to provide informed 
and constructive challenge to management 
and therefore its effectiveness. Independent 
external search firm Spencer Stuart is 
undertaking a full search against this brief 
following searches previously undertaken by 
Egon Zehnder. Capturing the clear benefits 
of diversity of background and opinion is at the 
forefront of that search. Spencer Stuart and 
Egon Zehnder do not have any connection 
to Barclays or any of the Directors other than 
to assist with searches for executive and 
non-executive talent. 

Working alongside Spencer Stuart, the 
Committee has set rigorous criteria for the role 
it is seeking to fill, both in terms of experience 
and personal qualities, and has conducted an 
extensive search and selection process. The 
Committee continues to review the search remit 
and give further consideration to the desired 
skills and experience, in order to ensure due 
consideration is given to strong potential 
candidates. Open advertising for Board positions 
was not used this year. 

The Committee reviewed the Non-Executive 
Director selection and appointment process 
in 2020, which was refreshed in 2019, and 
concluded that no changes were required to 
the current process.

Diversity 
We believe that diversity at Board, ExCo and 
senior management level – of gender, ethnicity, 
cognitive and personal strengths and social 
backgrounds – is an essential element in 
maintaining a competitive advantage and 
effective governance, as well as mitigating the 
risk of ‘group think’. The Board Diversity Policy, 
which has been adopted by the Board, confirms 
that the Committee will consider candidates on 
merit against objective criteria with due regard 
to the benefits of diversity when identifying 
suitable candidates for appointment to 
the Board.

At the end of 2019 we had met our Board 
gender diversity target of 33%. Following 
changes in Board composition in 2020, as at 
31 December 2020 the Board’s gender diversity 
was 25%. With the appointment of Julia Wilson 
(effective 1 April 2021) and Sir Ian Cheshire 
stepping down from the Board at the conclusion 
of the 2021 AGM, this will increase to 33%, 
in line with both the Board Diversity Policy and 
the Hampton Alexander Review target. In 2020, 
the Committee reviewed whether the level 
of the Board gender diversity target was still 
appropriate, given that it was set in 2018, 
and concluded that it should remain at 33%. 

Group-wide, Barclays has set a number of 
targets focused on creating more gender 
diversity in its wider workforce, including its 
ambition to achieve 28% female Managing 
Directors and Directors by the end of 2021. 
You can read more about gender diversity at 
Barclays, including data on the percentage of 
females at Managing Director and Director level, 
on Group ExCo and within ExCo direct reports 
and in Barclays’ wider workforce in Our people 
and culture section on pages 33 to 34.

As at 31 December 2020, 17% of the Board was 
from an ethnically diverse background, meeting 
the recommendations contained within the 
Parker Review Committee Report into the Ethnic 
Diversity of UK Boards. Alongside the Board, 
the Committee continues to champion the 
Group’s Global Race at Work agenda, designed 
to reinforce Barclays’ zero tolerance stance 
on racism and improve opportunities and 
representation for ethnically diverse colleagues. 
In October, Barclays implemented a 12-point 
Race at Work action plan focused on opening up 
opportunities to attract, develop and add to our 
Black talent. The plan comprises a thorough set 
of actions, using data to set goals and measure 
success, and will be expanded in 2021 to include 
other ethnically diverse colleagues, as well as 
customers, clients and communities. 

You can find more information on diversity and 
inclusion, including Barclays’ Global Race at Work 
agenda and latest Ethnicity data within our wider 
workforce, in Our people and culture section on 
pages 33 to 37 and in our Diversity and Inclusion 
Report, which will be made available on our 
website.

Succession
Robust succession planning for both the Board 
and the ExCo takes into account current and 
future business needs and ensures a good 
balance of skills, experience and effectiveness 
while recognising the benefits of diversity.

Effective succession planning should take 
into account contingency planning (for any 
unforeseen departures or unexpected 
absences), medium-term planning (orderly 
refreshing of the Board, Committees and the 
ExCo) and long-term planning (looking ahead 
to the skills that may be required on the Board 
and the ExCo in the future).

A number of changes have been made this 
year to the composition of our ExCo in order 
to ensure that it continues to have the depth 
of skills and experience that we need to deliver 
our strategic ambitions. The Committee 
reviews and discusses all ExCo changes prior to 
announcement, taking into account executive 
succession plans, and considers all the changes 
to the ExCo composition during the year. You can 
find more information about the changes made 
to the composition of our ExCo on page 64.

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With regard to Board succession planning, 
Tim Breedon will have been on the Board for 
nine years in November 2021 and Mike Ashley 
will have been on the Board for nine years in 
September 2022, and the Committee is giving 
further consideration to potential successors for 
their respective roles of Board Risk Committee 
Chair and Board Audit Committee Chair.

Director training and development
In accordance with its Terms of Reference 
available at home.barclays/who-we-are/
our-governance/board-committees, the 
Committee supports the Group Chairman in 
developing and monitoring effective induction, 
training and development for the Board.

Opportunities for in-person Director training 
were more limited in 2020 as a result of social 
distancing guidance and as the Board and senior 
management focused on the Group’s response 
to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Director 
training and development was supported 
through Board deep dives and through Risk deep 
dives and Function reviews described on pages 
69 to 70. Risk deep dive topics covered in 2020 
had a strategic focus and areas covered included 
Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book and the 
implications of a low rate environment for the 
Group’s financial operating model.

The Board also received an annual briefing on 
regulatory responsibilities, including the Senior 
Managers Regime and on Barclays’ conduct 
and financial crime policies and standards.

Board induction schedules for incoming 
Non-Executive Directors were reviewed 
and refined, with sessions covering Board 
engagement, strategy, culture and people, 
finance, specific business areas, risk and 
controls, internal audit, governance matters 
and additional meetings with the business.

Review of Board, Committee 
and individual Director 
effectiveness
Progress against 2019 Board 
Effectiveness Review 
The 2019 review outlined the following 
key recommendations: 
■■ that consideration be given to facilitating 

deeper discussion of complex issues without 
significantly increasing demands on the 
Board’s time

■■ that consideration be given to adding greater 
technology expertise to the Board, through 
greater external input or by looking to expand 
or adjust Board membership

■■ that consideration be given to increasing 
input to the Board from outside Barclays 
on a wider range of issues 

■■ that the Barclays’ ongoing structured 

approach to workforce engagement should 
include appropriate opportunities for Board 
members to engage directly with employees. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

In 2020, progress was planned, and in some 
respects made, on each of these matters, but 
disruption due to the demands of the pandemic 
has made it difficult to achieve all the progress 
we would have liked. For example, we 
experienced increased pressure on the Board’s 
time and agendas, which often had to be revised 
at short notice to deal with urgent pandemic-
related matters. The effect of this was that, first, 
it was often not possible to achieve the extent 
of debate and depth of discussion that had been 
planned before the pandemic; secondly, the 
scope for accommodating external input in 
addition to the considerable expertise on the 
Board was limited and, thirdly, opportunities 
for Board members to increase their direct 
engagement with the workforce were restricted. 

Notwithstanding this, we continued with 
searches for suitably qualified and experienced 
non-executive directors with technology 
expertise, although these have not yet yielded 
suitable candidates. In addition, while direct 
physical engagement with the workforce 
has been restricted, Board members did 
undertake virtual engagement where possible 
throughout the year, for example by way 
of virtual “town hall” meetings.

We are committed to building on the progress 
made this year and, to the extent not fully 
addressed, we will carry these 
recommendations forward to 2021 and will 
take action to address them with the Board 
as appropriate.

2020 Board Effectiveness Review
The 2020 Board effectiveness review was 
conducted internally, in line with the Code, 
and was led by the Group Company Secretary, 
overseen by the SID. The review followed a 
structured interview process with Board 
members, senior management and other 
stakeholders, including our auditors. 

The full and frank feedback of interviewees 
provides an important input into the further 
development of the performance and 
effectiveness of the Board, in particular in 
identifying areas in which the Board could be 
more effective. This feedback is shared with 
the Chairman and the other members of the 
Board by reference to the key themes and 
recommendations that have been identified.

Feedback from this review indicated that the 
composition of the Board is considered to be 
strong, with the latest additions to the Board, 
Brian Gilvary, Dawn Fitzpatrick and Mohamed 
El-Erian each having settled in well, contributing 
meaningfully to the quality of discussion. Board 
members commented particularly favourably on 
the ‘tone from the top’ set by the Chairman and 
the other members of the Board, the strength 
and diversity of views of Board members 
contributing to a complete absence of 
‘group think’ in discussions, the inclusive style 
of the Chairman and the healthy relationship 
developed with management. 

 “Director training and 

development was 
supported through 
Board deep dives

Challenge by the Board was considered to be 
strong yet constructive and collegiate. 

The Board is considered to have performed well 
through the pandemic, with the establishment 
of a COVID-19 Crisis Response Committee 
and its very regular cadence of meetings 
having enabled the Board to exercise close 
and effective oversight of the bank’s role in 
supporting customers, clients and colleagues 
while remaining secure and resilient, both 
operationally and financially, in a rapidly evolving 
and dynamic environment. 

2020 Board Effectiveness Review: 
Recommendations 
■■ The inevitable challenges of conducting 

Board meetings virtually and being unable 
to get together in person made it more 
challenging for the recently appointed 
Non-Executive Directors, in particular, and 
the Board as a whole, to build and deepen 
relationships both with each other and with 
management to the extent they would have 
liked. This was also perceived to have made 
it more difficult for those more recently 
appointed Directors to quickly gain an 
in-depth understanding of the bank and the 
key challenges facing it than would have been 
the case had travel and physical meetings 
been possible to a greater extent than they 
were in the last year. Consideration will be 
given to how best to address this both while 
the pandemic-related restrictions continue 
and once a degree of normalcy has 
been restored.

■■ While good progress has been made in 

holding more in-depth discussions at the 
Board on strategic matters, significant 
disruption to the Board’s agenda and 
increased pressure on the Board’s time due 
to the pandemic has meant that not all deep 
dive topics have benefited from as much 
debate and discussion as would have been 
optimal. This is being addressed in 2021 by 
scheduling fewer deep dives and allocating 
more time to each of them. 

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Directors’ report: Board Nominations Committee report continued 

 “Diversity at Board, ExCo 

and senior management 
level...is an essential 
element in maintaining 
a competitive advantage 
and effective governance, 
as well as mitigating the 
risk of ‘group think’

■■ Once pandemic-related restrictions have 
been lifted, consideration should be given 
to providing more opportunities for Board 
members to visit parts of the business 
in person in order both to gain a broader 
understanding of the business and to help 
facilitate direct engagement with the 
workforce in those locations. 

■■ There would be benefit in working with 

management to access opportunities to 
learn from, and to escalate more quickly, 
the insights gained from the handling 
of past issues and the reviews conducted 
of the root causes, and to embed those 
learnings into the business.

The review concluded that the Board operated 
effectively throughout 2020, and continues 
to do so.

Review of Nominations Committee 
effectiveness
The 2020 Committee effectiveness review 
was conducted in accordance with the Code. 
This internal review involved completion of a 
tailored questionnaire by Committee members 
and senior management, in line with the 
approach adopted for all Board Committees 
in 2020. The review is an important part of the 
way Barclays monitors and improves Committee 
performance and effectiveness, maximising 
strengths and highlighting areas for further 
development.

The results confirm that the Committee 
is operating effectively. This year’s review 
highlights that the Committee continues 
to be well constituted and that the role and 
responsibilities of the Committee are clear and 
well understood. The Committee’s interaction 
with the Board, Board Committees and senior 
management is considered effective. This year’s 
review noted that the Committee continued 
to operate effectively in the context of the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

The review noted that the Committee may 
benefit from a more formalised meeting 
schedule. Due to the nature of the Committee’s 
roles and responsibilities this may not always be 
possible, but further consideration will be given 
to this during the year. 

In response to a request to provide feedback 
on interaction with subsidiary committees, 
the review noted that the Committee’s 
interaction with the BBUKPLC Board Nominations 
Committee had been effective. Following the 
consolidation of the membership of the 
Committee with the BBPLC Board Nominations 
Committee coverage of BBPLC within 
concurrent meetings was considered effective.

Review of the effectiveness 
of the other Committees
In addition to reviewing its own effectiveness, 
the Committee also reviewed the outcomes 
of the effectiveness reviews conducted by the 
Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committees, 
which had also been conducted by way of 
tailored questionnaire. You can read about those 
reviews in the individual Committee reports 
elsewhere in this Governance report.

Following consideration of the findings of the 
2020 Board and Board Committee effectiveness 
reviews, the Committee remains satisfied that 
the Board and each of the Board Committees 
are operating effectively.

Individual Director effectiveness
All Directors in office at the end of 2020 were 
subject to an individual effectiveness review 
which was conducted in early 2021. The 
Chairman considered each Director’s individual 
contribution to the Board as well as any feedback 
received as part of the broader Board and 
Committee effectiveness review. 

The reviews were conducted by the Chairman 
and the Chairman’s review was conducted by 
the SID. 

The Committee reviewed the independence 
of the Non-Executive Directors and, in the cases 
of Tim Breedon, Mike Ashley and Crawford 
Gillies, all of whom have served on the Board for 
more than six years, their independence was 
subjected to a more rigorous review. 

Based on these reviews, the Board accepted 
the view of the Committee that each Director 
to be proposed for re-election at the 2021 AGM 
continues to be effective and contributes to 
Barclays’ long-term sustainable success.

In accordance with the Code, all of the current 
Directors of the Company, other than Sir Ian 
Cheshire who is stepping down from the Board 
at the end of the AGM, will be submitting 
themselves for election or re-election at the 
2021 AGM to be held on 5 May 2021 and will 
be unanimously recommended by the Board for 
election or re-election as appropriate. As part 
of its decision in respect of Mr Staley, the Board 
has had regard to the conclusions it reached last 
year, which conclusions remain unchanged, 
in relation to the investigations by the PRA and 
the FCA, details of which were disclosed in our 
2019 Annual Report and which remain ongoing.

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Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Directors’ report: Board Risk Committee report
The Committee continues to work with management 
to position the Group conservatively in response to the 
heightened risk environment.

Effective risk management 
in challenging times

Dear Fellow Shareholders
2020 was a particularly challenging year for 
risk management, as the COVID-19 pandemic 
introduced new risks to the Group, as well as 
increasing the severity and correlation of those 
risks already being monitored and managed. 
During the first half of the year, the Committee 
focused on the emerging economic, market 
and operational impacts of the measures put 
in place by governments to slow the spread 
of the pandemic, as well as the effectiveness 
of the various extraordinary fiscal and monetary 
measures taken to mitigate the financial impact 
on companies and individuals. While the situation 
stabilised to some extent in the second half of 
the year as lockdowns proved reasonably 
effective in containing the virus and there were 
positive developments with respect to potential 
vaccines, the global economic, market and 
political situation remains difficult and the 
Committee continues to work with management 
to position the Group conservatively in response 
to the heightened risk environment.

Financial risk
The Committee monitored developments 
related to the COVID-19 pandemic closely, 
including transmission of the virus and 
associated operational and economic impacts. 
The mandatory lockdown measures imposed 
by governments globally resulted in sudden 
and severe GDP contractions in most major 
economies. However, government support 
measures and significant central bank policy 
easing acted to soften the negative effects 
to a degree. 

The Committee concentrated initially on the 
capital and liquidity stress on the Group, as 
precautionary drawing by clients on revolving 
credit facilities reduced cash holdings and 
inflated risk-weighted assets, which were 
also being pushed higher by general market 
volatility. As the stress continued, focus moved 
to assessing the short and medium-term Credit 
risk implications of rising unemployment and 
exposure to corporates in certain sectors, 
including, travel, leisure and consumer 
discretionary. Credit risk positioning was already 
conservative before the pandemic took hold, 
so the Committee reviewed any additional 

actions taken by management, comparing them 
with those envisaged under previous stress test 
scenarios. The economic shock also triggered 
a requirement to refresh the Group’s Internal 
Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) 
and Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment 
Process (ILAAP) and this exercise confirmed 
that the Bank continued to operate within its 
risk appetite.

The Committee continued to review the 
performance of the UK and US consumer 
credit exposure portfolios and the impact 
which government support schemes and 
other support measures from central banks 
and regulators have had on these exposures. 
While performance has remained robust, 
the Committee noted the risk of rising 
delinquencies and further credit impairment 
as support schemes expire. 

In response to the economic and market 
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, central 
banks materially eased monetary policy, 
including cutting interest rates to record lows. 
This supported asset markets but increased 
margin pressure on banks resulting from 
very low or negative interest rates, while also 
presenting operational challenges. The 
Committee has reviewed the impact of low 
or negative interest rates on the Group on 
a number of occasions in recent years and 
impressed upon management the need to 
be prepared both operationally and financially 
for such an eventuality. Policy tools available 
to central banks to deal with further economic 
weakness have been limited; and the abundance 
of liquidity has influenced risk-pricing in financial 
markets. These factors have contributed to the 
potential for extreme market moves to occur. 
These risks have been actively managed by 
the Group’s Risk function, and the Committee 
has maintained regular oversight of the overall 
risk profile of the Group’s balance sheet and 
actions taken. 

The Committee also reviewed geopolitical risks, 
in particular deteriorating relations between 
the US and China. These risks present a threat 
to global growth recovery efforts. 

UK risks remained a focus for the Committee 
due to the economic uncertainty arising as 
the UK formally left the EU at the end of 
January 2020 and the transition period began. 
As negotiations regarding the future trading 
relationship with the EU remained ongoing 
throughout most of the year leading up to the 
eventual conclusion of the free trade agreement 
just before the end of the transition period on 
31 December 2020, the Committee focused 
on the operational resilience of the Group in the 
face of the risk of the macroeconomic impact 
of a failure to negotiate such an agreement.

During the year the Committee monitored 
developments in Oil & Gas markets, notably 
the severe stress in Q2 2020. The Committee 
reviewed in detail exposures in the Oil & Gas 
portfolio and potential losses from a sustained 
price stress. 

The Committee continues to manage Conduct 
risk following the dissolution of the Board 
Reputation Committee in 2019. In addition 
to focusing on the Conduct risk profile of the 
Group’s core businesses, the Committee has 
identified a number of key conduct themes 
requiring active management.

Notable among these is the risk that, in 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid 
introduction of new products (such as Bounce 
Back Loans in the UK) or changes to existing 
products and practices (such as the granting of 
payment holidays) will be reviewed subsequently 
and found by regulators or other stakeholders 
to be inadequate in some way. The Committee 
has encouraged management to maintain 
focus on the Group’s established Conduct risk 
controls to minimise this risk, despite the rapidly 
changing environment.

Finally, the Committee reviewed the significant 
enhancements the Group has made in its 
approach to the management of Climate 
change risk. The climate change stress test, 
which was first executed in 2019, was further 
developed in 2020 with enhancements to 
several climate change stress approaches. 
This exercise will support the Group’s response 
to the forthcoming Bank of England (BoE) 
industry-wide stress test. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report: Board Risk Committee report continued 

Operational risk
Operational risk was heightened in 2020 due 
to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and, 
in particular, the Committee considered closely 
operational resilience, as the workforce largely 
switched to remote working. The operation of 
contact centres was particularly impacted by 
mandatory lockdown measures. The Committee 
focused, in particular, on efforts to restore 
capacity in call centres in order to support 
customers in financial difficulty. 

During the year, the Committee continued 
to monitor and challenge the progress being 
made in the identification, assessment and 
management of Operational risk. Two 
complementary risk management tools used 
by management are the Risk and Control 
Self Assessments (RCSAs) and Structured 
Scenario Assessments (SSAs).

The RCSAs give ‘day-to-day’ coverage of the risk 
and control environment of the Group. They are 
built on a foundation of the actual processes the 
Group employs and the risks it faces from its 
activities. This approach enables management 
to improve identification and management of 
Operational risks going forward and also to 
review in detail risk events that have occurred 
in order to identify root causes.

The SSAs are used to evaluate Operational 
risk arising from more extreme but plausible 
situations and so complement the RCSA 
approach; in combination they enable the 
Committee to oversee the risk the Group faces 
at both ends of the risk likelihood spectrum. 
The SSAs are also an important input to the 
Group’s Operational risk stress testing and 
capital frameworks. During the course of the 
year the Committee’s SSA focus was on 
reviewing the specific risk scenario of data 
privacy and misuse (a Conduct risk theme).

Risk appetite and risk models
One of the most important roles of the 
Committee is to recommend to the Board an 
appropriate risk appetite for the Group. This 
represents the amount of risk the Group is able 
to take to earn an appropriate return while 
meeting minimum internal and regulatory capital 
requirements in a severe but plausible stress 
environment. The Committee analyses Barclays 
performance in both its internally generated 
stress tests and those run externally by such 
bodies as the BoE, the European Banking 
Authority and the FRB and, following such 
analysis, will recommend adjustments to the 
Group’s overall risk profile.

For the Group’s internal stress test, the 
Committee received a detailed briefing on the 
process being applied and was satisfied that the 
internally generated scenario was appropriately 
calibrated, and stressed particular vulnerabilities 

of the Group. The Committee was further 
satisfied that the Group would meet internal and 
regulatory requirements for capital and liquidity 
in such a scenario.

The Committee continued to oversee the 
improvement of model risk management in the 
Group and the ongoing validation of the Group’s 
models, with specific progress and methodology 
enhancements in the model outputs supporting 
the Group’s stress tests, including the ICAAP 
and ILAAP. The Group’s models are the core 
foundation upon which the majority of its 
internal assessment processes run. The 
Committee is pleased to report that progress 
has continued during 2020 to embed the Model 
risk management framework as evidenced by an 
increasingly stable model inventory and further 
improvements in documentation and control. 
However, models remain a key risk area for the 
Group and the Committee is closely monitoring 
the development of the Group’s approach while 
noting that the extreme market and economic 
conditions experienced during 2020 will have 
affected the performance of many of the 
existing models in use.

Risk function
The Committee is responsible for ensuring the 
independence and effectiveness of the Risk 
function, whose primary role is the oversight and 
challenge of risk taking as the Second Line of 
Defence. It accomplishes this by establishing the 
policies, limits, rules and constraints under which 
first line activities shall be performed, consistent 
with the Group’s risk appetite and through 
monitoring the performance of the first line 
of defence against these policies, limits and 
constraints. The Committee’s responsibilities 
include designing a consistent classification of 
the risks faced by the Group in order to organise 
their management and reporting; designing and 
operating the process of setting risk appetite 
and material limits for the Group as a whole and 
its main entities; setting or approving strategies 
for approvals of transactions, and indeed 
approving significant individual agreements; and 
establishing key controls requirements to which 
customer-facing areas of Barclays must adhere 
in the conduct of their businesses.

The Committee reviewed the Risk function’s 
own assessment of its capability in late 2020 
which showed that the function continues to 
meet expectations in providing effective and 
independent oversight with strong stewardship 
and technical competency. The Committee 
also oversaw a number of changes to the senior 
management of the Risk function, including 
and consequent upon the appointment of the 
Group’s new Chief Risk Officer, Taalib Shaah. 
It was encouraging that these changes were 
achieved through internal succession, 
supporting the stability of the function.

Compliance function
The purpose of the Compliance function is to 
provide oversight of Conduct risk management 
practices as part of Barclays’ second line of 
defence. Compliance participates in the 
prevention, detection and management of 
breaches of applicable laws, rules, regulations 
and relevant procedures and has a key role in 
helping to strengthen the culture of Barclays 
and achieve the right conduct outcomes. 
The Committee supports the independence of 
the Compliance function from the operational 
functions so that it has sufficient authority, 
stature, resources and access to the 
management body.

The Committee monitored the delivery of the 
Compliance function’s Annual Plan for 2020 and 
approved the Compliance Annual Plan for 2021.

Committee effectiveness 
The 2020 Committee effectiveness review was 
conducted in accordance with the Code. This 
internal review involved completion of a tailored 
questionnaire by Committee members and 
senior management, in line with the approach 
adopted for all Board Committees in 2020. 
The review is an important part of the way 
Barclays monitors and improves Committee 
performance and effectiveness, maximising 
strengths and highlighting areas for further 
development.

The results of the review were positive and 
indicated that the Committee is operating 
effectively; and that it is well constituted and 
provides an effective and broad level of 
challenge and oversight of the areas within its 
remit. The Committee was considered to be 
both challenging and influential, providing strong 
support to the new Group Chief Risk Officer. 
The review noted that the Committee has a 
broad remit having taken on oversight of 
Conduct and Compliance matters in 2019 
following the disbanding of the Reputation 
Committee and that a continued focus on 
these areas was considered to be beneficial. 
The review concluded that the Committee’s 
interaction with the Board, Board Committees 
and senior management is considered effective.

Following the consolidation of the membership 
of the Committee with the BBPLC Risk 
Committee, coverage of BBPLC matters 
within concurrent meetings was considered 
appropriate. In particular, this year’s review 
noted that the Committee continued to operate 
effectively in the context of the COVID-19 
pandemic and that recent appointments to 
the Committee had strengthened its depth 
of experience.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Changes to Committee composition
 I am pleased to have been able to welcome to 
the Committee Dawn Fitzpatrick and Mohamed 
A. El-Erian during 2020 and Brian Gilvary at the 
beginning of 2021, who together will add 
considerable relevant experience and expertise 
to the Committee. 

Looking ahead
In 2021, the Committee will continue to focus 
on the impact of the external environment on 
the Group’s risk profile, particularly with regard to 
the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
the consequences of the UK’s withdrawal from 
the EU, broader geopolitical developments 
following the US presidential election in 
November 2020 and the impact of initiatives 
to limit the extent of climate change.

Tim Breedon
Chair, Board Risk Committee

17 February 2021

Committee meetings
During 2020, the Committee met 11 times 
and the chart opposite shows how it allocated 
its time during those meetings. Given the 
COVID-19 pandemic, meetings were primarily 
held by video and audio conference. Attendance 
by members at Committee meetings is shown 
opposite. Committee meetings were attended 
by representatives from management, including 
the Group Chief Executive Officer, Group 
Finance Director, Group Chief Internal Auditor, 
Group Chief Risk Officer, Group Treasurer, Group 
Chief Compliance Officer and Group General 
Counsel, as well as representatives from the 
businesses and other representatives from the 
Risk function. The lead audit engagement 
partner of KPMG, Michelle Hinchliffe, also 
attended Committee meetings. The Committee 
held a number of separate private sessions with 
the Group Chief Risk Officer and the Group 
Chief Compliance Officer, which were not 
attended by management.

Committee roles and responsibilities
The Committee is responsible for reviewing 
on behalf of the Board management’s 
recommendations on the Principal Risks as set 
out in the Group’s Enterprise Risk Management 
Framework (ERMF) with the exception 
of Reputation risk, which is a matter reserved 
to the Board and in particular:
■■ reviewing, on behalf of the Board, the 
management of those Principal Risks 
in the ERMF 

■■ considering and recommending to the 
Board the Group’s risk appetite and 
tolerances for those Principal Risks
■■ reviewing, on behalf of the Board, 

the Group’s risk profile for those Principal 
Risks commissioning, receiving and 
considering reports on key risk issues
■■ safeguarding the independence, and 

overseeing the performance, of Barclays’ 
Risk and Compliance functions. 

The Committee’s terms of reference 
are available at home.barclays/
corporategovernance

Board Risk  
Committee

Committee members

Member 

Tim Breedon 

Mike Ashley

Mary Anne Citrino
(1 Jan 2020 – 30 Sept 2020)

Mohamed A. El-Erian
(1 July 2020 onwards)

Dawn Fitzpatrick

Diane Schueneman 

Note
*  Brian Gilvary joined the Committee 

on 1 January 2021.

Meetings attended/
eligible to attend*

11/11 

11/11 

7/9

5/5

11/11

11/11

Committee allocation of time
%

2020

2019

39

45

9

7

46

39

10

5

Risk profile/appetite (including 
capital and liquidity management)
Key risk issues/monitoring 
Internal control/risk policies
Other (including remuneration 
and governance issues) 

Note
Including ad hoc meetings.

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Directors’ report: Board Risk Committee report continued 

Primary activities
The Committee has discharged its responsibilities diligently in 2020, reviewing Group exposures in the context of the current and emerging risks facing 
Barclays. It has sought to promote a strong culture of disciplined risk management.

Areas of focus

Matters addressed

Role of Committee 

Conclusion/action taken

Risk appetite and 
stress testing 
i.e. the level of risk 
the Group chooses 
to take in pursuit 
of its business 
objectives, including 
testing whether the 
Group’s financial 
position and risk 
profile provide 
sufficient resilience 
to withstand the 
impact of severe 
economic scenarios.

The risk context to 
the MTP, the financial 
parameters and 
constraints and 
mandate and scale 
limits for specific 
business risk 
exposures; the 
Group’s internal stress 
testing exercises, 
including scenario 
selection and financial 
constraints, stress 
testing themes and 
the results and 
implications of stress 
tests, including those 
run by the BoE.

■■ To advise the Board on the 

appropriate risk appetite and 
tolerance for the Principal 
Risks, including the proposed 
overall Group risk appetite 
and limits.

■■ To discuss and agree stress 
loss and mandate and scale 
limits for Credit risk, Market 
risk and Treasury and 
Capital risk.

■■ To consider and approve 

internal stress test themes 
and the financial constraints 
and scenarios for stress 
testing risk appetite for 
the MTP.

■■ To evaluate the results of the 
BoE’s annual cyclical stress 
(ACS) test and the BoE’s 
Biennial Exploratory 
Scenario.

■■ To consider the feedback 

from the FRB on the Barclays 
US LLC’s Comprehensive 
Capital Analysis and Review 
(CCAR) following the 
submission of the CCAR 
stress test results.

Early in the year the Committee reviewed and recommended 
the proposed risk appetite to the Board for approval, and 
discussed and approved the mandate and scale limits for the 
Group during 2020, which included changes to A-level stress 
loss limits. Subsequent changes were approved during the 
course of the year.

The Committee reviewed proposed enhancements to the 
Group’s stress testing processes and models such as taking 
into account structural projections. 

The Group was not required to conduct an ACS test during the 
period under review, although, later in 2020 in the context of 
the consideration of the MTP and risk appetite for 2021, the 
Committee considered and approved the stress scenarios for 
an Internal Stress Test, a Reverse Stress Test and a climate 
change stress test. 

The Committee received updates on the positive qualitative 
and quantitative results of the 2020 CCAR submission to the 
FRB, which for the first time had been run during a period of 
stress, demonstrating significant progress on remediation 
of certain areas following regulatory feedback from the FRB. 
Subsequently, the FRB required US banks, including Barclays 
US LLC, to resubmit capital plans using new supervisory and 
internal baseline stress scenarios, which were reviewed by 
the Committee.

In the context of the Company’s strategic planning process, 
the Committee continued periodically throughout the year to 
review and/or approve the risk appetite statement consisting 
of both quantitative constraints and qualitative risk appetite 
statements by various Principal Risks.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Areas of focus

Matters addressed

Role of Committee 

Conclusion/action taken

The trajectory to 
achieving required 
regulatory and internal 
targets and capital 
and leverage ratios.

Capital and 
funding 
i.e. having sufficient 
capital and financial 
resources to meet 
the Group’s 
regulatory 
requirements and its 
obligations as they 
fall due, to maintain 
its credit rating, to 
support growth and 
strategic options.

■■ To review, on a regular basis, 
capital performance against 
plan, tracking the capital 
trajectory, any challenges 
and opportunities and 
regulatory policy 
developments.

■■ To assess, on a regular basis, 
liquidity performance against 
both internal and regulatory 
requirements.

■■ To monitor capital and 
funding requirements.

The Committee considered and approved the Group’s 2020 
ICAAP and the Group’s 2020 ILAAP. During the course of the 
year the Committee noted regulatory feedback on the ICAAP 
and ILAAP, reviewed updates to the ICAAP and ILAAP to 
reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing 
a continued improvement in processes and a refresh of both 
ICAAP and ILAAP in the fourth quarter.

The Committee examined and supported the forecast 
capital and funding trajectory and the actions identified 
by management to manage the Group’s capital position, 
taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
uncertainties relating to the end of the post-Brexit transition 
period and other macroeconomic factors. 

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
Committee reviewed and scrutinised the Group COVID-19 
stress scenarios, reflecting the adoption of more prudent 
assumptions given the Company’s assessment of the 
economic impact of the pandemic. The extent of the 
economic shock triggered a requirement to re-run key aspects 
of the ICAAP and ILAAP. The Committee noted amendments 
to the individual allocation of risk appetite by business and 
risk type in light of the pandemic and acknowledged that 
at all times the Company had remained within its overall 
Risk Appetite. 

The Committee has also received and considered regular 
updates on the potential risk impacts of LIBOR transition 
and negative interest rates. 

The Committee monitored the Group’s performance 
throughout the year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
including considering the impact of government support 
schemes and other support measures from central banks 
and regulators. 

The Committee monitored potential post-Brexit risk impacts 
and, in particular, considered the risk of there being no free 
trade agreement between the EU and the UK in place at the 
end of the transition period. The Committee also considered 
the possibility of negative interest rates being introduced by 
the BoE following a post-Brexit shock or as part of its 
COVID-19 support measures to the UK economy, reviewing 
in particular any potential impact to the Group’s capital and 
liquidity positions.

The Committee monitored the Group’s performance in light 
of a backdrop of uncertain global political and economic 
conditions, with particular focus on tensions in the Eurozone 
and also in China, following the introduction of new security 
laws in Hong Kong.

Political and 
economic risk
i.e. the impact on 
the Group’s risk 
profile of political 
and economic 
developments and 
macroeconomic 
conditions.

The potential impact 
on the Group’s risk 
profile of geopolitical 
developments, as well 
as continuing to 
monitor the political 
and economic impact 
of post-Brexit 
transition period 
scenarios.

■■ To consider the impact of 

COVID-19 on the business 
directly and indirectly.

■■ To review and discuss plans 
for the impacts of Brexit 
under various post-
transition period scenarios.

■■ To consider trends in the 
UK and US economies.
■■ To assess the geopolitical 

tensions in both the 
Eurozone and China.
■■ To review potential 

consequences of the 
BoE statement regarding 
negative interest.

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Directors’ report: Board Risk Committee report continued 

Areas of focus

Matters addressed

Role of Committee 

Conclusion/action taken

Credit risk
i.e. the potential 
for financial loss 
if customers 
fail to fulfil 
their contractual 
obligations.

Conditions in the 
UK housing market; 
levels of UK consumer 
indebtedness; 
unemployment levels 
in the US and UK; and 
the performance of 
the UK and US cards 
businesses, including 
levels of impairment.

Operational risk
i.e. costs arising 
from human 
factors, inadequate 
processes and 
systems or 
external events.

The Group’s 
operational risk capital 
requirements and 
any material changes 
to the Group’s 
operational risk profile 
and performance of 
specific operational 
risks against agreed 
risk appetite.

Model risk 
governance.

Model risk
i.e. the risk of the 
potential adverse 
consequences 
from financial 
assessments or 
decisions based on 
incorrect or misused 
model outputs 
and reports.

■■ To assess conditions in the 
UK property market and 
monitor signs of stress.
■■ To monitor management’s 
tracking and responding to 
persistent rising levels of 
consumer indebtedness, 
particularly unsecured credit 
in both the UK and US.
■■ To monitor unemployment 
trends and COVID-19 
pandemic financial support 
incentives, particularly in 
both the UK and US.
■■ To review leveraged 

finance portfolios in order 
to assess maintenance 
within risk appetite and 
manageable limits. 
■■ To review business 

development activities 
in the CIB.

■■ To track operational risk 

key indicators. 

■■ To consider specific areas 

of operational risks, 
including fraud, conduct risk, 
cyber risk, execution risk, 
technology and data, 
including the controls that 
had been put in place for 
managing and avoiding 
such risks.

■■ To review Barclays’ approach 
to scenario analyses as a 
risk management tool and 
assess a range of SSAs 
which had been created to 
support assessments and 
management of tail risk 
within the business, stress 
testing and risk tolerance.

■■ To evaluate the 

appropriateness of the 
Model risk management 
framework and monitor 
progress on the 
implementation of an 
enhanced modelling 
framework, including 
receiving updates on 
findings in relation to 
specific modelling 
processes.

The Committee reviewed the risk aspects associated with 
the Group’s support of customers through the COVID-19 
pandemic in line with the UK government’s expectations, 
including (among other things) payment holidays and 
forbearance for customers in financial difficulty. 

The Committee considered the appropriate capital and 
impairment treatment for customers exiting payment 
holidays and the risk of more severe economic stress. 

The Committee considered the risks arising from the 
participation of BBUKPLC in the CBILS and BBLS government 
loan schemes, in particular the potential default rate arising 
from conduct, legal, operational, fraud, AML/KYC and 
look-back risks associated with exposures under such 
schemes. The Committee noted that the deteriorating 
economic outlook was expected to lead to delinquencies and 
impairment. The Committee assessed the risks associated 
with mortgage collateralisation of loans relating to the UK 
housing market, given the increase in Barclays’ market share, 
noting that exposure to high LTV loans was low. 

The Committee received updates on the risks from the CIB. 
The Committee noted that the equities business and the 
structured hedging programmes had held up well during the 
pandemic, as had leveraged finance.

The Committee focused attention on the financial and capital 
implications of operational risk throughout the year, particularly 
in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the 
workforce largely switched to remote working.

The Committee approved and recommended the 2020 
Operational Risk Appetite Statement to the Board, which 
included increased financial loss limits for fraud and transaction 
operations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Operational 
risk profile of the Group increased to a material extent. 
The Committee focused on ensuring that the technology 
systems remained stable and that heightened fraud monitoring 
and cybersecurity was in place. 

The Committee was briefed by management as part of 
a specific Operational risk deep dive on various Key Risks, 
including those relating to settlements, erroneous payments, 
suppliers, cybersecurity and wellbeing (the Committee being 
concerned for colleague wellbeing within the Group in light 
of the pandemic and the risks arising from any adverse impact 
on levels of colleague engagement). 

The Committee reviewed updates to practices in relation to 
the new and amended products approval process, which were 
of particular interest to regulators in light of the pandemic.

The Committee scrutinised management’s proposals in 
relation to managing Model risk, which increased during 
the year as a result of the consequences of the COVID-19 
pandemic, given that models needed to be adjusted, re-built 
and/or re-calibrated given the unprecedented nature and 
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee noted 
the importance of Post-Model Adjustment and scrutiny by 
the Independent Valuation Unit, particularly in the context 
of provisioning against impairment.

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Areas of focus

Matters addressed

Role of Committee 

Conclusion/action taken

Risk framework 
and governance

The frameworks, 
policies and tools 
in place to support 
effective risk 
management 
and oversight.

■■ To track the progress of 

significant risk management 
projects, achieving 
compliance with the Basel 
Committee for Banking 
Supervision (BCBS239) risk 
data aggregation principles 
and the RCSA process 
across the Group.

■■ To assess risk management 
matters raised by Barclays’ 
regulators and the actions 
being taken by management 
to respond.

■■ To review the design of 

the ERMF.

Remuneration

The scope of any risk 
adjustments to be 
taken into account 
by the Board 
Remuneration 
Committee when 
making remuneration 
decisions for 2020.

■■ To debate the Risk function’s 
view of performance, making 
a recommendation to the 
Board Remuneration 
Committee on the financial 
and operational risk factors 
to be taken into account in 
remuneration decisions 
for 2020.

The Committee monitored the delivery of projects susceptible 
to the impact of significant risks, notably the COVID-19 
pandemic, macroeconomic developments, post-Brexit trade 
deal uncertainties, climate change, stress testing and 
cyberattacks. The Committee discussed and approved an 
annual refresh of the Principal Risks Framework, which was 
supported by the ERMF and included climate change 
references within each Principal risk, it being decided that 
Climate risk would become one of the Principal Risks within 
the ERMF from 2022.

The Committee reviewed reports from management prepared 
in light of the current macroeconomic environment, which 
showed that management had created various ‘watch list’ 
categories based on particular sectors and the severity of 
their credit deterioration, which were aligned to the IFRS 9 
staging approach.

The Committee reviewed the performance of the Group’s 
activities as against its RCSAs, noting that the overall residual 
risk continued to decrease, driven by the continued focus 
on controls remediation, the RCSA process being key to 
supporting a robust and effective risk and control culture 
within Barclays.

The Committee continued to monitor management’s 
progress in achieving compliance with all aspects of BCBS239, 
receiving updates on the level of implementation during the 
year and progress made towards achieving full compliance 
by early 2021.

The risk related guidance or review reports received from 
regulators and related management responses were reported 
to, and reviewed by, the Committee in a timely manner during 
the year. 

The Committee also received updates during the year from BIA 
in relation to its assessments following audits in relation to the 
Risk, as well as the Compliance function. 

The Committee discussed the report of the Group Chief 
Risk Officer and considered the 2020 ex-ante risk adjustment 
methodology, which had been updated to address feedback 
from the Board’s Remuneration Committee and, in particular, 
in relation to ‘Conduct’ measures. The Committee noted the 
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Conduct risk which 
would in turn impact remuneration decisions.

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Directors’ report: Board Risk Committee report continued 

Areas of focus

Matters addressed

Role of Committee 

Conclusion/action taken

Conduct Risk
i.e. the risk of 
detriment to 
customers from the 
inappropriate supply 
of financial services.

Conduct robust 
reviews of any current 
and emerging risks 
arising from the 
inappropriate 
provision of financial 
services, including 
instances of wilful 
negligent misconduct.

■■ To receive updates from 

management on Conduct 
risk and consider 
performance against key 
Conduct risk indicators and 
the status of initiatives in 
place to address those risks 
to further strengthen the 
culture of the business.
■■ To review the effectiveness 

of the Conduct risk 
framework and approve 
any amendments to it.
■■ To review the Compliance 

function’s Annual 
Compliance Plan.

The Committee reviewed Compliance’s contribution in 
supporting Barclays’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic 
through the monitoring of areas of heightened Conduct risk 
and overseeing the implementation of additional controls, 
particularly in the context of ongoing remediation activities 
and monitoring working from home arrangements, 
new products and reprioritisation of risks. 

During the year the Committee assessed the Conduct 
themes in the context of Conduct risk. Towards year end 
the Committee approved the revised Conduct risk 
management framework. 

During the year the Committee reviewed the Compliance 
function’s performance of activities against its Compliance 
Plan for 2020; and towards year end approved the Annual 
Compliance Plan for 2021.

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Making a difference for our colleagues

Prioritising wellbeing  
helped us through

I’ve learned the importance of physical and 
mental wellbeing at work over the past year. 
Like so many others, I lost friends and family 
due to COVID-19 and suffered from the 
anxiety that came from the pandemic and 
the various lockdowns.

My managers at Barclays were generous in 
giving me time and support when I needed it 
most. So, it was important for me to ensure 
the team I oversaw felt the same sense of 
commitment and care. We benefited from 
the creation of an online wellbeing portal 
with a growing store of practical resources, 
and a variety of hands-on virtual events that 
allowed us to share personal stories and 
advice. The Barclays Cycling Club was also 
a real help. We had a number of virtual rides 
that helped me spend time by myself 
uninterrupted.

As a result, we have become closer as a team 
and created a balance that has helped us, 
our families, and our customers cope better 
with some of the issues we’ve faced.

It was important to ensure 
my team felt the same sense 
of commitment and care.

Push Gumaste 
Global Head of International Corporates, 
Corporate Banking 
London

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Directors’ report: How we comply
For the year ended 31 December 2020, and as at the date of this report, 
Barclays PLC has complied in full with the Code’s principles and provisions.

How we comply

The UK Corporate 
Governance Code

As Barclays PLC is listed on the London 
Stock Exchange, we apply the principles 
and provisions of the Code, as set out 
below. Barclays PLC is reporting against 
the requirements of the latest version of 
the Code in this Annual Report, which was 
published in 2018.

A copy of the Code can be found 
at frc.org.uk. For the year ended 
31 December 2020, and as at the date 
of this report, we are pleased to confirm 
that Barclays PLC has complied in full 
with the Code’s principles and provisions.

Disclosure Guidance 
and Transparency Rules

By virtue of the information included in 
this Governance section of the Annual 
Report, we comply with the corporate 
governance statement requirements 
of the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules. Certain additional 
information that is required to be 
disclosed pursuant to DTR7.2.6 can 
be found on pages 102 to 104.

New York Stock Exchange 
(NYSE)

Barclays is permitted by NYSE rules to 
follow UK corporate governance practices 
instead of those applied in the US. 
However, any significant variations must 
be explained in Barclays’ Form 20-F filing, 
which can be accessed from the 
Securities and Exchange Commission’s 
EDGAR database or on our website, 
home.barclays.

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Board leadership and 
company purpose
Role of the Board
As highlighted earlier in this report, our 
governance is structured to deliver an effective 
and entrepreneurial Board which:
■■ is effective in providing challenge, advice 

and support to management

■■ provides checks and balances and 
encourages constructive challenge
■■ drives informed, collaborative and 
accountable decision-making

■■ creates long-term sustainable value 
for our shareholders, having regard 
to our other stakeholders.

Culture
The Barclays Way sets the framework for 
achieving a dynamic and positive culture. 
The Board supports The Barclays Way and 
the Barclays Purpose and Values. It promotes 
personal accountability and leadership and 
monitors our culture to satisfy itself as to the 
alignment of Barclays’ culture to its Purpose, 
Values and strategy. See page 146 for 
more details.

Our whistleblowing policy enables employees 
to raise any matters of concern anonymously 
and is embedded into our business. For more 
detail please refer to page 78 of the Board Audit 
Committee report.

Relations with shareholders 
and stakeholders
The Board recognises the importance of 
listening to, and understanding the views of 
stakeholders in order to inform the Board’s 
decision-making. You can read more about how 
we engage with our stakeholders, including what 
they told us in 2020 and how we responded, 
including in relation to the Group’s climate 
change strategy and responding to challenges 
arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, in our 
Strategic report on pages 16 to 21. 

Our comprehensive Investor Relations 
engagement helps the Board to understand 
investor views about Barclays, which are 
communicated regularly to the Board; and our 
Group Chairman engages with shareholders on 

governance and related matters. Our Investor 
Relations programme was adjusted to a virtual 
format for 2020 which ensured we enjoyed a 
high level of activity with existing and target 
investors despite restrictions on face to 
face meetings.

Our shareholder communication guidelines 
are available on our website at home.barclays/
investorrelations. 

Institutional investors
In 2020, the Directors, in conjunction with the 
senior executive team and Investor Relations 
colleagues, participated in a number of virtual 
investor meetings, seminars and conferences 
across many locations, given ‘in-person’ 
meetings were limited due to the COVID-19 
pandemic. We held conference calls/webcasts 
for our quarterly results briefings and an 
in-person presentation of our 2019 full 
year results for both our equity and fixed 
income investors.

During 2020, discussions with investors 
included, but were not limited to:
■■ credit conditions and our ability to manage 
risk appropriately through the COVID-19 
pandemic 

■■ the impact of low interest rates and reduced 
levels of consumer spending on our income 
generation

■■ regulatory restriction on dividends across 
all UK banks, to allow continued support for 
the economy

■■ Barclays’ commitment to tackling 

climate change. 

Private shareholders
During 2020, we continued to communicate with 
our private shareholders through shareholder 
mailings and through the information available 
on our website and through our AGM. Although 
shareholders were unable to attend in person 
due the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders 
were able to submit questions ahead of the AGM 
and all questions were responded to individually 
and answers to frequently asked questions were 
published on our website. Shareholders can also 
choose to sign up to Shareview so that they 
receive information about Barclays PLC and their 
shareholding directly by email. We continue to 
endeavour to trace shareholders who did not 
take up their share entitlement following the 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Rights Issue in September 2013, and offered 
a Share Dealing Service aimed at shareholders 
with relatively small shareholdings for whom 
it might otherwise be uneconomical to deal 
in Barclays shares. For more detail, please see 
pages 54 to 55.

Resolution 30 and they explained to Barclays, 
either in writing or orally, in the course of that 
engagement their reasons for supporting 
Resolution 30. Barclays has thus gained a clear 
understanding of the reasons behind the voting 
outcome in respect of Resolution 30.

The 2020 AGM
The Board was disappointed that the 2020 AGM 
was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and 
shareholders were unable to attend in person. 
The Board and the senior executive team 
consider our AGM to be a key opportunity for 
shareholder engagement, particularly with our 
private shareholders and for shareholders to ask 
questions of the Board. A number of Directors, 
including the Group Chairman, are normally 
available for informal discussion before or after 
an AGM. Given that shareholders were unable to 
attend in person, they were strongly encouraged 
to submit questions to the Board in advance of 
the meeting. All questions received were 
answered individually and answers to frequently 
asked questions were published on our website.

Voting in respect of all of the resolutions 
proposed by the Board at the 2020 AGM was 
conducted by way of a poll, thereby giving weight 
to the number of shares held by shareholders 
rather than simply attributing a notional one 
vote to each shareholder voting. With the 
exception of the shareholder requisitioned 
Resolution 30, all resolutions were passed with 
votes ‘For’ ranging from 90.60% to 99.93% of 
the total votes cast. 

A climate change resolution (Resolution 30) 
was requisitioned by a group of shareholders 
co-ordinated by ShareAction. The resolution 
was not supported by the Board, which 
proposed its own climate change resolution 
(Resolution 29) and recommended that 
shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 29 and 
not Resolution 30. After dialogue, ShareAction 
and many of the co-filers of Resolution 30 
recommended that shareholders vote in favour 
of both Resolution 29 and Resolution 30. 
Resolution 29 (the resolution recommended by 
the Board) was duly passed with overwhelming 
shareholder support (with 99.93% of votes cast, 
representing 68.8% of the register, being in 
favour of that resolution). Resolution 30, which 
was not supported by the Board, was not 
passed, and the level of shareholder support for 
it fell well short of the 75% majority required for 
it to pass. 23.95% of the votes cast were cast 
‘For’ Resolution 30, representing 14.35% of 
the register.

Based on its extensive engagement with 
shareholders prior to the AGM, which involved 
discussions with shareholders holding a very 
significant percentage of Barclays’ share capital, 
Barclays understands from those shareholders 
spoken to who voted in favour of Resolution 30 
why they did so. Those shareholders represent 
a very large proportion of the votes cast ‘For’ 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Following the 2020 AGM, to begin the process 
of embedding into the business the changes 
required by Resolution 29, the Board approved 
the creation of a new ExCo role focused on 
driving the execution and evolution of Barclays’ 
climate strategy.

On 30 November 2020, Barclays published an 
update on its climate strategy, detailing the 
methodology it will follow, the metrics for 
measuring its progress and the targets against 
which it will report, all of which were developed 
with the help of a range of stakeholders. For 
more information on Barclays’ climate strategy, 
please see pages 39 to 44 and the Barclays 
ESG Report.

Looking ahead to the 2021 AGM, the Board 
currently intends to hold the AGM on 5 May 
2021 at 11:00am, subject to the ongoing 
COVID-19 pandemic and any UK Government 
guidance on social distancing, non-essential 
travel and/or public gatherings. Guidance on 
whether physical attendance by shareholders will 
be possible will be determined nearer the time of 
the AGM. We will keep the considerable benefits 
of shareholder engagement in the AGM at the 
forefront of our planning for the 2021 AGM. 
Further details will be provided in the Notice 
of AGM.

In the future, and when circumstances permit, 
the Board expects to alternate AGM venues 
between London and a venue other than 
London where Barclays has a significant 
business or customer presence. 

Stakeholder engagement
The Board continues to seek to understand 
all stakeholders’ views, and the impact of our 
behaviour and business on customers and 
clients, colleagues, suppliers, communities and 
society more broadly. Accordingly, the Board 
monitors key indicators across areas such as 
culture, citizenship, conduct, and customer 
and client satisfaction on an ongoing basis. 

In 2020, we engaged extensively with 
shareholders and other stakeholders (including 
proxy advisory agencies and investor 
associations) on key topics including our 
commitment to tackle climate change and our 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please 
see our Section 172 Statement on pages 18 to 
21 for further information about our 
engagement with our four priority stakeholder 
groups – customers and clients, colleagues, 
society and investors.

We will publish the Barclays ESG Report at the 
same time as this Report, which will be made 
available on our website at home.barclays/
annualreport.

Throughout 2020, we have engaged with our 
stakeholders through a variety of means 
including surveys, participation in forums and 
global and regional industry initiatives. As a result 
of COVID-19, many of our events this year have 
been web based, although where possible we 
have supported key workers with site visits. 
This will continue in 2021, subject again to the 
constraints arising from the pandemic.

For further detail about how we engaged with 
our customers and clients, colleagues, society 
and investors in 2020, including what they told us 
and how we responded, please see our Strategic 
report on pages 16 to 21. 

Colleague engagement
The Group has a long-standing commitment 
to the importance and value of colleague 
engagement. Our colleagues make a critical 
difference to our success, and our investment 
in them protects and strengthens our culture. 
In addition to our annual employee survey, 
in 2020 we ran regular ‘Here to Listen’ surveys 
to understand how colleagues were feeling 
during the COVID-19 pandemic with a specific 
focus on wellbeing, working remotely and 
work/life balance. 

You can read more about our commitment to 
our colleagues and our workforce engagement, 
including survey results and our support of 
colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic, 
in our People and culture section on pages 
33 to 37 and in our Strategic report on pages 
16 to 21.

Conflicts of interest
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 
and Barclays PLC Articles of Association 
(the Articles), the Board has the authority to 
authorise conflicts of interest and this ensures 
that the influence of third parties does not 
compromise the independent judgement of 
the Board. Directors are required to declare 
any potential or actual conflicts of interest that 
could interfere with their ability to act in the best 
interests of the Group. 

The Group Company Secretary maintains a 
conflicts register, which is a record of actual 
and potential conflicts, together with any 
Board authorisation of the conflicts. The 
authorisations are for an indefinite period 
but are reviewed annually by the Nominations 
Committee, which also considers the 
effectiveness of the process for authorising 
Directors’ conflicts of interest. The Board 
retains the power to vary or terminate these 
authorisations at any time.

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Directors’ report: How we comply continued 

Division of responsibilities
Roles on the Board
Executive and Non-Executive Directors share 
the same duties. However, in line with the 
principles of the Code, a clear division of 
responsibilities has been established.

The Group Chairman is responsible for:
■■ leading the Board and its overall 

effectiveness

■■ demonstrating objective judgement
■■ promoting a culture of openness and 

constructive challenge and debate between 
all Directors

■■ facilitating constructive board relations 
and the effective contribution of all 
Non-Executive Directors

■■ ensuring Directors receive accurate, clear 

and timely information.

Responsibility for the day-to-day management 
of the Group is delegated to the Group Chief 
Executive Officer who is supported in this role 
by the ExCo. Further information on the 
membership of the ExCo can be found on 
page 64.

As a Board we have set out our expectations 
of each Director in Barclays’ Charter of 
Expectations. This includes role profiles and the 
behaviours and competencies required for each 
role on the Board, namely the Group Chairman, 
Group Deputy Chairman (to the extent one is 
required), the SID, Non-Executive Directors, 
Executive Directors and Committee Chairs. 

Consistent with our Charter of Expectations, 
the Non-Executive Directors provide effective 
oversight and scrutiny, strategic guidance and 
constructive challenge, while holding the 
Executive Directors to account against their 
agreed performance objectives. The Non-
Executive Directors, led by the Nominations 
Committee, have primary responsibility for the 
appointment and removal of the Executive 
Directors.

The SID provides a sounding board for the Group 
Chairman, acts as an intermediary for the other 
Directors when necessary and is available to 
shareholders if they have concerns that have not 
been addressed through the normal channels.

The Charter of Expectations is reviewed annually 
to ensure it remains relevant and accurately 
reflects the requirements of the Code, the 
Regulations and industry best practice. 

A copy of the Charter of Expectations can be 
found at home.barclays/who-we-are/
our-governance/board-responsibilities

Information provided to the Board
It is the responsibility of the Group Chairman to 
ensure that Board agendas are focused on key 
strategy, risk, performance and other value 
creation issues, and that members of the Board 
receive timely and high-quality information to 
enable them to make sound decisions and 
promote the success of Barclays PLC. Working in 
collaboration with the Group Chairman, the 
Group Company Secretary is responsible for 
ensuring good governance and information flow, 
to ensure an effective Board.

Throughout the year, both the Executive 
Directors and senior executives kept the Board 
informed of key business developments through 
regular updates. These are in addition to the 
presentations that the Board and Board 
Committees receive as part of their formal 
meetings. Directors are able to seek 
independent and professional advice at Barclays’ 
expense, if required, to enable them to fulfil their 
obligations as members of the Board.

Attendance
Directors are expected to attend every Board meeting. In 2020, attendance was very strong both at scheduled and additional meetings (including those 
called at short notice), as reflected in the table below. The Group Chairman met privately with the Non-Executive Directors on at least three occasions. 
If, owing to exceptional circumstances, a Director was not able to attend a Board meeting, he or she ensured that his or her views were made known to 
the Group Chairman in advance of the meeting. In addition, the SID met the other Non-Executive Directors individually, without the Group Chairman, 
to appraise the Group Chairman’s performance, the details of which are included on page 86. Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, the Board met 
an additional six times during the course of the year. The high level of attendance at these additional meetings, many of which were scheduled at short 
notice, is a testament to the commitment of each of our current Directors.

Board attendance in 2020

Independent/Executive 

Chairman
Nigel Higgins 
Executive Directors 
Jes Staley 
Tushar Morzaria 
Non-Executive Directors 
Mike Ashley
Tim Breedon
Sir Ian Cheshire
Mohamed El-Erian
Dawn Fitzpatrick
Mary Francis
Crawford Gillies
Brian Gilvary
Diane Schueneman
Former Directors 
Mary Anne Citrino

On appointmenta

Executive Director 
Executive Director 

Independent 
Independent
Independent
Independent
Independent
Independent
Senior Independent Directorb
Independentc
Independent

Independent

Scheduled
meetings 
eligible to attend 

Scheduled 
meetings 
attended 

% 
attendance

Additional 
meetings 
eligible to attend 

Additional 
meetings 
attended 

7

7
7

7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7

7

7

7
7

7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7

5

100%

100%
100%

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

71%

6

4
4

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

6

6

4
4

6
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

5

a  As required by the Code, the Chairman was independent on appointment. 
b  Brian Gilvary did not succeed Crawford Gillies as Senior Independent Director until 1 January 2021.
c  As above. 

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Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Board Committee cross-membership 
The table below shows the number of cross-memberships of the Non-Executive Directors across the Board Committees as at 31 December 2020. 

Board Audit Committee 

Board Nominations 
Committee

Board Remuneration 
Committee 

Board Risk Committee

Board Remuneration 
Committee 

Board Nominations 
Committee

3

1

4

3

2

1

commitment expected for the role of Non-
Executive Directors and the other Non-
Executive positions on the Board.

Time Commitment 

Role

Chairman

Expected time 
commitment 

Equivalent to up to 80% 
of full-time position. 

Senior Independent 
Director 

As required to fulfil 
the role. 

Non-Executive 
Director

Committee Chairs

35-40 days per year 
(membership of one 
Board Committee 
included, increasing 
to 50 days a year if 
member of two Board 
Committees). 

At least 80 days per year 
(including Non-
Executive Director time 
commitment) for Audit 
and Risk Committee 
Chairs and at least 60 
days for the 
Remuneration 
Committee Chair. 

Where circumstances require it, all Directors are 
expected to commit additional time as 
necessary to their work on the Board. The Group 
Company Secretary maintains a record of each 
Director’s commitments. For the year ended 
31 December 2020 and as at the date of 
publication, the Board is satisfied that none of 
the Directors is over-committed and that each 
of the Directors allocates sufficient time to his or 
her role in order to discharge their 
responsibilities effectively.

Composition of the Board
In line with the requirements of the Code, a 
majority of the Board is comprised of 
independent Non-Executive Directors. Our 
Nominations Committee considers the 
independence of our Non-Executive Directors 
annually, having regard to the independence 
criteria set out in the Code. As part of this 
process, our Nominations Committee keeps 
under review the length of tenure of all Directors, 
which can affect independence, and makes any 
recommendations to the Board accordingly. 

The independence of Tim Breedon, Mike Ashley 
and Crawford Gillies, all of whom have served on 
the Board for more than six years, was subjected 
to a more rigorous review. The Nominations 
Committee remains satisfied that the lengths of 
their tenure have no impact on their respective 
levels of independence or the effectiveness of 
their contributions. The Board considers all of 
the Non-Executive Directors to be independent.

During 2020, both Matthew Lester and Mary 
Anne Citrino stepped down from the Board. 
Neither raised any concerns about the operation 
of the Board or management.

You can read more about the changes to Board 
composition in 2020 and steps taken to further 
strengthen the Board in the report of our 
Nominations Committee on pages 82 to 86.

Time commitment
All potential new Directors are asked to disclose 
their other significant commitments. The 
Nominations Committee then takes this into 
account when considering a proposed 
appointment to ensure that Directors can 
discharge their responsibilities to Barclays 
effectively. This means not only attending and 
preparing for formal Board and Board 
Committee meetings, but also making time to 
understand the business and to undertake 
training. As stated in our Charter of Expectations, 
the time commitment is agreed with each 
Non-Executive Director on an individual basis. In 
addition, all Directors must seek approval before 
accepting any significant new commitment. Set 
out on this page is the average time 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Composition, succession 
and evaluation
We have a Nominations Committee, the 
purpose and activities of which are contained in 
the Nominations Committee Report on pages 
82 to 86.

Board appointments
All appointments to the Board and senior 
management are viewed through a diversity lens 
and are based on merit and objective criteria, 
which focus on the skills and experience required 
for the Board’s effectiveness and the delivery of 
the Group strategy. Board appointments are 
made following a rigorous and transparent 
process facilitated by the Nominations 
Committee, with the aid of an external search 
consultancy firm. You can read more about the 
work of the Nominations Committee on pages 
82 to 86.

Diversity across the Group remains a key area of 
focus. For more detail on our actions to increase 
diversity please see our People and culture 
section on pages 33 to 37.

The Nominations Committee regularly reviews 
the composition of the Board, Board 
Committees and the ExCo. It frequently 
considers the skills required for the Board, its 
Board Committees and the ExCo, identifying the 
core competencies, diversity and experience 
required. This, along with the annual evaluation, 
helps to refresh the thinking on Board, Board 
Committee and ExCo composition and to 
determine a timeline for proposed new 
appointments. For the Board, it is standard 
practice to appoint any new Non-Executive 
Director or Chair for an initial three-year term, 
subject to annual re-election at the AGM, which 
may be extended for up to a further three-year 
term. As such, Non-Executive Directors typically 
serve up to a total of six years.

All Directors are subject to election or re-
election each year by shareholders at the AGM.

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Directors’ report: How we comply continued 

Each year we carry out an effectiveness review 
in order to evaluate our performance, as a Board, 
as well as the performance of each of the 
Board Committees and individual Directors. 
More information on the 2020 Board evaluation 
and effectiveness review can be found on pages 
85 to 86.

Our Board members’ biographies showing their 
relevant skills and experience, Board Committee 
memberships and other principal appointments 
can be found on pages 60 to 63. Details of 
changes to the Board in 2020 and up to the date 
of this Report are disclosed on page 65.

The service contracts for the Executive 
Directors and the letters of appointment for the 
Group Chairman and Non-Executive Directors 
are available for inspection at our registered 
office and at the AGM.

Induction
On appointment to the Board, all Directors 
receive a comprehensive induction that is 
tailored to the new Director’s individual 
requirements. The induction schedule is 
designed to provide the new Director with an 
understanding of how the Group works and the 
key issues that it faces. The Group Company 
Secretary consults the Group Chairman when 
designing an induction schedule giving 
consideration to the particular needs of a new 
Director. When a Director is joining a Board 
Committee, the schedule includes an induction 
to the operation of that committee.

Following their appointment, Mohamed A. 
El-Erian and Brian Gilvary have received such 
inductions. They have each met with the Group 
Company Secretary, the current Non-Executive 
Directors, members of the ExCo and certain 
other senior executives as part of that process.

Training and development
In order to continue to contribute effectively 
to Board and Board Committee meetings, 
Directors are regularly provided with the 
opportunity to take part in ongoing training 
and development and can also request specific 
training as required. 

Opportunities for Director training were more 
limited in 2020 as a result of social distancing 
guidance and as the Board and senior 
management focused on the Group’s response 
to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, training 
and development was also supported through 
the Board deep dives, Risk deep dives and 
Function reviews described on pages 69 to 70. 
In addition, the Board received its annual briefing 
on regulatory responsibilities, including the 
Senior Managers Regime. 

Audit, Risk and 
Internal Control
Accountability
Internal governance processes have been 
developed to ensure the effective operation 
of the individual boards and board committees 
of each of BPLC, BBUKPLC and BBPLC 
respectively, in recognition of the fact that this 
is key to the development and execution of the 
Group’s strategy. Generally, there is one set of 
rules for the Group. Group-wide frameworks, 
policies and standards are adopted throughout 
the Group unless local laws or regulations (for 
example, the ring-fencing obligations applicable 
to BBUKPLC) require otherwise, or the ExCo 
decides otherwise in a particular instance.

The Board has a Board Audit Committee and 
a Board Risk Committee. The purposes and 
activities of the Board Audit and Board Risk 
Committees are contained within their 
respective reports on pages 72 and 87 
respectively.

Internal and external audit functions
The Board, together with the Board Audit 
Committee, is responsible for ensuring the 
independence and effectiveness of the internal 
and external audit functions. For this reason, the 
Board Audit Committee members met regularly 
with the Group Chief Internal Auditor and the 
KPMG lead audit engagement partner, without 
management present. The appointment and 
removal of the Group Chief Internal Auditor is a 
matter reserved to the Board Audit Committee 
and the appointment, and removal, of the 
external auditor, is a matter reserved to the 
Board. Neither task is delegated to management. 
This is explained in detail on pages 72 to 80 of 
the Board Audit Committee report.

Company’s position and prospects
The Board, together with the Board Audit 
Committee, is responsible for ensuring the 
integrity of this Annual Report and that the 
financial statements as a whole present a fair, 
balanced and understandable assessment 
of our performance, position and prospects. 
This is explained in detail on pages 72 to 78 
of the Board Audit Committee report.

Risk management and internal control
The Directors are responsible for ensuring that 
management maintains an effective system of 
risk management and internal control and for 
assessing its effectiveness. Such a system is 
designed to identify, evaluate and manage, 
rather than eliminate, the risk of failure to 
achieve business objectives and can only 
provide reasonable, and not absolute, assurance 
against material misstatement or loss.

The Group is committed to operating within a 
strong system of internal control. Barclays has 
an overarching framework that sets out the 
approach of the Group to internal governance, 
The Barclays Guide. This establishes the 
mechanisms, principles and processes through 
which management implements the strategy 
set by the Board.

Processes are in place for identifying, evaluating 
and managing the Principal Risks facing the 
Group in accordance with the ‘Guidance on Risk 
Management, Internal Control and Related 
Financial and Business Reporting’, published by 
the FRC. A key component of The Barclays Guide 
is the ERMF. The purpose of the ERMF is to 
identify and set minimum requirements in 
respect of the main risks to the strategic 
objectives of the Group. There are eight 
Principal Risks under the ERMF: Credit risk, 
Market risk, Treasury and Capital risk, 
Operational risk, Model risk, Reputation risk, 
Conduct risk and Legal risk. The system of risk 
management and internal control is set out in 
the risk frameworks relating to each of our eight 
Principal Risks and the Barclays Control 
Framework, which details requirements for the 
delivery of control responsibilities. Group-wide 
frameworks, policies and standards enable 
Barclays to meet regulators’ expectations 
relating to internal control and assurance.

Effectiveness of internal controls
Key controls are assessed on a regular basis 
for both design and operating effectiveness. 
Issues arising out of these assessments, where 
appropriate, are reported to the Board Audit 
Committee. The Board Audit Committee 
oversees the control environment (and 
remediation of related issues) and you can 
read more about its work on pages 72 to 80.

The Board Audit Committee also reviews 
annually the risk management and internal 
control system, which includes the ERMF. It has 
concluded that, throughout the year ended 
31 December 2020 and to date, the Group has 
operated a sound system of internal control that 
provides reasonable assurance of financial and 
operational controls and compliance with laws 
and regulations. For more details on that 
evaluation and its conclusions please see 
pages 72 to 80.

100

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Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Remuneration
The Company has a Board Remuneration 
Committee, the purpose and activities of which 
are described in the Board Remuneration 
Committee report on pages 108 to 142.

The Board has delegated responsibility for the 
consideration and approval of the remuneration 
arrangements of the Group Chairman, the 
Executive Directors, other senior executives 
and certain Group employees to the Board 
Remuneration Committee. The Board 
Remuneration Committee, when considering 
the remuneration policies and practices, seeks 
to ensure that they support our strategy and 
promote the long-term success of the business 
and that they are aligned to the successful 
delivery of the Group’s strategy. 

All executive and senior management 
remuneration policies are developed in 
accordance with the Group’s formal and 
transparent procedures (ensuring that no 
Director is involved in deciding his/her own 
remuneration outcome) and having regard to 
workforce remuneration and related policies 
and the alignment of incentives and rewards 
with culture. 

All Board Remuneration Committee members 
demonstrate independent judgement and 
discretion when determining and approving 
remuneration outcomes. The Board as a whole, 
with the Non-Executive Directors abstaining, 
considers annually the fees paid to Non-
Executive Directors. 

Information on the purpose of the Board 
Remuneration Committee and its activities in 
2020 can be found in the Remuneration report 
on pages 108 to 142.

Internal control over financial reporting includes 
policies and procedures that pertain to the 
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail:
■■ accurately and fairly reflect transactions 

and dispositions of assets

■■ provide reasonable assurances that 

transactions are recorded as necessary to 
permit preparation of financial statements 
in accordance with IFRS and that receipts 
and expenditures are being made only 
in accordance with authorisations of 
management and the respective Directors

■■ provide reasonable assurance regarding 

prevention or timely detection of 
unauthorised acquisition, use or disposition 
of assets that could have a material effect 
on the financial statements.

Internal control systems, no matter how well 
designed, have inherent limitations and may 
not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to 
future periods are subject to the risk that internal 
controls may become inadequate because of 
changes in conditions or that the degree of 
compliance with the policies or procedures may 
deteriorate.

Management has assessed the internal control 
over financial reporting as of 31 December 2020. 
In making its assessment, management utilised 
the criteria set out in the 2013 COSO framework 
and concluded that, based on its assessment, 
the internal control over financial reporting was 
effective as of 31 December 2020.

The system of internal financial and operational 
controls is also subject to regulatory oversight 
in the UK and overseas. Further information on 
supervision by the financial services regulators 
is provided under Supervision and Regulation 
in the Risk review section on pages 232 to 238.

Changes in internal control over 
financial reporting
There have been no changes that occurred 
during the period covered by this Report, which 
have materially affected or are reasonably likely 
to materially affect the Group’s internal control 
over financial reporting.

The review of the effectiveness of the system 
of risk management and internal control is 
achieved through reviewing the effectiveness 
of the frameworks, principles and processes 
contained within The Barclays Guide, the ERMF 
and the Barclays Control Framework.

Regular reports are made by management 
to the Board Risk Committee and the Board 
covering significant risks, measurement 
methodologies and appropriate risk appetite 
for the Group.

Further details of risk management procedures 
and material existing and emerging risks are 
given in the Risk review and Risk management 
sections on pages 143 to 231.

Controls over financial reporting
A framework of disclosure controls and 
procedures is in place to support the approval 
of the financial statements of the Group.

Specific governance committees are 
responsible for examining the financial reports 
and disclosures to ensure that they have been 
subject to adequate verification and comply with 
applicable standards and legislation.

Where appropriate, these committees report 
their conclusions to the Board Audit Committee, 
which debates such conclusions and provides 
further challenge. Finally, the Board scrutinises 
and approves results announcements and the 
Annual Report and ensures that appropriate 
disclosures have been made. This governance 
process ensures that both management and the 
Board are given sufficient opportunity to debate 
and challenge the financial statements of the 
Group and other significant disclosures before 
they are made public.

Management’s report on internal 
control over financial reporting
Management is responsible for establishing 
and maintaining adequate internal control over 
financial reporting under the supervision of 
the principal executive and financial officers, 
to provide reasonable assurance regarding 
the reliability of financial reporting and the 
preparation of financial statements, in 
accordance with international accounting 
standards in conformity with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2006 and prepared in 
accordance with international financial reporting 
standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) 
No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European 
Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU). 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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101

  
 
Directors’ report: Other statutory information 
The Directors present their report together with the 
audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Other statutory information 

Other information that is relevant to the Directors’ report, and which is incorporated 
by reference into this report, can be located as follows:

Remuneration policy, including details of the remuneration of each Director and 
Directors’ interests in shares 

Governance Statement

Risk review

Page

114

59

143

Disclosures required pursuant to Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups 
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 as updated by Companies (Miscellaneous 
Reporting) Regulations 2018 can be found on the following pages:

Engagement with employees  
(Sch. 7, Para 11 and 11A 2008/2018 Regs)

Policy concerning the employment of disabled persons  
(Sch. 7, para 10 2008 Regs)

Engagement with suppliers, customers and others in a business relationship  
(Sch. 7, Para 11 B 2008/2018 Regs)

Financial instruments  
(Sch. 7, para 6 2008 Regs)

Hedge accounting policy  
(Sch. 7, para 6 2008 Regs)

Disclosures required pursuant to Listing Rule 9.8.4R can be found on the 
following pages:

Long-term incentive schemes

Waiver of Director emoluments

Allotment for cash of equity securities

Waiver of dividends

Page

33 to 37

37

18 to 19 
and 39 
to 43

305 to 
327

307

Page

116

142

345

102

Section 414A of the Companies Act 2006 
requires the Directors to present a Strategic 
report in the Annual Report and Financial 
Statements. The information can be found 
on pages 1 to 43. 

The Company has chosen, in accordance with 
section 414C (11) of the Companies Act 2006, 
and as noted in this Directors’ report, to include 
certain matters in its Strategic report that would 
otherwise be disclosed in this Directors’ report.

An indication of likely future developments may 
be found in the Strategic report.

The particulars of important events affecting 
the Company since the financial year end can be 
found in the Strategic report and Note 26 to the 
Financial Statements, Legal, competition and 
regulatory matters.

Profit and dividends 
Statutory profit after tax for 2020 was £2,461m 
(2019: £3,354m). The 2020 full year dividend of 
1.0p per share will be paid on 1 April 2021 to 
shareholders whose names are on the Register 
of Members at the close of business on  
26 February 2021. With no half year dividend 
paid in 2020, the total distribution for 2020 is 
1.0p (2019: 3.0p) per ordinary share. As a result 
of the cancellation of the 2019 full year dividend 
in April 2020, no dividends were paid in 2020 
(2019: £1,201m).

Barclays has decided to cease to offer the scrip 
dividend programme and will no longer offer a 
scrip alternative for dividends. For those 
shareholders who wish to elect to use their cash 
dividends to purchase additional ordinary shares 
in the market, rather than receive a cash 
payment, Barclays has arranged for its registrar, 
Equiniti, to provide and administer a dividend 
reinvestment plan (DRIP). Further details 
regarding the DRIP can be found at 
www.barclays.com 

102

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Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

The nominee company of certain Barclays’ 
employee benefit trusts holding shares in 
Barclays in connection with the operation of 
our share plans has lodged evergreen dividend 
waivers on shares held by it that have not been 
allocated to employees. As no dividends were 
paid in 2020, the total amount of dividends 
waived during the year ended 31 December 
2020 was nil (2019: £1.58m).

Board of Directors 
The names of the current Directors of Barclays 
PLC, along with their biographical details, are set 
out on pages 60 to 64 and are incorporated into 
this Directors’ report by reference. Changes to 
Directors during the year are set out below.

Name

Role

Effective date of 
appointment /
resignation

Mohamed A. 
El-Erian

Non-Executive 
Director

Appointed 
1 January 2020

Brian Gilvary Non-Executive 

Director

Appointed 
1 February 
2020

Matthew 
Lester

Non-Executive 
Director

Resigned 
1 January 2020

Mary Anne 
Citrino

Non-Executive 
Director

Resigned 
30 September 
2020

Appointment and retirement 
of Directors 
The appointment and retirement of Directors 
is governed by our Articles, the Code, the 
Companies Act 2006 and related legislation.

The Articles may be amended only by a special 
resolution of the shareholders. The Board has 
the power to appoint additional Directors or to 
fill a casual vacancy among the Directors and any 
Director so appointed holds office only until the 
next AGM and may offer himself/herself for 
re-election. The Code recommends that all 
directors of FTSE 350 companies should be 
subject to annual re-election. Other than Sir Ian 
Cheshire who is stepping down from the Board 
at the 2021 AGM, all Directors (including Julia 
Wilson who joins the Board on 1 April 2021) 
will stand for election or re-election at the 
2021 AGM.

Directors’ indemnities 
Qualifying third party indemnity provisions (as 
defined by section 234 of the Companies Act 
2006) were in force during the course of the 
financial year ended 31 December 2020 for the 
benefit of the then Directors and, at the date of 
this report, are in force for the benefit of the 
Directors in relation to certain losses and 
liabilities which they may incur (or have incurred) 
in connection with their duties, powers or office. 
In addition, the Group maintains Directors’ 
& Officers’ Liability Insurance which gives 
appropriate cover for legal action brought 
against its Directors.

Qualifying pension scheme indemnity provisions 
(as defined by section 235 of the Companies Act 
2006) were in force during the course of the 
financial year ended 31 December 2020 for the 
benefit of the then directors, and at the date of 
this report are in force for the benefit of 
directors of Barclays Pension Funds Trustees 
Limited as trustee of the Barclays Bank UK 
Retirement Fund, Barclays Capital International 
Pension Scheme (No.1) and Barclays PLC 
Funded Unapproved Retirement Benefits 
Scheme. The directors of the trustee are 
indemnified against liability incurred in 
connection with the trustee’s activities in 
relation to the Barclays Bank UK Retirement 
Fund, Barclays Capital International Pension 
Scheme (No.1) and Barclays PLC Funded 
Unapproved Retirement Benefits Scheme.

Political donations 
The Group did not give any money for political 
purposes in the UK, the EU or outside the EU, 
nor did it make any political donations to political 
parties or other political organisations or to any 
independent election candidates, nor did it incur 
any political expenditure during the year.

In accordance with the US Federal Election 
Campaign Act, Barclays provides administrative 
support to a federal Political Action Committee 
(PAC) in the US, funded by the voluntary political 
contributions of eligible employees. The PAC is 
not controlled by Barclays and all decisions 
regarding the amounts and recipients of 
contributions are directed by a steering 
committee comprising employees eligible to 
contribute to the PAC. Contributions to political 
organisations reported by the PAC during the 
calendar year 2020 totalled $113,500 (2019: 
$46,000).

Country-by-Country reporting
The Capital Requirements (Country-by-
Country reporting) Regulations 2013 require 
the Company to publish additional information 
in respect of the year ended 31 December 2020. 
This information is available on the Barclays 
website: home.barclays/annualreport

Environment
Barclays focuses on addressing environmental 
issues where we believe we have the greatest 
potential to make a difference. As part of 
our ambition to be a net zero bank by 2050, 
we continue to work towards aligning our 
financing with the Paris Climate Agreement 
(see page 44) and continue to reduce our 
operational carbon footprint. 

2020 performance update 
In line with Barclays’ ambition to be a net zero 
bank, Barclays remains committed to managing 
our own operational footprint and transitioning 
to a low-carbon economy. In 2020, we achieved 
a 71% scope 1 and 2 emission reduction against 
our 2018 baseline, and we continue to offset our 
residual emissions from our operations and 
business travel. This reduction was principally 
achieved through the expansion of our 
renewable electricity purchasing programme 
across Continental Europe, United Kingdom 
Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United 
States. Our current renewable electricity 
consumption currently stands at 74% against 
our interim target of procuring 90% of our 
electricity from renewable sources by 2021. 

We have disclosed global greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions and energy use data as required by 
the Large and Medium-sized Companies and 
Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 
2008. Additional disclosures on (i) financing 
solutions for the lower carbon economy, (ii) 
environmental risk management and (iii) 
management of our carbon and environmental 
footprint are set out in our Strategic report, 
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) 
Report and TCFD Report, available on our 
website at home.barclays/annualreport

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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103

  
 
 
Directors’ report: Other statutory information continued 

GHG Emissions Table and Notes

Group GHG Emissionsb

Total CO2e (tonnes) 

Scope 1 CO2e emissions (tonnes)c

Scope 2 CO2e emissions (tonnes)d 

Scope 3 CO2e emissions (tonnes)e

Current Reporting Yeara
2020

Previous Reporting Year
2019

UK & 
Offshore Area

Global 
GHG Emissions 

UK & 
Offshore Area

Global 
GHG Emissions

104,476

197,504

146,050

273,954

12,605

18,839

17,284

23,835

83,303

159,532

98,929

181,983

8,569

19,133

29,837

68,137

Energy consumption used to calculate above Scope 1 and 2 emissions (kWh)

395,742,619 621,694,988 436,114,042 679,310,592

Intensity Ratio 

Total Full-Time Employees (FTE)

Total CO2e per FTE (tonnes)f

Market-based emissions

47,700

83,000

47,800

80,800

2.19

2.38

3.06

3.39

Scope 2 CO2e market-based emissions (tonnes)d 

Total gross Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions (tonnes) 

7,172

19,777

64,233

83,071

7,226

89,528

24,509

113,363

Notes
a   The carbon reporting year for our GHG emissions is 1 October to 30 September. The carbon reporting year is not fully aligned to the financial reporting year covered by this Directors’ 

report. Details of our approach to assurance over the data is set out in the 2020 Barclays ESG Report.

b   The methodology used to calculate our GHG emissions is the ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG): A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition)’, defined by the World 

Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (ERI/WBCSD). We have adopted the operational control approach on reporting boundaries to define our reporting 
boundary. Where properties are covered by Barclays’ consolidated financial statements but are leased to tenants and Barclays is not responsible for utility costs, these emissions are not 
included in the Group GHG emission calculations. Where Barclays is responsible for the utility costs, these emissions are included. We continuously review and update our performance 
data based on updated carbon emission factors, improvements in data quality and updates to estimates previously applied. For 2020 we have applied the latest emission factors available 
at the time of reporting. Where our performance has changed by more than 1% we have restated these figures. This year 2019 scope 2 emissions have been updated to reflect additional 
consumption data which was not available at the time of reporting and updates to residual mix factors specifically in the US which is the material contributor to the scope 2 market based 
emissions restatement. The previously reported figure was  110,017tCO2e (scope 2 market based) & 185,743tCO2e (location based).

c   Scope 1 covers GHG emissions from activities for which the Group is responsible, including emissions from the direct combustion of fuels and the operation of facilities. In the case of 

company owned vehicles, emissions are limited to UK vehicles only as this is the only country in which the Group owns vehicles. 

d   Scope 2 covers GHG emissions from electricity, heat, cooling and steam purchased for own use. Market-based emissions have been reported for 2019 and 2020. We have used a zero 

emission factor where we have renewable contracts already in place in the UK, US, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Continental Europe. 

e   Scope 3 covers indirect emissions from business travel. Business travel for these purposes comprises of: global flights and ground transport within the UK, US and India, however in the 
case of the US and India ground transport covers onwards car hire only which has been provided directly by the supplier. Ground transportation data (excluding scope 1 emissions from 
company owned vehicles) covers only countries where robust data is available directly from the supplier.
Intensity ratio calculations have been calculated using location-based emission factors only.

f  
g   Energy consumption data is captured through utility billing; meter reads or estimates. Principal measures we have undertaken in 2020 to improve energy efficiency include the following: 
•   we have reduced our Group energy consumption by 8% versus 2019 as a result of reduced operating hours of our property portfolio as our global workforce transitioned to remote 

working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

•   we continue to work on improving the operational efficiency of our property portfolio and in 2020 conducted energy efficiency projects globally which have achieved a total energy 

reduction of 8GWhs since implementation. The achieved reductions can be broken down by principal categories such as building optimisation projects saving 3,600 MWh: a 3,100 MWh 
saving from adjusting our HVAC systems to align with reduced operational hours of our buildings globally; power optimisation improvements in our APAC portfolio saving 1,170 MWh; 
and end of life asset replacements together with the installation of LED lighting in our buildings which have achieved a combined 450MWh saving.

Research and development 
In the ordinary course of business, the Group 
develops new products and services in each 
of its business divisions.

Share capital 
Share capital structure  
The Company has ordinary shares in issue. 
The Company’s Articles also allow for the 
issuance of sterling, US dollar, euro and yen 
preference shares (preference shares). 
No preference shares have been issued as at 
16 February 2021 (the latest practicable date 
for inclusion in this report). Ordinary shares 
therefore represent 100% of the total issued 

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share capital as at 31 December 2020 and as 
at 16 February 2021 (the latest practicable date 
for inclusion in this report).

by different members or in one direction by a 
member while another member has permitted 
the proxy discretion as to how to vote. 

Details of the movement in ordinary share 
capital during the year can be found in Note 28 
on page 346.

Voting
Every member who is present in person or 
represented at any general meeting of the 
Company, and who is entitled to vote, has one 
vote on a show of hands. Every proxy present has 
one vote. The proxy will have one vote for, and 
one vote against, a resolution if he/she has been 
instructed to vote for, or against, the resolution 

On a poll, every member who is present or 
represented and who is entitled to vote has one 
vote for every share held. In the case of joint 
holders, only the vote of the senior holder (as 
determined by order in the share register) or his/
her proxy may be counted. If any sum payable 
remains unpaid in relation to a member’s 
shareholding, that member is not entitled to 
vote that share or exercise any other right in 
relation to a meeting of the Company unless 
the Board otherwise determines.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Making a difference for  
our customers and clients

Trusted support when  
I needed it

We are a business at the heart of the local 
community, with fully booked salons and a 
flourishing training academy. The challenges 
of lockdowns have created new opportunities 
for me to act quickly to protect the future 
of our skilled stylists and to support 
my customers. 

Clients were contacting me for haircare 
advice, all desperate to get hold of their 
usual products, so I knew the time was right 
to launch our online store and offer virtual 
expertise. It was essential for me to create 
an excellent service and my strong 
relationship with Barclays was key to that.

The team understands my business. From 
helping me apply for a BBLS loan, to setting up 
a secure payment system for my customers’ 
online purchases, they have remained 
perfectly placed to respond quickly as 
my business has adapted. 

Launching our digital salon opened my eyes to 
how big the online world is. For us, it’s opened 
up a whole world of opportunity for our retail 
and training aspirations. 

The Barclays team 
understands my business 
and quickly responds to 
new opportunities. 

Marcello Moccia 
Owner, Room 97 Creative Hairdressing 
Wakefield

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Barclays PLC 
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105

 
 
Directors’ report: Other statutory information continued 

If any member, or any other person appearing to 
be interested in any of the Company’s ordinary 
shares, is served with a notice under section 793 
of the Companies Act 2006 and does not supply 
the Company with the information required in 
the notice, then the Board, in its absolute 
discretion, may direct that that member shall 
not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting 
of the Company. The Board may further direct 
that, if the shares of the defaulting member 
represent 0.25% or more of the issued shares 
of the relevant class, dividends or other monies 
payable on those shares shall be retained by 
the Company until the direction ceases to have 
effect and no transfer of those shares shall 
be registered (other than certain specified 
‘excepted transfers’). A direction ceases to 
have effect seven days after the Company has 
received the information requested, or when the 
Company is notified that an excepted transfer 
of all of the relevant shares to a third party has 
occurred, or as the Board otherwise determines.

Transfers 
Ordinary shares may be held in either 
certificated or uncertificated form. Certificated 
ordinary shares may be transferred in writing 
in any usual or other form approved by the 
Group Company Secretary and executed by 
or on behalf of the transferor. Transfers of 
uncertificated ordinary shares must be made 
in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 
and the CREST Regulations.

The Board is not bound to register a transfer of 
partly paid ordinary shares or fully paid shares in 
exceptional circumstances approved by the FCA. 
The Board may also decline to register an 
instrument of transfer of certificated ordinary 
shares unless it is (i) duly stamped, deposited at 
the prescribed place and accompanied by the 
share certificate(s) and such other evidence as 
reasonably required by the Board to evidence 
right to transfer, (ii) it is in respect of one class 
of shares only, and (iii) it is in favour of a single 
transferee or not more than four joint 
transferees (except in the case of executors 
or trustees of a member). 

In accordance with the provisions of  
section 84 of the Small Business, Enterprise 
and Employment Act 2015, preference 
shares may be issued only in registered form. 
Preference shares shall be transferred in writing 
in any usual or other form approved by the 
Group Company Secretary and executed by 
or on behalf of the transferor. The Company’s 
registrar shall register such transfers of 
preference shares by making the appropriate 
entries in the register of preference shares. 
Each preference share shall confer, in the 
event of a winding up or any return of capital 
by reduction of capital (other than, unless 
otherwise provided by their terms of issue, 
a redemption or purchase by the Company of 
any of its issued shares, or a reduction of share 
capital), the right to receive out of the surplus 

106

Barclays PLC 
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assets of the Company available for distribution 
among the members and in priority to the 
holders of the ordinary shares and any other 
shares in the Company ranking junior to the 
relevant series of preference shares and pari 
passu with any other class of preference shares 
(other than any class of shares then in issue 
ranking in priority to the relevant series of 
preference shares), repayment of the amount 
paid up or treated as paid up in respect of the 
nominal value of the preference share together 
with any premium which was paid or treated as 
paid when the preference share was issued in 
addition to an amount equal to accrued and 
unpaid dividends.

Variation of rights 
The rights attached to any class of shares may 
be varied either with the consent in writing of the 
holders of at least 75% in nominal value of the 
issued shares of that class, or with the sanction 
of a special resolution passed at a separate 
meeting of the holders of the shares of that 
class. The rights of shares shall not (unless 
expressly provided by the rights attached to 
such shares) be deemed varied by the creation 
of further shares ranking equally with them or 
subsequent to them.

Limitations on foreign shareholders 
There are no restrictions imposed by the Articles 
or (subject to the effect of any economic 
sanctions that may be in force from time to 
time) by current UK laws which relate only to 
non-residents of the UK and which limit the 
rights of such non-residents to hold or (when 
entitled to do so) vote the ordinary shares.

Exercisability of rights under an 
employee share scheme 
Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) operate in 
connection with certain of the Group’s 
Employee Share Plans (Plans). The trustees of 
the EBTs may exercise all rights attached to the 
shares in accordance with their fiduciary duties 
other than as specifically restricted in the 
documents governing the Plans. The trustees of 
the EBTs have informed the Company that their 
normal policy is to abstain from voting in respect 
of the Barclays shares held in trust. The trustees 
of the Global Sharepurchase EBT and UK 
Sharepurchase EBT may vote in respect of 
Barclays shares held in the EBTs, but only as 
instructed by participants in those Plans in 
respect of their partnership shares and 
(when vested) matching and dividend shares. 
The trustees will not otherwise vote in respect 
of shares held in the Sharepurchase EBTs. 

Special rights
There are no persons holding securities that 
carry special rights with regard to the control 
of the Company. 

Major shareholders
Major shareholders do not have different voting 
rights from those of other shareholders. 
Information provided to the Company by 
substantial shareholders pursuant to the FCA’s 
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules are 
published via a Regulatory Information Service 
and is available on the Company’s website. As at 
31 December 2020, the Company had been 
notified under Rule 5 of the Disclosure Guidance 
and Transparency Rules of the following holdings 
of voting rights in its shares.

 % of total 
voting 
rights 
 attaching 
 to issued 
share 
capitala

Nature of 
holding 
(direct or 
indirect)

Number of 
Barclays 
Shares

944,022,209

5.78 indirect

1,017,455,690 

5.86

direct

943,949,089

5.48 indirect

Person interested
BlackRock Incb

Qatar Holding 
LLCc

Sherborne 
Investorsd

The Capital 
Group 
Companies Ince 843,819,487

4.87 indirect

Norges Bank

521,031,852

3.00

direct

Notes
a   The percentage of voting rights detailed above was 

calculated at the time of the relevant disclosures made in 
accordance with Rule 5 of the Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules, with the exception of Qatar Holding 
which has been rebased against the issued share capital 
as at 31 December 2020, because its last disclosure was 
made on 1 December 2016.

b   Total shown includes 6,687,206 contracts for difference 
to which voting rights are attached. Part of the holding is 
held as American Depositary Receipts. On 28 January 
2021, BlackRock, Inc. disclosed by way of a Schedule 13G 
filed with the SEC beneficial ownership of 1,303,744,297 
ordinary shares of the Company as of 31 December 
2020, representing 7.5% of that class of shares.

c   Qatar Holding LLC is wholly owned by Qatar Investment 

Authority.

d  We understand from disclosures that the Sherborne 

shares are held via three funds ultimately controlled by 
Edward Bramson and Stephen Welker in their capacity as 
managing directors of Sherborne Investors Management 
GP, LLC (Sherborne Management GP), and Sherborne 
Investors GP, LLC. Sherborne Management GP is the 
general partner of Sherborne Investors Management LP 
(Sherborne Investors) which is the investment manager 
of each of the three funds beneficially interested in the 
Sherborne shares, being Whistle Investors LLC, Whistle 
Investors II LLC and Whistle Investors III LLC. 
Amendment No.2 to a Schedule 13D filing, filed on 
7 November 2019, also disclosed that certain funded 
derivative transactions, which were used to purchase 
505,086,254 of such shares, have been extended to 
expire on various dates during the period beginning 
14 December 2021 (previously 21 October 2019) and 
ending 22 July 2022 (previously 16 March 2021).

e  The Capital Group Companies Inc (CG) holds its shares 
via CG Management companies. Part of the CG holding 
is held as American Depositary Receipts.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Between 31 December 2020 and 16 February 
2021 (the latest practicable date for inclusion in 
this report), the Company has not received any 
additional notifications pursuant to Rule 5 of the 
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Powers of Directors to issue or buy back 
the Company’s shares
The powers of the Directors are determined by 
the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s 
Articles. The Directors are authorised to issue 
and allot shares and to buy back shares subject 
to annual shareholder approval at the AGM. Such 
authorities were granted by shareholders at the 
2020 AGM. It will be proposed at the 2021 AGM 
that the Directors be granted new authorities to 
allot and buy back shares.

Repurchase of shares
The Company did not repurchase any of its 
ordinary shares during 2020 (2019: none). 
As at 16 February 2021 (the latest practicable 
date for inclusion in this report) the Company 
had an unexpired authority to repurchase 
ordinary shares up to a maximum of 1,733m 
ordinary shares. 

Distributable Reserves
As at 31 December 2020, the distributable 
reserves of the Company were £24,386m  
(2019: £22,457m).

Change of control
There are no significant agreements to which 
the Company is a party that are affected by a 
change of control of the Company following a 
takeover bid. There are no agreements between 
the Company and its Directors or employees 
providing for compensation for loss of office 
or employment that occurs because of a 
takeover bid.

Disclosure of information to the auditor 
Each Director confirms that, so far as he/she is 
aware, there is no relevant audit information of 
which our auditor is unaware and that each of 
the Directors has taken all the steps that he/she 
ought to have taken as a Director to make 
himself/herself aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that our auditor is 
aware of that information. This confirmation is 
given pursuant to section 418 of the Companies 
Act 2006 and should be interpreted in 
accordance with, and subject to, those 
provisions.

Directors’ responsibilities 
The following statement, which should be read 
in conjunction with the Auditor’s report set out 
on pages 260 to 278, is made with a view to 
distinguishing for shareholders the respective 
responsibilities of the Directors and of the 
auditor in relation to the accounts. 

Going concern
The Group’s business activities and factors 
likely to affect its future development and 
performance are disclosed in the Strategic 
report and Risk Review sections of this report. 
The financial performance is disclosed within 
the Financial Review with funding, liquidity 
and capital details contained within the Risk 
Performance section. The Group’s objectives 
and policies in managing the financial risks to 
which it is exposed are discussed in the Risk 
Management section.

The Directors considered it appropriate to 
prepare the financial statements on a going 
concern basis.

In preparing each of the Group and Parent 
company financial statements, the Directors are 
required to:
■■ assess the Group and Parent company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to 
going concern;

■■ use the going concern basis of accounting 
unless they either intend to liquidate the 
Group or the Parent company or to cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative 
but to do so.

Preparation of accounts
The Directors are required by the Companies 
Act 2006 to prepare Group and Company 
accounts for each financial year and, with  
regard to Group accounts, in accordance with 
Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. The Directors 
have prepared Group and Company accounts: 
a) in accordance with international accounting 
standards in conformity with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2006; and b) international 
financial reporting standards adopted pursuant 
to Regulation EC No. 1606/2002 as it applies in 
the European Union. Pursuant to the Companies 
Act 2006, the Directors must not approve the 
accounts unless they are satisfied that they give 
a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 
Group and the Company and of their profit or 
loss for that period.

The Directors consider that, in preparing 
the financial statements, the Group and the 
Company have used appropriate accounting 
policies, supported by reasonable judgements 
and estimates, and that all accounting 
standards which they consider to be 
applicable have been followed.

The Directors are satisfied that the Annual Report 
and Financial Statements, taken as a whole, are 
fair, balanced and understandable, and provide 
the information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the Group and Company’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy.

The Directors are responsible for such internal 
control as they determine is necessary to enable 
the preparation of financial statements that are 
free from material misstatement, whether due 
to fraud or error.

Directors’ responsibility statement 
The Directors have responsibility for ensuring 
that the Company and the Group keep 
accounting records which disclose with 
reasonable accuracy the financial position of the 
Company and the Group and which enable them 
to ensure that the accounts comply with the 
Companies Act 2006.

The Directors are also responsible for preparing 
a Strategic Report, Directors’ Report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and Corporate 
Governance Statement in accordance 
with applicable law and regulations. 

The Directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the Annual Report 
and Financial Statements as they appear on our 
website. Legislation in the UK governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements may differ from legislation in 
other jurisdictions.

The Directors have a general responsibility for 
taking such steps as are reasonably open to 
them to safeguard the assets of the Group 
and to prevent and detect fraud and other 
irregularities.

The Directors, whose names and functions are 
set out on pages 60 to 64, confirm to the best 
of their knowledge that:

(a)  the financial statements, prepared in 
accordance with the applicable set of accounting 
standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of 
the Company and the undertakings included in 
the consolidation taken as a whole; and

(b)  the management report, on pages 6 to 43, 
which is incorporated in the Directors’ report, 
includes a fair review of the development and 
performance of the business and the position 
of the Company and the undertakings included 
in the consolidation taken as a whole, together 
with a description of the Principal Risks and 
uncertainties that they face.

Auditor’s report
The Auditor’s report on the Financial 
Statements of Barclays PLC for the year ended 
31 December 2020 was unmodified and its 
statement under section 496 of the Companies 
Act 2006 was also unmodified.

By order of the Board 

Stephen Shapiro
Company Secretary 

17 February 2021 

Registered in England. 
Company No. 48839  

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Remuneration report
Annual Statement from the Chair of the 
Board Remuneration Committee 

Contents

■■ Annual statement
■■ Remuneration philosophy 
■■ Fair Pay 
■■ Employee remuneration policy
■■ Directors’ remuneration policy
■■ Annual report on 

Directors’ remuneration

108

112

113

114

115

118

Remuneration 
Committee

Member 

Meetings attended

Crawford Gillies 

Tim Breedon

Mary Francis 

Brian Gilvary  
(from 1 March 2020)

10/10

9/10

10/10

6/7

You can find more information on our 
approach to pay fairness in our Fair Pay 
Report at home.barclays/annualreport

Our UK pay gap figures for 2020 and 
narrative explaining them are available 
at home.barclays/diversity

Dear Fellow Shareholders
I am pleased to present the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report for 2020, and my last 
statement to you as Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee. I know that my successor, Brian 
Gilvary, will be an excellent replacement and I 
wish him all the very best when he assumes the 
chair in March. 

It has been an exceptionally challenging year for 
a great many of us, and one with far-reaching 
consequences for our economy and our society. 
In this context, the Committee has faced some 
extremely difficult decisions about the most 
appropriate way to remunerate colleagues for 
some outstanding work over the last 12 months. 
We have taken a number of important 
considerations into account, including our 
financial and non-financial performance in both 
relative and absolute terms, the views and 
expectations of our stakeholders, and the 
differing contributions of our businesses to the 
Group’s financial resilience, which has in turn 
enabled us to support customers, clients and 
the communities that we serve. Our 
deliberations have been extensive, and I want to 
use this statement to be transparent with you 
about our decision-making.

As ever, we have been guided by the principles 
of our Fair Pay agenda and, in particular, the 
importance of properly recognising the 
contribution of our junior colleagues. You can 
read more about our approach to fairness in our 
third annual Fair Pay Report, published alongside 
this document. Consistent with previous years, 
we have also published our UK pay gap figures 
and a narrative explaining them. 

Performance
Rewarding sustainable performance remains 
a crucial aspect of the way the Committee 
considers its decisions. We recognise the 
pandemic’s impact on our financial 
performance, with reductions in PBT and RoTE 
following a number of years of sustained annual 
improvementsa. We are however proud of what 
we have achieved as an organisation in a truly 
difficult year. Not only have we remained fully 
open for business, supporting our customers 
and clients as they navigate the pandemic, we 
have demonstrated ourselves to be extremely 
resilient, remaining profitable in each quarter 
despite the challenging macroeconomic 
environment, while continuing to demonstrate 
a capacity for strong capital generation. 
Consequently, we have today announced 
a total payout equivalent to c.5p per share, 
comprising a 1.0p 2020 full year dividend and 
the intention to initiate a share buyback of 
up to £700m which I know will be welcome.

We have entered 2021 in a position of strength 
and stability for the future; well capitalised and 
importantly well-positioned to support an 
economic recovery. 

Our business diversification has meant that 
our investment banking businesses have been 
able to benefit from the increased volatility and 
wider trading margins observed during 2020. 
This, together with strong relative performance 
as evidenced particularly by the continued 
improvement in Markets market shareb, has 
meant that these businesses have significantly 
outperformed expectations. Income in our 
Markets businesses is up 45% year on year 
and in Banking, income is up 8% year on year – 
the biggest annual improvements since the 
reconfiguration of those businesses.

As a result, Group income was up on 2019 
despite an incredibly challenging year for our 
Corporate Bank and consumer businesses, 
impacted as they were by lower income and 
materially higher impairment charges in the 
wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This capacity 
for one part of the Group’s performance to 
offset another is an illustration of the benefits 
of the diversification that is inherent in our 
universal banking model. This has helped our 
ability to support the economy and society 
at a time of acute need. 

As set out in Nigel Higgins’ and Jes Staley’s 
letters to shareholders, we have delivered 
an enormous amount of financial support for 
our customers and clients this year, including 
facilitating c.£27bn of finance to British 
businesses, waiving millions of pounds in fees 
for customers and helping corporate clients 
and governments raise billions to strengthen 
their balance sheets (underwriting c. £1.5 trillion 
of new issuancec). We have been able to do 
a significant amount for wider society too, 
whether through the launch of our £100m 
COVID-19 Community Aid Package, or in the 
steps we have taken on the road to becoming 
a net zero bank by 2050.

Notes 
a  Excluding L&C.
b   Source: Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 

Competitor Analysis. Market share represents Barclays 
share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. Analysis 
based on Barclays internal business structure and 
internal revenues.

c   Across Equity and Debt Capital Markets in Q220-Q420.

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Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Colleague remuneration
Throughout the pandemic, our colleagues 
– many of whom were on the front line 
supporting customers – have worked incredibly 
hard to keep things running. Our financial 
resilience has allowed us to help them too, for 
instance by offering full pay to those unable to 
work because they were isolating or caring for 
dependants. We increased overtime rates to 
support colleagues given their need to work 
significantly extended hours, to both manage 
the unprecedented demands from customers 
and clients as well as the temporary loss of 
some geographical locations due to local 
lockdowns. Additionally, we enhanced our 
benefits where needed, including improving 
medical benefit provision in India and meeting 
additional childcare needs where required. We 
did not put any staff on furlough (indeed hiring 
additional colleagues, with overall headcount up 
slightly on 2019), and implemented a temporary 
moratorium on redundancies.

The Committee’s determination of the annual 
incentive pool includes consideration of a 
number of factors, such as financial 
performance, delivery of our strategy, risk and 
conduct. We consider Barclays’ performance 
as a Group, but also take into account the 
performance of individual businesses within 
that Group, as well as those businesses’ 
contributions to our strategic targets and vision, 
and their importance to our future success. 

Assessing and rewarding performance in this way 
also means that the Group incentive pool does not 
always move directly in line with the Group’s overall 
financial performance. In 2019, while financial 
performance was up and non-financial 
performance was also very strong, the incentive 
pool was reduced to support our continued 
progression towards our strategic targets in terms 
of delivering greater returns to shareholders. This 
year, we have had to consider how we balance the 
need to maintain our successful universal banking 
model, with the financial challenges that we and 
others have faced.

For many businesses, such as our Corporate 
Bank and consumer businesses (including 
Barclays UK – our ring-fenced bank) profit 
before tax is down, driven by lower income 
and higher impairment costs. At the same 
time, strategic delivery has been very strong, 
continuing to make progress on our digital 
agenda and focusing on our customer and 
client experiences. Balancing these different 
considerations, the incentive pools for all of 
these businesses are down this year, reflecting 
the lower financial performance outcomes. 

However, consistent with our Fair Pay agenda, 
we have chosen to protect outcomes for our 
junior colleagues and, as a result, the greatest 
reductions in incentives will be observed for 
more senior colleagues in these businesses. 

It has been junior colleagues in many businesses 
who have been on the front line directly 
supporting customers and clients during the 
pandemic and the Committee felt it appropriate 
to reward those efforts. 

Additionally, the Committee believes it is right 
to recognise the outstanding work of our 
investment banking colleagues this year, 
particularly given the continued financial 
performance improvements of those 
businesses and their significant contribution 
to the Group’s overall financial resilience. 
Since 2018, the profitabilitya of the Corporate 
and Investment Bank has increased by 51% 
(2020 up 31% on 2019), with the associated 
improvement in returns. This strong 
performance has been driven by increases in 
investment banking revenues, specifically in 
FICC and equities, where we have continued to 
grow market shareb. We are the only scale British 
investment bank; we operate globally and, 
importantly, we have a leading presence in the 
US (correspondingly, almost three-quarters of 
the incentive pool for the investment bank 
businesses relates to populations outside the 
UK). Our investment banking businesses provide 
us with a point of strategic advantage as we 
move into 2021 and beyond, providing an 
important diversification of income stream, 
particularly at a time of so much transformation 
and challenge in the retail banking sector. It is 
appropriate that we reward the exceptional 
collective effort of these colleagues, albeit with 
the appropriate restraint.

Taking all of this into account, the Committee 
has approved a Group incentive pool of 
£1,580m. This represents a relatively modest 
increase across the investment banking 
businesses, reductions for all other businesses 
and appropriate recognition for the 
contributions of our more junior colleagues. 
The unusual dynamic for 2020 is the significantly 
lower contribution to the Group financial results 
from our Corporate banking and consumer 
businesses, driven principally by impairment. 
While the incentive pools in those areas have 
been reduced as noted above, they are relatively 
small in relation to the overall incentive pool. 
The result is that significant reductions in 
financial contributions originating from those 
business areas cannot be directly reflected 
in proportionate reductions to the overall 
incentive pool.

We believe that this outcome is appropriate 
given the performance delivered, and that it is 
consistent with our philosophy of rewarding 
sustainable performance, which in turn supports 
our long-term strategy of delivering improved 
returns to shareholders. As always, a significant 
portion of the pool is delivered in shares, most 
of which will be deferred over a number of years.

Group income

£21,766m

2019: £21,632m
2018: £21,136m

Group profit before tax (excluding L&C)

£3,218m

2019: £6,206m
2018: £5,701m

Group RoTE (excluding L&C)

3.4%2019: 9.0%

2018: 8.5%

Cost: income ratio (excluding L&C)

c

61%

2019: 62%c
2018: 66%

CET1 ratio

15.1%2019: 13.8%

2018: 13.2%

Group compensation to income ratio

34.2%2019: 33.9%

2018: 34.1%d

Group incentive pool

£1,580m

2019: £1,490m
2018:£1,649m

Notes
a   Excluding L&C.
b   Source: Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 

Competitor Analysis. Market share represents Barclays 
share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. Analysis 
based on Barclays internal business structure and 
internal revenues.

c   Excludes £368m of structural cost actions 

(2019: £150m) and £95m spend to date of Barclays’ 
Community Aid Package.

d   2018 Group compensation to income ratio excludes 

£140m relating to GMP charge post-retirement benefits.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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109

  
 
Remuneration report

Annual Statement: Summary of 2020 pay outcomes continued

In addition, we are adding a specific Climate 
measure with a weighting of 10% to the 
non-financial assessment of the 2021-2023 
LTIP, reflecting our ambition to be net zero by 
2050, including our commitment to align our 
financing with the goals of the Paris Climate 
Agreement.  

Further details on Executive Director 
remuneration, including the consideration of 
windfall gains on the 2020-2022 LTIP, and the 
full details of the new LTIP to be granted for 
2021-2023 are set out in this report.

Looking ahead
As we move into 2021, the Committee will be 
ensuring that the new Purpose, Values and 
Mindset are reflected in our remuneration 
policies and approaches, as we work to embed 
them throughout the organisation.

I would like to thank my fellow Committee 
members for their guidance and expertise 
during my tenure, as well as all of the 
stakeholders with whom I have been fortunate 
enough to engage. I look forward to continuing 
to serve Barclays as the Chair of the Board of 
Barclays Bank UK PLC.

Crawford Gillies
Chair, Board Remuneration Committee

February 2021

Executive Director remuneration
The Executive Directors responded quickly to 
the pandemic, agreeing to postpone increases 
to their Fixed Pay which had been proposed as 
part of the new Directors’ remuneration policy 
introduced last year. They also took the decision 
to donate one-third of their Fixed Pay for six 
months to our COVID-19 Community Aid 
Package. The Committee also decided to 
postpone the first instalment of their 2017-
2019 LTIP awards, which had been due to be 
released in June 2020, until 2021. The Executive 
Directors requested, and the Committee 
accepted, that their 2020 Fixed Pay increases 
(now approved) be postponed again, until at 
least the second half of this year when the 
Committee will reconsider the implementation 
with them, in light of the prevailing external 
environment.

The Committee has considered at length the 
appropriateness of bonus and LTIP outcomes 
for the Executive Directors for 2020. Annual 
bonuses were assessed against the financial, 
strategic and personal measures that were set 
out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report for 
2019. While Group income was up slightly year 
on year and costs well controlled, the impact of 
the pandemic on impairment resulted in 
significantly reduced 2020 bonus outcomes, 
38.6% of maximum for the CEO and GFD, down 
materially from the outcomes for 2019 (75% 
and 75.9%, respectively). Similarly, the outcome 
for the 2018-2020 LTIP was also materially 
impacted by impairment, with an outcome of 
23% of maximum, down from 48.5% for the 
2017-2019 LTIP.

While the Committee did review the continued 
appropriateness of the respective plan 
measures and targets given the exogenous 
nature of the pandemic, it prioritised the need 
to ensure appropriate alignment between 
the outcomes for the Executive Directors 
with the experience of investors. In particular, 
this included the sector-wide cancellation of 
the 2019 dividend in line with UK regulatory 
expectations and the associated delay in the 
benefit of that distribution experienced by our 
shareholders. While this benefit will likely be 
realised in the future, given the additional 
capital retained and the recommencement of 
distributions, the delay was considered by the 
Committee, alongside the broader challenges 
facing society as a whole.

We believe the outcomes on both bonus and LTIP 
align appropriately with stakeholder considerations. 
They take into account financial performance 
outcomes, very strong non-financial delivery and 
the exceptional contributions of the Executive 
Directors – both the outstanding leadership 
provided during the year, and the positive impact of 
a multi-year strategy and transformation that has 
enabled us to continue to deliver so effectively for 
stakeholders during a time of such challenge.

Total variable pay (annual bonus and LTIP) will be 
primarily delivered in shares for the Executive 
Directors, aligning more closely to the 
shareholder experience during this particularly 
difficult period. The Executive Directors continue 
to build substantial shareholdings, and neither 
have sold any shares since their appointments. 

We have not changed in-flight bonus and 
LTIP arrangements and have not altered 
the performance measures or targets for 
these plans.

The Committee has also considered the 
performance measures for the 2021 bonus 
and 2021-2023 LTIP very carefully. The bonus 
measures are unchanged, as they continue to 
represent relevant building blocks towards our 
key longer-term financial goals.

For the 2021-2023 LTIP, we have decided to 
broaden the measures on which the financial 
assessment will be based. As we continue to 
navigate through a more volatile macroeconomic 
environment, this will better balance our 
long-term assessment of the Executive 
Directors’ financial performance. RoTE and CIR 
will be maintained as measures, though RoTE 
will be tested at the end of the cycle, helping to 
determine how effectively the Executive 
Directors navigate the financial recovery and 
steer Barclays back towards our targets over 
the medium term. In addition to RoTE, we will 
be adding CET1 and relative Total Shareholder 
Return (TSR) measures. The addition of a CET1 
measure reflects the continued importance of 
our prudential stability and balance sheet 
strength, particularly in the coming potentially 
difficult years. Adding a relative TSR measure 
acknowledges the challenges associated with 
calibrating absolute performance targets in the 
current uncertain environment, providing instead 
a relative performance lens that is not subject to 
the same difficulties, while maintaining a 50% 
total weighting on returns measures.

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

2018-2020 LTIP
Long Term Incentive Plan

Executive Directors:  
remuneration outcomes

Annual  
bonus

Jes Staley

 £843k

38.6% of maximum

Jes Staley

 £541k

23.0% of maximum

38.6%

23%

Tushar Morzaria

Tushar Morzaria

 £573k

38.6% of maximum

 £364k

23.0% of maximum

38.6%

23%

Annual bonus  
performance  
measures (% weighting)

LTIP  
performance  
measures (% weighting)

Financial (60%)
Profit before tax excluding  
L&C and other material items 
(50%)

Financial (70%)
RoTE excluding material  
itemsb (50%)

0%

0%

Jes Staley
£m

2020

2019

Max

Fixed Pay
Pension and bene�ts

Annual bonus
LTIP

Tushar Morzaria
£m

2020

2019

Max

Fixed Pay
Pension and bene�ts

Annual bonus
LTIP

£4.01m

£5.93m

£2.77m

£3.97m

£8.10m

£5.53m

Cost: income ratio excluding  
L&C and other material itemsa 
(10%)

Cost: income ratio 
excluding material itemsa, b  (20%) 

Executive Directors:  
share ownership

61%

0%

Jes Staley
Date of appointment:  
1 December 2015
£000a 

Tushar Morzaria
Date of appointment:  
15 October 2013
£000a 

Strategic non-financial (20%)

Risk Scorecard (15%)

78%

80%

7,268

5,476

5,065

3,696

Personal objectives (20%)
Jes Staley

Strategic non-financial (15%)

Tushar Morzaria

85%

85%

73%

Notes
a   £368m of structural cost actions and £95m spend to date of Barclays’ Community 

Aid Package are treated as material items and excluded from 2020 CIR.

b   Material items include litigation and conduct in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (including PPI 
and settlement with regard to Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS))

Actual
Requirement

Actual
Requirement

Note
a   As at 31 December 2020 based on Q4 2020 average share price of £1.2677

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Remuneration report
Remuneration philosophy 

To attract and retain the people who can best deliver for our customers 
and clients, we must pay fairly and appropriately – balancing the interests 
of all our stakeholders. Our policies and practices reward sustainable 
performance in line with our Values and risk expectations. They are fair, 

transparent and as simple as possible. This is our remuneration philosophy. 
It’s how we have continued to make remuneration decisions and set 
remuneration policies during 2020, and it applies to all of our employees 
globally, as well as our Executive Directors.

Philosophy

Attract and retain talent needed 
to deliver Barclays’ strategy 

Long-term success depends on the talent of our employees. This means attracting and retaining an 
appropriate range of talent to deliver against our strategy, and paying the right amount for that talent.

Align pay with investor and other 
stakeholder interests 

Remuneration should be designed with appropriate consideration of the views, rights and interests 
of stakeholders. This means listening to our shareholders, other investors, regulators, government, 
customers and employees and ensuring their views are appropriately considered in remuneration 
decision-making.

Reward sustainable performance 

Sustainable performance means making a positive contribution to stakeholders, in both the short 
and longer term, playing a valuable role in society.

Support Barclays’ Values 
and culture 

Results must be achieved in a manner consistent with our Values. Our Values and culture should drive 
the way that business is conducted.

Align with risk appetite, risk 
exposure and conduct expectations 

Designed to reward employees for achieving results in line with the Group’s risk appetite and conduct 
expectations.

Be fair, transparent and as simple 
as possible 

We are committed to ensuring pay is fair, simple and transparent for all our stakeholders. This means 
all employees and stakeholders should understand how we reward our employees and fairness should 
be a lens through which we make remuneration decisions.

Our philosophy in action 
The pay decisions set out in this report are a result of the application 
of our remuneration philosophy during 2020. 

Our philosophy and the way that we approach remuneration is designed 
to be as simple and clear as possible, while ensuring strong alignment with 
risk, conduct and our Values. It is closely aligned with Provision 40 of the 
FRC’s UK Corporate Governance Code, and we have continued to be 
transparent on the resulting outcomes in this report. 

Specifically relating to our Executive Directors, we have reviewed the 
performance measures for the forward-looking incentives, and in 
particular have updated the financial performance measures for the 
2021-2023 Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) to ensure that they remain 
appropriate in light of current circumstances and challenges. Alongside 
our strategic non-financial performance objectives, this will ensure that 
the link between the delivery of our strategy (and long-term performance) 
and individual awards continues to be reinforced. The report sets out 

minimum and maximum potential outcomes under each plan for 
reference. Furthermore, the alignment of executive pay to culture is 
enhanced by the inclusion of the responsibility to embed our updated 
Purpose, Values and Mindset throughout the organisation in the personal 
objectives for our Group CEO. 

We consider the views of all of our stakeholders in remuneration decision-
making. In 2020, we have achieved this by meeting with institutional 
shareholders to understand their views on our new policy (including how 
it should be implemented), engaging extensively with our regulators to 
support their actions as a result of the pandemic, and continuing our 
partnership with Unite in the UK to understand the views of their members 
and negotiate a new pay deal, delivering an above-inflation increase. We 
used our 2019 Fair Pay report to share information on our approach to pay 
with colleagues, including how executive remuneration aligns with wider 
company pay policy, and are now publishing our third report to help do 
the same for 2020.

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Fair pay

Paying fairly and transparently is a priority at Barclays. The Fair Pay agenda 
brings together the five themes which explain how we think about fair pay 
at Barclays. We use our Fair Pay Report to engage our employees on pay, 
explaining our approach to fair pay, including the alignment of the 
Executive Directors’ and employee pay. We encourage you to read the full 
Fair Pay Report.

Our approach to fair pay helped guide our remuneration decision-
making in 2020. In turn, this enhanced the support we were able to 
provide to our customers and clients, colleagues and society throughout 
the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Customers and clients
•  Our focus was on ensuring that we were 
available for our customers and clients 
despite the challenges of COVID-related 
absences and the temporary loss of 
some geographical locations due to local 
lockdowns. We supported this effort by 
providing Colleagues with additional 
overtime rates where needed.

•  A number of actions were taken for 
customers and clients who needed 
additional financial support, as well as 
facilitating the delivery of c.£27bn of 
lending to British businesses under the UK 
Government’s schemes. Our Colleagues 
took on significant extra work during the 
pandemic to make this happen.

Colleagues
•  Enhanced flexibility was introduced for 
all colleagues with other commitments 
e.g. the need to care for dependants, 
including children, and where it was not 
possible for them to complete their full 
hours, we continued to pay them their 
full salary and benefits.

•  Separate reporting was implemented 
for COVID-related sickness absence, 
extending our existing sick pay provisions.

•  We did not put any staff on furlough, 

and placed a moratorium on redundancies 
in the early months of the pandemic.

Society
•  We have matched donations through 
our Community Aid Package from our 
colleagues and our Directors, supporting 
the communities most impacted by 
the pandemic

•  Our Executive Directors and Chairman 
contributed one third of their fixed pay 
for six months to charities delivering 
COVID-19 relief.

•  In the UK, we supported colleagues who 
volunteered to support health or social 
care, with up to four weeks of paid leave.

Our approach to fair pay enhanced our support for customers and clients,  
colleagues and society during COVID-19.

As well as using the Fair Pay agenda to guide our approach to remuneration in relation to the pandemic, we have also continued to focus on advancing 
the agenda as it relates to each of the themes. The key highlights for 2020 are shown below.

Fair Pay for  
the lowest paid
•  Continued to progress our work on global 
living wages, reviewing more locations 
than in 2019.

•  Worked with Unite to agree a new pay 

deal, ensuring that it was consistent with 
our Fair Pay agenda.

•  Enhanced medical provision for all 

colleagues in the UK and India, providing 
access to a range of online services and 
appointments.

Equal opportunities  
to progress
•  Implemented a detailed action plan 
on Race at Work that will open up 
opportunities to attract, develop 
and add to our great Black talent.

•  Further developed our diversity 

dashboards for senior leaders which now 
reflect both gender and ethnic diversity.

•  Our female senior leadership continued 

to increase and is now 26%, up from 25% 
at the end of 2019.

Listening  
to employees
•  We launched our Inclusion Index for 

the first time to measure our objective 
to be a truly inclusive organisation.

•  We engaged with Unite throughout the 
pandemic, focusing on the physical and 
mental wellbeing of our colleagues.

Equal Pay
•  We are explicit that pay decisions must 

not take into account gender, age, 
ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation 
or any other protected characteristic.

•  All grievances raised by employees, 
including any issues relating to pay 
are investigated as appropriate.

Alignment of employee 
and executive remuneration
•  Our pay policies are strongly aligned 
across the wider workforce, senior 
employees and Executive Directors.

•  The Directors’ remuneration policy 

has been refreshed, aligning Executive 
Director pension contributions with 
the wider workforce.

Barclays PLC 2020 Fair Pay Report can be 
found online at home.barclays/annualreport

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Remuneration report
Employee remuneration policy 

As outlined earlier, Barclays has a clearly articulated remuneration 
philosophy. This continues to drive our thinking in how we structure and 
determine remuneration for all employees from the most senior (as well as 
our Executive Directors) to our new apprentices and graduates. As part of 
our annual review we assessed our remuneration policies and practices for 
alignment with Barclays’ Purpose and Value, our remuneration philosophy 
and our Fair Pay agenda, including ensuring appropriate alignment between 
the Directors’ remuneration policy and remuneration approaches for 
senior management and the wider workforce.

We continue to ensure that we comply with all prevailing regulation. 
We identify individuals whose roles may expose Barclays to material risk, 
and assess and structure their pay in a way which encourages alignment of 
their interests and Barclays. Further information in relation to Material Risk 
Takers (MRTs) is set out in Appendix E of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report.

The table below provides a summary of the remuneration approach for 
employees below Board level.

Element

Salary

Role Based Pay (RBP)

Pension and benefits

Annual bonus

Operation

Salaries reflect individuals’ skills and experience and are reviewed annually. 

They are increased where justified by role change, increased responsibility or a change in the appropriate 
market rate. Salaries may also be increased in line with local statutory requirements and in line with union and 
works council commitments. 

We have been a real living wage employer in the UK since 2013, and continue to work with the Fair Wage 
Network to complete an annual review of our pay levels against living wage benchmarks across locations 
globally.

A small number of senior employees (c.1% UK employees) receive a class of Fixed Pay called RBP to recognise 
the seniority, scale and complexity of their role. This may change where justified by role or responsibility 
change or a change in the appropriate market rate.

The provision of a competitive package of benefits is important to attracting and retaining the talent needed 
to deliver Barclays’ strategy. Employees have access to a range of country-specific company-funded benefits, 
including pension schemes, healthcare, life assurance and other voluntary employee funded benefits. 

Employer pension contributions for the UK workforce are at least at the level of those for the Executive 
Directors, and are set at a minimum of 10% of salary (a minimum of 12% for more junior colleagues).

Annual bonuses incentivise and reward the achievement of Group, business and individual objectives, and 
reward employees for demonstrating individual behaviours in line with Barclays’ Values. All employees are 
considered, subject to eligibility criteria. 

For senior employees, an appropriate proportion of their annual bonus is deferred to future years. Deferred 
bonuses are generally delivered in equal portions as deferred cash and shares. They are subject to either a 
three, five or seven-year deferral period (and further holding periods of six or 12 months for deferrals in shares) 
in line with regulatory requirements. 

Consistent with regulation, the remuneration of MRTs is subject to the 2:1 maximum ratio of variable to fixed 
remuneration.

Share plans

We encourage wider employee share ownership through the all-employee share plans, with plans available to 
99% of colleagues globally.

Performance management

Performance assessment is based on ‘what’ is achieved in relation to individual, team and business objectives, 
as well as ‘how’ this is achieved in the context of Barclays’ Values. Both elements are assessed independently 
of each other with no requirement to have an overall rating. This reinforces the equal importance of the ‘what’ 
and ‘how’.

Risk and conduct

Risk and conduct is taken seriously at Barclays and the Committee ensures that there are in-year adjustments, 
malus or clawback applied to individual remuneration, where appropriate. 

In addition to individual adjustments, the Committee considers collective adjustments to the incentive pool 
for risk and conduct. For 2020, the total impact of risk and conduct related collective adjustments is a 
reduction of c. £80m.

More information on our approach to Performance Management, and Risk and Conduct are set out in Appendix E of the Barclays PLC 2020 Pillar 3 Report.

For more information go online at 
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Directors’ remuneration policy

The forward-looking remuneration policy for Executive Directors and 
Non-Executive Directors was approved at the AGM held on 7 May 2020 
and applies for three years from that date. A summary of the policy, 

including key remuneration elements, is set out below and is provided for 
information only. The full policy, including recruitment and leaver 
provisions, can be found on pages 93 to 103 of the 2019 Annual Report.

Summary remuneration policy – Executive Directors 

Element and purpose

Operation

Fixed Pay
To reward skills and experience 
appropriate for the scale, 
complexity and responsibilities of 
the role and to provide the basis 
for a competitive remuneration 
package

Pension 
To enable Executive Directors to 
build long-term retirement 
savings

Benefits
To provide a competitive and 
cost-effective benefits package 
appropriate to the role and 
location

Annual bonus
To reward delivery of short-term 
financial targets set each year, 
the individual performance of the 
Executive Directors in achieving 
those targets, and their 
contribution to delivering 
Barclays’ strategic objectives

Delivery in part in shares with 
holding period increases 
alignment with shareholders

Deferred bonuses encourage 
longer-term focus and retention

Fixed Pay is determined based on the individual’s role, skills and experience with reference to market practice 
and market data (on which the Committee receives independent advice). 

Delivered 50% in cash (paid monthly) and 50% in shares. The shares are delivered quarterly and are subject to a 
holding period with restrictions lifting over five years (20% each year). As the Executive Directors beneficially 
own the shares, they will be entitled to any dividends paid on those shares. 

Increases will normally be aligned to the annual increase for UK employees, and will take into account changes 
in responsibilities and market conditions. 

Delivered as an annual cash allowance in lieu of participation in a pension arrangement. 

The maximum annual cash allowance is 5% of Fixed Pay (equivalent to 10% of fixed cash). 

A number of benefits are provided including, but not restricted to, private medical cover, annual health check, 
life and ill health income protection, and use of a Company vehicle and driver when required for business 
purposes (including any tax liabilities that may arise from this benefit). 

The maximum value of benefits is determined by the nature of the benefit itself and costs of provision may 
depend on external factors, e.g. insurance costs.

The maximum annual bonus opportunity is 93% of Fixed Pay (cash and shares) for the CEO and 90% of Fixed 
Pay (cash and shares) for the GFD.

Individual bonuses are entirely discretionary (any amount may be awarded from zero to the maximum value) 
and decisions are based on the Committee’s judgement of Executive Directors’ performance in the year, 
measured against Group and personal objectives.

Delivered as a combination of cash and shares, a proportion of which may be deferred and/or subject to a 
holding period. Deferral proportions and vesting profiles will be structured so that, in combination with any LTIP 
award, the proportion of variable pay that is deferred is no less than that required by regulations (currently 
60%). 

Non-deferred cash components of any bonus are paid following the performance year to which they relate, 
normally in March. Non-deferred share bonuses are subject to a holding period (after the payment of tax) in 
line with regulations and with release no faster than permitted by regulations (currently one year).

Deferred share bonuses are structured so that no deferred shares vest faster than permitted by regulations. 
Vesting is also subject to the provisions of the plan rules including employment and the malus and clawback 
provisions. Any shares that vest are subject to an additional holding period (after payment of tax) in line with 
regulations and release no faster than permitted by regulations (currently one year).

The Committee will consider the previously disclosed financial and non-financial (including personal 
objectives) measures in determining the annual bonus for the Executive Directors. Financial factors will guide 
at least 60% of the bonus opportunity. 

The Committee has the discretion to vary the measures and their respective weightings within each category. 
The measures and weightings will be disclosed annually as part of the annual report on Directors’ 
remuneration, at the beginning of the performance year (typically February).

Barclays PLC 2019 Annual Report can be 
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Directors’ remuneration policy continued

Element and purpose

Operation

Long Term Incentive Plan 
(LTIP) award
To incentivise execution 
of Barclays’ strategy over 
a multi-year period.

Long-term performance 
measurement, deferral and 
holding periods encourage 
a long-term view and align 
Executive Directors’ interests 
with those of shareholders

All-employee share plans
To provide an opportunity for 
Executive Directors to voluntarily 
invest in the Company through 
UK HMRC employee tax 
advantaged share schemes

Risk and conduct 
adjustment, malus 
and clawback
Malus and clawback provisions 
discourage excessive risk taking 
and inappropriate behaviours

The maximum annual LTIP award for the CEO is 140% of Fixed Pay (cash and shares) and 134% of Fixed Pay 
(cash and shares) for the GFD. 

LTIP awards are made by the Committee following discussion of recommendations made by the Chairman (for 
the Group Chief Executive’s LTIP award) and by the Group Chief Executive (for other Executive Directors’ LTIP 
awards) based on satisfactory performance over the prior year. 

LTIP awards are structured so that when combined with the annual bonus the proportion of variable pay that 
is deferred is no less than that required by regulations (currently 60%). 

No award vests before the third anniversary of grant and an award vests no faster than permitted by 
regulations (currently in five equal tranches with the first tranche vesting on or around the third anniversary 
of grant and the last tranche vesting on or around the seventh anniversary of the grant date). Any shares that 
vest are subject to an additional holding period (after payment of tax) in line with regulations, with restrictions 
lifting no faster than permitted by regulations (currently one year).

Vesting is dependent on performance measures and service. 

Forward-looking performance measures will be based on financial performance and other long-term strategic 
measures. Measures and weightings will be set in advance of each grant.

The Committee has discretion to change the weightings but financial measures will be at least 70% of the 
total opportunity.

The Committee has discretion, and in line with the plan rules approved by shareholders, in exceptional 
circumstances to amend targets, measures, or the number of awards if an event happens (for example, a 
major transaction) that, in the opinion of the Committee, causes the original targets or measures to be no 
longer appropriate or such adjustment to be reasonable. The Committee also has the discretion to reduce the 
vesting of any award, including to nil, if it deems that the outcome is not consistent with performance delivered.

Executive Directors are entitled to participate in:

(i) Barclays Sharesave under which they can make monthly savings out of post-tax pay over a period of three or 
five years linked to the grant of an option over Barclays’ shares which can be at a discount of up to 20% on the 
share price set at the start.

(ii) Barclays Sharepurchase under which they can make contributions (monthly or lump sum) out of pre-tax pay 
(if based in the UK) which are used to acquire Barclays’ shares.

Any bonus or LTIP awarded is subject to malus and clawback provisions. 

The malus provisions enable the Committee to reduce the amount of unvested bonus or LTIP (including to nil) 
prior to vesting in specified circumstances, including, but not limited to: 
■■ a participant deliberately misleading Barclays, the market and/or shareholders in relation to the financial 

performance of the Barclays Group 

■■ a participant causing harm to Barclays’ reputation or where his/her actions have amounted to misconduct, 

incompetence or negligence

■■ a material restatement of the financial statements of the Barclays Group or any subsidiary, or the Group or 

any business unit suffering a material downturn in its financial performance 

■■ a material failure of risk management in the Barclays Group 
■■ a significant deterioration in the financial health of the Barclays Group.

The clawback provisions enable amounts to be recovered after they have vested (for a period of seven years 
from grant/10 years in circumstances where a relevant investigation is ongoing at the end of the initial 
seven-year period) where (i) a participant’s actions or omissions have amounted to misbehaviour or material 
error and/or (ii) Barclays or the relevant business unit has suffered a material failure of risk management.

Outside appointments
To encourage self-development

Executive Directors may accept one Non-Executive Director Board appointment in another listed company. 

The Chairman’s approval must be sought before accepting an appointment. Fees may be retained by the 
Executive Director.

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Element and purpose

Operation

Shareholding requirement
To further enhance the alignment 
of shareholders’ and Executive 
Directors’ interests in long-term 
value creation

Discretion

Executive Directors have a contractual obligation to build up a shareholding equivalent to the maximum 
variable pay opportunity within five years from the date of appointment as Executive Director. 

Executive Directors will have a reasonable period to build up to this requirement again if it is not met because of 
a significant share price depreciation. 

Executive Directors also have a contractual obligation to maintain their shareholding for two years following the 
last day of active service. 

Shares that count towards the requirement are beneficially owned shares including any vested share awards 
subject only to holding periods (including vested LTIPs, vested deferred share bonuses, Fixed Pay shares, and 
any legacy RBP shares). Shares from unvested deferred share bonuses and unvested LTIPs do not count 
towards the requirement during employment, but will count towards post-termination requirements (net of 
tax) provided that there are no remaining untested performance conditions.

Shareholding requirement for the CEO is a minimum of 233% of Fixed Pay and for the GFD is 224% of Fixed Pay.

In addition to the various operational discretions that the Committee can exercise in the performance of its 
duties (including those discretions set out in the Company’s share plans), the Committee reserves the right to 
make either minor or administrative amendments to the policy to benefit its operation or to make more material 
amendments in order to comply with new laws, regulations and/or regulatory guidance. The Committee would 
only exercise this right if it believed it was in the best interests of the Company to do so and where it is not 
possible, practicable or proportionate to seek or await shareholder approval in a General Meeting.

Summary remuneration policy – Non-Executive Directors 

Element and purpose

Operation

Fees
Reflect individual responsibilities 
and membership of Board 
Committees and are set to 
attract Non-Executive Directors 
who have relevant skills and 
experience to oversee the 
implementation of our strategy

Benefits
To provide a competitive and 
cost-effective benefits package 
appropriate to the role and 
location

The Chairman is paid an all-inclusive fee for all Board responsibilities. The Chairman has a time commitment 
equivalent of up to 80% of a full-time role. 

The other Non-Executive Directors receive a basic Board fee, with additional fees payable where individuals 
serve as a member or Chairman of a Committee of the Board and some Non-Executive Directors may also 
receive fees as directors of subsidiary companies of Barclays PLC.

Fees are periodically reviewed by the Board against those for Non-Executive Directors in companies of similar 
size and complexity.

The Chairman is provided with private medical cover subject to the terms of the Barclays’ scheme rules from 
time to time, and is provided with the use of a Company vehicle and driver when required for business 
purposes (including settlement of any tax liabilities that may arise from this benefit).

Benefits which are minor in nature and in any event do not exceed a cost of £500 may be provided to 
Non-Executive Directors in specific circumstances.

Non-Executive Directors are not eligible to join Barclays’ pension plans.

Shareholding requirement

Chairman: £100,000 (Non-Executive Directors: £30,000) gross before deduction of tax and other statutory 
deductions per annum of each Non-Executive Director’s basic fee is used to purchase Barclays’ shares which 
are retained on the Non-Executive Director’s behalf until they retire from the Board.

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Annual report on Directors’ remuneration

This section explains how our Directors’ remuneration policy was implemented for 2020

Executive Directors 
Single total figure for 2020 remuneration (audited)
The following table shows a single total figure for 2020 remuneration in respect of qualifying service for each Executive Director together with 
comparative figures for 2019.

Jes Staley

Tushar Morzaria

1) Fixed Pay
 £000
2,350a
2,350
1,650a
1,650

2) Pension
 £000
215
396
123
200

2020 
2019
2020 
2019

3) Taxable
 benefits 
£000
64
58
58
53

Total 
Fixed Pay 
£000
2,629
2,804
1,831
1,903

4) Annual 
bonus
 £000
843
1,647
573
1,123

5) LTIP 
£000
541b
1,478c
364b
942c

Total 
variable pay
 £000
1,384
3,125
937
2,065

Total 
£000
4,013
5,929
2,768
3,968

Notes
a   Fixed Pay is reflected before contributions made by the Executive Directors to COVID-19 charitable causes, equal to one-third of Fixed Pay for six months. 
b  The LTIP amounts include a 29% share price depreciation between date of grant and vesting date (based on Q4 2020 average share price).
c  The LTIP amounts include a 14% share price depreciation between date of grant and estimated value at vest based on Q4 2019 average share price. The release of the first tranche of the 

LTIP vest was delayed from June 2020 to March 2021 and as such the amount has not been restated.

Additional information in respect of each element of pay for the 
Executive Directors (audited)
1) Fixed Pay
Fixed Pay is delivered 50% in cash and 50% in shares (subject to a five-year holding period lifting pro-rata).

2) Pension
Executive Directors are paid cash in lieu of pension contributions. The pension cash allowance in 2020 was £396,000 per annum until 6 May 2020 and 
£117,500 thereafter for Jes Staley and £200,000 per annum until 6 May 2020 and £82,500 per annum thereafter for Tushar Morzaria. No other benefits 
were received by the Executive Directors from any Barclays’ pension plan.

3) Taxable benefits
Taxable benefits include private medical cover, life assurance, income protection, tax advice, car allowance and the use of a Company vehicle and driver 
when required for business purposes.

4) Annual bonus
The bonus amount included in the single total figure is the value awarded or scheduled to be awarded in Q1 following the financial year to which it relates. 
The Committee considered the Executive Directors’ performance against the financial (60% weighting) and strategic non-financial (20% weighting) 
performance measures which had been set to reflect Company priorities for 2020. Performance against their individual personal objectives (20% 
weighting) was assessed on an individual basis.

The approach taken to assessing financial performance against each of the financial measures was based on a straight-line outcome between 20% for 
threshold performance and 100% applicable to each measure for achievement of maximum performance. A summary of the assessment is provided in 
the following table:

Performance measure
Profit before tax excluding L&C and other 
material items with CET1 ratio underpin
Cost: income ratio excluding L&C and other 
material itemsa

Strategic non-financial

Personal
Total
Final outcome following Committee discretion

Weighting

Threshold
 (20%)

Maximum 
(100%)

2020 
Actual

2020 Outcome

Jes Staley

Tushar Morzaria

50%

10%

20%

20%
100%

£6.2bn

£7.1bn

£3.2bn

62.5%
61.0%
59.6%
Performance against strategic measures,
 organised around three main categories: 
customers and clients, colleagues and society
Individual performance against each of the
 Executive Directors’ personal objectives 
assessed by the Committee

0%

6.1%

0%

6.1%

15.5%

15.5%

17%
38.6%
38.6%

17%
38.6%
38.6%

Note
a   £368m of structural cost actions and £95m spend to date of Barclays’ Community Aid Package are treated as material items and excluded from the 2020 CIR.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Strategic non-financial (20% weighting)
Progress in relation to each of the strategic non-financial measures, organised around three main categories, was assessed by the Committee. Within 
each of the three categories, the overall outcome was assessed based on the following scale: 0% to 1% Behind track on most measures, 1.5% to 3% 
Slightly behind track on most measures, 3.5% to 5.5% On track or slightly ahead of track for most measures, and 6% or 7% Ahead of track on most 
measures. On this basis, the Committee agreed an overall outcome of 15.5% out of a maximum of 20%. The detail supporting this assessment is 
provided in the table below:

Performance

Commentary

Outcome

Customers and clients

Measure

Net promoter  
scores® (NPS)

Criteria

Improve

Barclays UK: +19

Barclaycard UK: 
+12

US Consumer 
Bank: +35

Complaints

Reduce UK 
customer 
complaints

Barclays UK: +15 (2019: +18)
■■ Relative position improved 

to 5th (2019: 7th)

Barclaycard UK: +8 (2019: +11)
■■ Relative position improved 
to joint 3rd (2019: 4th) 

US Consumer Bank: +35 
(2019: +33)

(Source; NICE Satmetrix Survey)

Down 32% excluding PPI in 
Barclays UK

Digital

Increase digital 
engagement

Barclays app users: 9.2m 
(2019: 8.4m)

Consumer, Cards & 
Payments US digital 
engagement: 71.4% 
(2019: 71.0%)

■■ NPS scores across the UK market have softened during 

On track

the pandemic

■■ While reduced, Barclays UK NPS is less impacted than for 
the majority of peers with relative position for Barclays 
UK and Barclaycard UK improving

■■ The NPS for the US Consumer Bank in 2020 was +35, 

demonstrating an increase on our 2019 score

■■ Reduction in customer complaints observed before and 
during the pandemic – driven by both by the pandemic 
itself and by robust management actions

On track

■■ Made significant improvements to our Barclays apps, 

On track

including enhanced payment alerts and the ability to see  
itemised receipts 

■■ Designed and executed a digital application system to 

facilitate delivery of UK Government’s business support 
schemes within days 

■■ Consumer, Cards & Payments US digital engagement up 

slightly from 2019

Global Markets 
revenue ranking 
and share

Global Banking 
fee ranking 
and share

6th (maintained since 2019)

■■ Global revenue ranking maintained at 6th 

Fee share increased to 4.9% 
(2019:4.3%)

(Source: Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor 
Analysis. Market share represents Barclays share of the  
Global Industry Revenue Pool. Analysis based on Barclays 
internal business structure and internal revenues.)

■■ Fee share increased during the year

Ahead of 
track

Fee share 3.6% (down from 
4.2% in 2019) 

7th (down from 6th in 2019)

■■ Strongest Banking fees since 2014
■■ Decrease in Global Fee Rank largely attributable to decline 

in activity in historically strong sectors for Barclays

Slightly 
behind 
track

Maintain client 
rankings and 
increase market 
share

Supporting 
customers and 
clients during 
COVID-19

Put financial 
resilience to use 
in supporting 
customers and 
clients

Facilitated c.£27bn in 
lending to British businesses

Over 650 branches 
remained open throughout 
the pandemic

More than 680,000 payment 
holidays provided to 
customers

Note
a  Across Equity and Debt Capital Markets in Q220-Q420.

(Source: Dealogic for the period covering 1 January to 31 
December 2020)

■■ Barclays UK lent equivalent of four years of traditional 
lending volumes in less than 12 months to British 
businesses under the Bounce Back Loan and 
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes

■■ Helped corporate clients in Barclays International raise in 
excess of £15.1bn under the UK Government’s lending 
schemes 

■■ Helped corporate clients and governments raise billions 
to strengthen their balance sheets (underwriting c. £1.5 
trillion of new issuancea)

Ahead of 
track

Total customers and clients: 5%

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Criteria

Performance

Commentary

Colleagues

Measure

Diversity

Inclusion

Engagement

28% females at 
Managing 
Director and 
Director level by  
2021

Improve key 
metrics

Maintain 
engagement at 
healthy levels; 
improve scores 
relating to tools 
and resources

Conduct and 
Culture

Performance 
assessed in light 
of broader 
context

Supporting 
Colleagues 
during COVID-19

Put financial 
resilience to use 
in supporting 
colleagues

26.5%a in 2020, increasing 
slightly more than 1.5 
percentage points 
from 2019

87% of respondents in our 
Your View survey would 
recommend Barclays as a 
good place to work 
(2019: 80%)

Overall engagement score 
from Your View survey 83% 
(2019: 77%)

77% of colleagues believe 
they have the work tools 
and resources needed to 
achieve excellent 
performance, up 21 
percentage points on 
last year

90% of colleagues believe 
strongly in the goals and 
objectives of Barclays 
(2019: 87%)

94% of employees in Your 
View survey believe that 
they and their teams 
role-model the Values 
(2019: 92%)

Supported colleagues with 
full pay for COVID-related 
absence and enhanced 
overtime rates for 
customer-facing colleagues 
early in the pandemic

Announced a moratorium 
on restructuring for the 
earlier months of the 
pandemic

■■ Strong progress towards target of 28%
■■ For the UK, the equivalent is 29% at the end of 2020

■■ Overall Inclusion Index score 76% (new for 2020), while 
89% of colleagues say they feel included in their team 
(2019: 85%)

■■ 82% of colleagues told us that they believe leaders are 
committed to building a diverse workforce (2019: 76%)

■■ Significant increases in engagement and scores relating 
to tools and resources, supported by a successful move 
to remote working for over 70,000 colleagues at its peak
■■ 83% of colleagues said that Barclays supports employee 

efforts to enhance their wellbeing (2019: 74%)

Outcome

On track

Slightly 
ahead of 
track

Ahead of 
track

■■ Good improvement in most relevant survey scores, 
though “safe to speak up at Barclays” is down one 
percentage point on 2019

■■ 84% of colleagues believe we are all in this together at 

Barclays (new for 2020)

On track

■■ Responded quickly at the onset of the pandemic, 

developing principles to support colleagues 
■■ Ensured that those unable to work as a result of 

COVID-related illness, self-isolation, shielding or caring 
responsibilities continued to received full pay

■■ Supported UK key workers with their additional childcare 

needs in the height of the pandemic 

Ahead of 
track

Total Colleague: 5%

Note
a   Represented to 1dp for the purposes of the assessment, rounded for simplicity in the Strategic Report. Actual outcome 26.46%.

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Financial statements

Criteria

Performance

Commentary

£60.9bn (£34.8bn in 2019)

■■ Significant increase, up 75% from 2019, with a total 
of £124.2bn of environmental and social financing 
provided since 2018 

Outcome

Ahead of 
track

71% reduction against the 
2018 baseline

■■ Further progress towards the 80% reduction by 2021
■■ In 2020, we continued our work on improving the 

operational efficiency of our property portfolio, achieving 
a total of 8GWh of energy savings

On track

74% (2019: 60%)

■■ On track to meet 2021 target
■■ 74% renewable electricity across operations in the UK, 
continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and 
the US

2.33 million people upskilled

■■ Strong progress under more challenging circumstances, 

6.9m people upskilled since 2018

On track

Ahead of 
track

Society

Measure

Social and 
environmental 
financing

Global carbon 
emissions 
reduction

Renewable 
electricity

LifeSkills

Connect with 
Work 

Grow social and 
environmental 
financing 
(£150bn by 2025)

Reduce carbon 
footprint (80% 
reduction by 
2021, accelerated 
from 2025)

90% renewable 
electricity by 
2021; 100% by 
2030 at the latest

10 million people 
upskilled 
2018-2022

250,000 people 
placed into work 
2019-2022

By the end of 2020 more 
than 116,000 people helped 
into work (2020: 49,700; 
2019: 66,600)

Unreasonable 
Impact 
(partnership with 
the Unreasonable 
Group)

Support 250 
businesses 
solving social and 
environmental 
challenges 
(2016-2022)

163 growth-stage ventures 
had joined the programme 
by the end of 2020

Supporting 
Society during 
COVID-19

Put financial 
resilience to use 
in supporting 
society

Adapted and enhanced 
programmes throughout 
the year, supporting Society 
through the pandemic

■■ Despite a very challenging environment, good progress 
was delivered and while target is still 250,000 by 2022 
there is some catching up to do

Slightly 
behind 
track

■■ Successfully adapted programmes to more effectively 
support job seekers and our partners facing a new 
employment landscape in light of the COVID-19 
pandemic

■■ Continued to make good progress towards the 2022 

On track

target 

■■ Barclays and Unreasonable Group launched the 

Unreasonable Impact COVID-19 Response – a US$2m 
fund for entrepreneurial solutions addressing challenges 
resulting from the pandemic

■■ In the UK, we supported colleagues who volunteered to 
support health or social care, with up to four weeks of 
paid leave

■■ Nine new charity partnerships announced for LifeSkills to 
help tackle key issues facing UK labour market as well as 
continued support for groups and individuals most in 
need during the Covid-19 outbreak

Ahead of 
track

Overall (out of a maximum possible 20%): 15.5%

Total Society: 5.5%

Further details on our approach to Key Performance Indicators are included in the Strategic report.

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Individual outcomes including assessment of personal objectives
Individual performance against each of the Executive Directors’ personal objectives (20% weighting overall) was assessed by the Committee 
(objectives as set out on page 115 of the 2019 Annual Report).

The below summarises their performance against the shared personal objectives.

Shared objectives for  
Jes Staley and Tushar Morzaria

Outcomes

Continue to deliver improving 
shareholder returns, including a 
focus on delivering a RoTE 
improvement versus 2019

Maintain robust capital ratios 
across the Group and within the 
main operating entities

Seek opportunities for further 
cost efficiencies, enabling 
reinvestment into strategic 
priorities and growth initiatives

Continue to drive our 
technology agenda across the 
Group, to support improving 
customer and client experience

Continue to focus on external 
societal and environmental 
stewardship

■■ Benefits of the diversification inherent in universal banking model provided  resilience through the economic 

cycle

■■ Remained profitable in every quarter, capital accretive overall 
■■ While Group RoTE has reduced, returns in the Corporate and Investment Bank have continued to improve 

year-on-year

■■ Overall performance has enabled us to continue to support customers, clients, colleagues and society, to be 

well-positioned to deliver a dividend in 2020, and to further improve shareholder returns going forward

■■ Strong capital position has been maintained throughout the pandemic
■■ Group CET1 is strong at 15.1%, similarly, strong capital ratios prevail in all main operating entities

■■ Operating expenses increased 1% from 2019 as a result of structural cost actions and COVID-related costs
■■ Absent structural cost actions and Barclays’ Community Aid Package, cost: income ratio would have been 61% 
(down 1 percentage point on the equivalent for 2019), advancing towards the  target of below 60% over time

■■ Continued focus on automation to enhance customer experience and reach
■■ Continued investment in iPortal, our digital self-service platform in Corporate Banking 
■■ Scale of network and platforms in the Markets business continues to increase, including BARX and options 

offerings

■■ Successfully moved 70,000 colleagues to working remotely

■■ Adopted an ambition to become net zero by 2050 and to align all our financing activities with the goals of the 

Paris Climate Agreement

■■ Developed BlueTrack™ to measure financed emissions and track them over time against a decreasing ‘carbon 

limit’ on the activity we finance

■■ Launched Sustainable Impact Capital Initiative to invest £175m over the next five years in the equity of 

innovative and environmentally focused private companies

■■ Ensured access to banking for those who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for accounts with 614,000 Barclays Basic 

Current accounts

■■ Provided free banking to over 134,000 not-for-profit organisations through our Community Accounts
■■ Strong focus on supporting communities throughout the pandemic

In addition to the shared personal objectives described above, the table below summarises Jes Staley’s performance against the objectives specific to him.

Jes Staley’s objectives

Outcomes

Oversee the effective 
management of the risk and 
controls agenda, including 
cyber risks

Ensure continued focus on 
customer and client outcomes, 
in particular further reductions 
in complaints

■■ Control Environment continues to strengthen, with an increase in satisfactory Control Environment ratings 

across the Group

■■ Continued investment in Cyber protection, benchmarking ourselves using the NIST+ framework (Industry 

recognised Framework for Cyber Security)

■■ Significantly enhanced cyber control profile to support increased remote working with no significant risk 
events or change in security posture, despite the expanded attack surface rendering colleagues more 
vulnerable to exploitation

■■ Strong progress in relation to Barclays UK complaints reduction, and while some reduction relates to lower 

volumes and more favourable customer sentiment, complaints were also down in Q1 and in the period after 
the initial lockdown when volumes increased

■■ Focus on supporting customers and clients through the pandemic, including more than 680,000 payments 

holidays for individuals, and facilitating c.£27bn of financing through the UK Government’s schemes
■■ Jes has enhanced focus on personal client engagement with significant increase in participation in client 

meetings and events 

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Jes Staley’s objectives

Outcomes

Continue to develop a 
high-performing culture in line 
with our Values, with a focus on 
employee engagement, 
succession planning, talent and 
diversity

Drive growth in fee-based, 
technology-led annuity 
businesses with lower capital 
intensity

Effectively manage 
relationships with all external 
stakeholders

■■ Employee engagement is significantly up at 83% (2019: 77%), with the annual YourView survey showing many 

positive results

■■ Jes has driven continued progress towards our female senior leadership target of 28% by the end of 2021 

(up to 26.5%a), driven by increased focus on measurement and accountability at a business and function level

■■ Put in place a Race at Work Steering Committee and supported the launch of a detailed action plan to 

emphasise our commitment to attract, develop and retain Black professionals at Barclays

■■ Jes has strengthened the CIB leadership team, laying strong foundations for future talent pipelines 

■■ Launched Plan & Invest, a new digital investment service that provides customers with a simpler way to invest 

for the future without needing to be an expert

■■ New value-added services introduced around core payments products (including digital receipts)
■■ Completion of pan-European transaction banking capability build across nine key EU markets

■■ Jes has collaborated proactively with UK regulators throughout the year, working to support the broader UK 

economy 

■■ High level of engagement with UK Government throughout the year in support of the UK economy
■■ Engaged extensively with shareholders

Recognising his very strong performance against both his individual and shared personal objectives during 2020, and his exceptional leadership of the 
organisation through the pandemic, the Committee assessed that an outcome of 17% out of a maximum of 20% was appropriate.

The Committee reflected on the aggregate outcome for Jes Staley under the formulaic components of the annual bonus framework which delivered 
38.6% of the maximum opportunity, being £843,000, of which 53% will be deferred under the Share Value Plan. The Committee believes this overall 
bonus outcome for Jes is aligned appropriately with stakeholder considerations. It takes into account the financial outcomes, the very strong non-
financial delivery and Jes’ exceptional contribution and outstanding leadership during the year, and appropriately reflects the transformation that has 
enabled us to continue to deliver for stakeholders during these challenging times.

The table below summarises Tushar Morzaria’s performance against the objectives specific to him. 

Tushar Morzaria’s objectives

Outcomes

Continue to optimise financial 
management and reporting 
(particularly through 
technology) to drive benefits 
across the Group

■■ Finance technology transformation three-year plan is on track, including the delivery of general ledger 
migration to centralise global financial reporting, driving cost savings and reducing operational risk

■■ Technology enhancements accelerated both the financial and regulatory close processes, delivering critical 
management information more quickly and allowing senior executives to focus on forward-looking business 
execution

Further improve capital 
productivity through enhancing 
capital allocation and the 
measurement of capital returns

■■ Prioritised the focus on robust capitalisation to ensure that Barclays could continue to serve customers and 

clients whilst maintaining strong capital levels to ensure the bank remained secure throughout the crisis and is 
in a position to return capital to shareholders

■■ Capital Returns Forum continued to review business returns for the medium term to ensure appropriate capital 

allocation and productivity across the Group

Oversee the effective 
management of the risk and 
controls agenda in Group 
Finance, Strategy, Tax and 
Treasury

Continue to focus on employee 
engagement, talent and 
diversity in Group Finance, 
Strategy, Tax and Treasury

Effectively manage 
relationships with key 
stakeholders including 
regulators and investors

■■ Control Environment and Management Control Approach rated satisfactory for Finance (including Strategy, 

Tax and Treasury) as part of the annual internal audit process

■■ Employee engagement across Finance, (including Treasury, Tax, Strategy and Investor Relations) increased 

from 76% in 2019 to 82% in 2020

■■ Continued improvement in gender diversity at senior levels within Finance (including Treasury, Tax, Strategy 

and Investor Relations), now at 31% compared to 26% at the end of 2019

■■ Ongoing focus on talent development and succession planning using a mix of external recruitment and internal 

mobility, resulted in improved bench strength and experience across all functions

■■ Strong reputation among peers and regulators has led to appointment and continued service as Chair of the 

Sterling Risk Free Reference Rates Working Group

■■ Continued to maintain effective and open relationships with regulators and the investment community

Note
a  Represented to 1dp for the purposes of the assessment, rounded for simplicity in the Strategic Report. Actual outcome 26.46%.

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The Committee also recognised Tushar Morzaria’s very strong performance against both his individual and shared personal objectives during 2020, 
assessing that an outcome of 17% out of a maximum of 20% was appropriate. In aggregate, this results in an overall formulaic outcome for Tushar of 
38.6% or £573,000, of which 30% will be deferred under the Share Value Plan. 

In line with the DRP, and due to the regulations prohibiting dividend equivalents being paid on unvested deferred share awards, the number of shares 
awarded to each Executive Director under the Share Value Plan will be calculated using a share price at the date of award, discounted to reflect the 
absence of dividend equivalents during the vesting period. The valuation will be aligned to IFRS 2, with the market expectations of dividends during the 
deferral period being assessed by an independent adviser. These shares will vest in two equal tranches on the first and second anniversary (subject to the 
rules of the Share Value Plan as amended from time to time). All shares (whether deferred or not) are subject to a further one-year holding period from 
the point of release. 2020 bonuses are subject to clawback provisions and, additionally, unvested deferred 2020 bonuses are subject to malus provisions 
which enable the Committee to reduce the vesting level of deferred bonuses (including to nil).

5) LTIP
The LTIP amount included in the single total figure is the value of the amount scheduled to be released in relation to the LTIP award granted in 2018 in 
respect of the performance period 2018-2020 (by reference to Q4 2020 average share price). Release is dependent on, among other things, 
performance over the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 with straight-line vesting applied between the threshold and maximum points 
for the financial measures. The performance achieved against the performance targets is as follows:

Performance 
measure

Average return on 
tangible equity 
(RoTE) excluding 
material itemsa, b 

Average cost: 
income ratio 
excluding material 
itemsb, c 

Weighting

Threshold

Maximum vesting

Actual

% of 
award 
vesting

50%

10% of award vests for RoTE of 7.75% 

RoTE of 10.25%

7.0%

0%

A CET1 underpin also applied

20%

4% of award vests for average cost: income ratio of 62.5%

Average cost: 
income ratio of 
58%

63.4%

0%

Risk Scorecard

15%

(detailed on page 
125)

15%

Strategic 
non-financial

(detailed on pages 
126 and 127)

Total 

100%

The Risk Scorecard captures a range of risks and is aligned 
with the annual incentive risk alignment framework reviewed 
with the regulators. The current framework measures 
performance against three broad categories – Capital and 
Liquidity, Control Environment and Conduct – using a 
combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics

Performance is measured against the strategic non-financial 
measures. The Committee determined the percentage of the 
award that may vest between 0% and 15%. The measures are 
organised around three equally weighted categories: 
customers and clients, colleagues and society

Final outcome approved by the Committee

Notes
a   Based on an assumed CET1 ratio of c.13-13.5%.
b   Material items include litigation and conduct in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (including PPI and settlement with regard to RMBS).
c   £368m of structural cost actions and £95m spend to date of Barclays’ Community Aid Package are treated as material items and excluded from the 2020 CIR.

12.0%

11.0%

23.0%

23.0%

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A summary of the Committee’s assessment against the Risk Scorecard performance measure over the three-year performance period is provided 
below. Each category is equally weighted at 5%.

Category

Performance

Outcome

Capital and 
Liquidity

Control 
Environment

Conduct

Total 

■■ Group CET1 ratio grew from 13.3% to 15.1% over the period, and remained comfortably above 

4.5%

the regulatory minimum throughout

■■ Stress tests show that the bank is positioned to withstand a protracted recession triggered by 
COVID-19, and potential prolonged impact of the exit of the UK from the European Union

■■ Our Liquidity Coverage Ratio was significantly above the 100% regulatory requirement 

throughout the period

■■ The Barclays Internal Control Environment Programme (BICEP), which commenced in January 
2017 and was focused on strengthening the internal control environment across the Group, 
successfully completed in March 2020. The Group’s control environment is now in a much 
stronger position, which helped to deal with the operational challenges presented by the 
COVID-19 pandemic

■■ Effective 25 June 2020, the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) announced the termination of its 

enforcement action against Barclays Bank PLC with regard to certain business practices, having 
been satisfied with remediation actions taken to enhance compliance systems and controls in 
those areas

4%

■■ Barclays is committed to continuing to drive the right culture throughout the organisation. Senior-
level conduct breaches are viewed as a proxy for a good culture led ‘from the top’. These remained 
low throughout the period

3.5%

■■ Barclays operated at the overall set tolerance for Conduct Risk throughout the period, and 
remains focused on making continuous improvements to manage Conduct Risk effectively 

12%

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A summary of the Committee’s assessment against the Strategic non-financial performance measures over the three-year performance period 
is provided below. Each category is equally weighted at 5%.

Category

Customers 
and clients

Outcome

3.5%

Criteria

Performance

Barclays UK NPS®

Improve

Barclaycard UK NPS®

BUK complaints 
reduction (ex PPI)

Reduce 
complaints

Increase digital 
engagement

Barclays App users

Digitally active 
customers

CCP US Customer 
Digital Engagement

Global Markets 
ranking 

Global Markets fee 
share

Maintain client 
rankings and 
increase market 
share

Global Banking ranking 

Global Banking fee 
share

■■ Barclays UK and Barclaycard UK NPS scores improved from 
2017 to 2019, with substantial improvement in particular in 
Barclays UK NPS, up from +14 in 2017 to +18 in 2019

■■ While NPS scores reduced in 2020, Barclays UK NPS is less 

impacted than for the majority of peers

■■ Relative scores improved over the period from joint 6th to 5th 
for Barclays UK and from 6th to joint 3rd for Barclaycard UK 
over the period

■■ Solid progress in Complaints reduction in Barclays UK since 

2017

■■ In 2020, reduction in customer complaints observed before 

and during the pandemic

■■ Significant increase in the number of Barclays App users from 

5.5m in 2017 to 9.2m in 2020 with many new features 
introduced in the app over this period

■■ Steady increase in BUK digitally active customers over the 

period

■■ CCP US Customer Digital Engagement increased to 71.4%

■■ Global Markets ranking improved from 8th in 2017 to 6th in 

2020

■■ Global Markets fee share increased from 3.6% in 2017, to 

4.9% in 2020

(Source: Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor  
Analysis. Market share represents Barclays share of the Global  
Industry Revenue Pool. Analysis based on Barclays  
internal business structure and internal revenues.)

■■ There was an increase in our Global Banking Fee Rank from 7th 

in 2017 to 6th in 2019

■■ While 2020 was a very strong year in revenues, ranking fell back to 
7th largely due to a decline in activity in the sectors where we are 
strongest

■■ As a result, fee share was down slightly over the period

(Source: Dealogic for the period covering 1 January to 31 December 
2020)

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Financial statements

Category

Criteria

Performance

2021 target of 
28%

■■ Women in senior leadership (Managing Directors and 

Directors) increased from 23.2% in 2017 to 26.5%a in 2020, 
making steady progress towards the 2021 target of 28%

■■ Equivalent figure for the UK is now 29%

Outcome

3.5%

Colleagues

Diversity

% of females at 
Managing Director 
and Director level

Inclusion

“I would recommend 
Barclays as a good 
place to work”

Improve from 
2017

Employee 
engagement

Maintain 
engagement at 
healthy levels

“My team actively 
seeks feedback to 
understand customer 
and client 
expectations”

Improve from 
2017

Society

Environmental and 
social financing

Facilitate £150bn 
over 2018-2025

Carbon emissions 
reduction

People upskilled

Reduce 
operational 
carbon emissions 
-80% by 2021 
(accelerated from 
2025)

Renewable 
electricity  
-90% by 2021

Upskill 10 million 
from 2018-2022

Place 250,000 
people into work 
2019-2022

■■ The percentage of colleagues who would recommend 

Barclays as a good place to work has increased over the period 
to 87% (2017: 82%)

■■ By 2020, 94% of colleagues believed that they and their teams 

do a good job of role-modelling the Values – above 90% 
scored throughout the period

■■ Engagement levels across Barclays are now at 83% – 5 points 

up on 2017

■■ Significant improvement observed during 2020, with 

corresponding increases in the number of employees saying 
that they have the tools and resources to achieve excellent 
performance – a key deliverable for 2019 and 2020

■■ The percentage of colleagues who believe that their team 
actively seeks feedback to understand customer and client 
expectations has been maintained at a strong level 
throughout the period

■■ Consistently exceeded targets, a total of £124.2bn of 

4.0%

financing delivered between 2018 and 2020 against a target of 
£150bn by 2025

■■ Environmental financing increased year on year during the 

period

■■ Carbon emissions reduced by 38% by 2018 (over 2015 

baseline), exceeding the 2018 target. Further reduction of 
71% against the 2018 baseline to date

■■ Renewable electricity now at 74%, very good progress 

towards target of 90% by 2021

■■ 6.9m people upskilled between 2018 and 2020, making 

excellent progress towards our aspiration of helping 10m 
people by 2022

■■ Good progress toward Connect with Work target, with more 

than 116,000 people placed into work in two years, despite the 
challenges of the pandemic during 2020

Total

11.0%

The LTIP award is also subject to a discretionary underpin whereby the Committee must be satisfied with the underlying financial health of the Group. 
The Committee was satisfied that this underpin was met, and accordingly determined that the award should vest at 23.0% of the maximum number of 
shares under the total award, to be released in five equal tranches annually, starting from March 2021. After release, the shares are subject to an additional 
12-month holding period.

Note
a  Represented to 1dp for the purposes of the assessment, rounded for simplicity in the Strategic Report. Actual outcome 26.46%.

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Annual report on Directors’ remuneration continued

LTIP awards granted during 2020
An award was made to Jes Staley and Tushar Morzaria on 9th March 2020 under the 2020-2022 LTIP at a share price of £0.8003, which has been 
discounted to reflect the absence of dividend equivalents during the vesting period, in accordance with our DRP. This is the price used to calculate the 
number of shares below.

% of Total Fixed Pay

Number of shares

Face value at grant

Performance period

Jes Staley

Tushar Morzaria

120%

120%

4,117,455

2,773,959

£3,295,200

£2,220,000

2020-2022

2020-2022

The performance measures for the 2020-2022 LTIP awards are as follows:

Performance measure

Weighting 

Threshold

50%

10% of award vests for RoTE of 9% (based on an 
assumed CET1 ratio at the target of c.13.5%)

Maximum vesting

RoTE of 10.5%

Vesting of this element will depend on CET1 levels during the performance period:
■■ In line with regulatory requirements, if the CET1 ratio goes below the MDR hurdle during the 

performance period, the Committee will consider what part, if any, of this element should vest.

20%

4% of award vests for cost: income ratio of 60%

Cost: income ratio of 58.5%

Average return on 
tangible equity (RoTE) ex 
litigation and conduct and 
other material items

Average cost: income 
ratio ex litigation and 
conduct and other 
material items

Risk Scorecard

15%

Strategic non-financial

15%

The Risk Scorecard captures a range of risks and is aligned with the annual incentive risk alignment 
framework shared with the regulators. The current framework measures performance against three broad 
categories – Capital and Liquidity, Control Environment and Conduct – using a combination of quantitative 
and qualitative metrics. The framework may be updated from time to time in line with the Group’s risk 
strategy. Specific targets within each of the categories are deemed to be commercially sensitive. 
Retrospective disclosure will be made in the 2022 Remuneration Report, subject to commercial sensitivity 
no longer remaining.

The evaluation will focus on key performance measures from the Performance Measurement Framework, 
with a detailed retrospective narrative on progress throughout the period against each category. 
Performance against the strategic non-financial measures will be assessed by the Committee to determine 
the percentage of the award that may vest between 0% and 15%. The measures are organised around 
three main categories: customer and client, colleagues and society. Each of the three main categories has 
equal weighting. Measures will likely include, but not be limited to, the following:
■■ Customers and clients: Improve Net Promoter Scores, reduce UK customer complaints, increase digital 

engagement, maintain client rankings and increase market shares within CIB

■■ Colleagues: Continue to increase the % of women in leadership roles, maintain engagement at healthy 

levels, improve key metrics from 2019, including Enable scores

■■ Society: Grow social and environmental financing, reduce carbon footprint and increase use of 

renewable energy, continue investing in our communities.

Straight-line vesting applies between the threshold and maximum points in respect of the financial measures.

The award of the 2020-2022 LTIP was made in March 2020 at a time following share price depreciation following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The market share price was 22% down on the market share price at the prior year grant due to various global factors, which we believe were mostly not 
specific to Barclays. Under the LTIP, the Committee has full discretion to ensure that the final outcomes are warranted based on the performance of the 
Group in light of all relevant factors and that there have not been any windfall gains. The factors considered in making this assessment will be described at 
the time of vest.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Executive Directors:  
Statement of implementation of remuneration policy in 2021
An overview of how the remuneration policy will be implemented for Executive Directors in 2021 is set out in the subsequent sections.

The following chart provides an illustrative indication of how 2021 remuneration will be delivered to the Executive Directors.

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Implementation in 2021

Fixed  
Pay

Cash

Shares

Pension

Cash in lieu 
of pension

Annual 
bonus

LTIP

P
e
r
f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
p
e
r
i
o
d

p
e
r
f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
p
e
r
i
o
d

P
r
e

l
i

i

m
n
a
r
y

Released in equal tranches over 5 years

Cash

Shares

Holding 
period

Shares

Holding 
period

Shares

P
e
r
f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
p
e
r
i
o
d

Holding 
period

Shares

Holding 
period

Shares

Holding 
period

Shares

Holding 
period

Shares

Holding 
period

Shares

Holding 
period

■■

■■

■■

■■

■■

■■

■■

■■

Jes Staley £2,350,0001
Tushar Morzaria £1,650,0001

Jes Staley £117,5001
Tushar Morzaria £82,5001

Jes Staley 93% of Fixed Pay
Tushar Morzaria 90% of Fixed Pay

Jes Staley 140% of Fixed Pay
Tushar Morzaria 134% of Fixed Pay

1  Fixed pay increases for the Executive Directors agreed under the new Directors’ remuneration policy in 2020 have been further postponed until at least H2 2021. Should the increases 

take effect in H2 2021, the Fixed Pay for Jes Staley would increase to £2,400,000 and for Tushar Morzaria it would increase to £1,725,000, and cash in lieu of pension would also increase 
to £120,000 and £86,250, respectively.

2021 Fixed Pay
At the onset of the pandemic, the Executive Directors requested that the Fixed Pay increases proposed as part of the Directors’ remuneration policy be 
postponed until at least 2021. Given the current macroeconomic environment, the Executive Directors have asked that these increases continue to be 
postponed until at least H2 2021. The increases will be reviewed again with the Committee towards the end of H1 2021. 

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Remuneration report

Annual report on Directors’ remuneration continued

2021 annual bonus performance measures
Performance measures with appropriately stretching targets have been selected to cover a range of financial and non-financial goals that support the key 
strategic objectives of the Company. The performance measures and weightings are shown below.

Financial  
(60% weighting) 
A performance target range has 
been set for each financial measure

Drive a profitable diversified banking model that is resilient through economic cycles

Profit before tax (excluding material items)

(50% weighting)

Strategic non-financial  
(20% weighting)
The evaluation will focus on a range 
of key metrics across stakeholder 
groups, with a detailed 
retrospective narrative on progress 
throughout the period against each 
category. Performance against the 
measures will be assessed by the 
Committee to determine the 
percentage of the award that may 
vest between 0% and 20%. Each of 
the three main categories has 
equal weighting.

Payout of this element will depend on the CET1 ratio at the end of the performance year. In line with regulatory 
requirements, if the CET1 ratio is below the MDR hurdle at the end of the performance year, the Committee 
will consider what part if any of this element should pay out

Cost: income ratio (excluding material items)

(10% weighting)

The measures are organised around three main categories: customers and clients, colleagues and society. 
Measures will likely include, but not be limited to:

Customers and clients:

Drive world class outcomes for customers and clients and continue to support them through the pandemic:
■■ Improve Net Promoter Scores
■■ Reduce BUK customer complaints and improve resolution time
■■ Maintain client ranking and market share within CIB
■■ Increase digital engagement
Colleagues:

Protect and strengthen our culture through our Purpose, Values and Mindset
■■ Continue to improve diversity in leadership roles 
■■ Improve inclusion indicators
■■ Maintain engagement at healthy levels
■■ Maintain culture and conduct indicators
Society:

Drive a focus on the sustainable impact of our business
■■ Progress towards our 2030 £100bn green financing commitment
■■ Deliver against our near term financing emissions targets (2025)
■■ Reduce carbon footprint and increase use of renewable energy
■■ Continue investing in our communities

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Financial statements

Personal 
 (20% weighting)

Joint personal objectives:

Lead the investment proposition for Barclays and ensure a strong balance sheet which underpins returns 
potential
■■ Deliver improving shareholder returns, with a focus on RoTE 
■■ Maintain robust capital ratios across the Group and within the main operating entities 
■■ Seek opportunities for further cost efficiencies, enabling reinvestment into strategic priorities and growth 

initiatives

■■ Optimise partnerships within the Group to deliver the whole of Barclays to our clients 
■■ Continue to drive our technology agenda across the Group to support improving customer and client 

experience

■■ Drive growth in fee-based, technology-led annuity businesses with lower capital intensity

Jes Staley:
■■ Embed the new Purpose, updated Values and Mindset across the organisation
■■ Continue to develop a high-performing culture in line with our Values, with a focus on employee 

engagement, succession planning, talent and diversity

■■ Ensure a continued focus on customer and client outcomes
■■ Empower the effective management of the risk and controls agenda, including cyber risks
■■ Continue to focus on external societal and environmental stewardship
■■ Effectively manage relationships with key external stakeholders and society more broadly

Tushar Morzaria:
■■ Continue to optimise financial management and reporting (particularly through technology) to drive 

benefits across the Group

■■ Further improve capital productivity through enhancing capital allocation and the measurement of capital 

returns

■■ Oversee the effective management of the risk and controls agenda across Group Finance, Strategy, Tax 

and Treasury

■■ Retain focus on colleague agenda across Group Finance, Strategy, Tax and Treasury
■■ Effectively manage relationships with key external stakeholders including regulators and investors

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2021-2023 LTIP
The Committee decided to make an award under the 2021-2023 LTIP cycle to Jes Staley and Tushar Morzaria with a face value at grant of 140% of Fixed 
Pay for the CEO and 134% of Fixed Pay for the GFD.  This maximum award was determined following a detailed review of their individual performance 
throughout 2020 and significant personal contribution to the resilience of the Group, and the Committee was comfortable that this is commensurate 
with performance delivered.  This share based award ensures alignment with future performance over the three-year assessment period, as well as, 
shareholder alignment over the long release period (up to eight years from initial award).

The objective of the LTIP is to incentivise the Executive Directors to deliver on the long-term strategy, without encouraging excessive risk-taking. In its 
deliberations on the appropriate financial performance measures for the 2021-2023 LTIP cycle, the Committee reflected on the significant remaining 
macroeconomic uncertainty. Given the challenges that such uncertainty introduces to the calibration of absolute financial targets, the Committee 
decided to introduce a relative performance measure, in the form of 25% relative Total Shareholder Return. The weighting of the RoTE measure will be 
correspondingly reduced to 25% (from 50% in the previous cycle) to retain a total of 50% on returns-type measures.  It will be tested in 2023, the final 
year of the performance period, to help in determining how effectively the Executive Directors navigate the financial recovery and steer Barclays back 
towards our targets over the medium term.

An additional challenge arising from such uncertainty going into 2021 and beyond will be to ensure that the Group remains appropriately focused on 
prudential stability and balance sheet strength, while continuing to be able to support our customers and clients, and the economies in which we operate. 
Given this focus, the Committee decided to introduce a standalone CET1 measure for 10% of the award. CIR is also maintained as an average measure 
over the performance period, with its weighting slightly reduced to 10%.

As noted above, the unique societal and resulting macroeconomic circumstances have created significant challenges in calibrating absolute longer-term 
plan targets. Given the inherent uncertainty, and the desire to avoid setting targets that in retrospect turn out to be much more challenging or simpler 
than intended, the Committee wanted to ensure that the performance targets for RoTE and CIR appropriately reflect the full range of potential outcomes 
around the current forecasts (acknowledging that the various potential macroeconomic risks and opportunities are largely outside the direct control of 
the Executive Directors). This will ensure that the LTIP has the desired effect of continuing to motivate and retain the executives throughout the 
performance period, whilst still requiring a very strong performance for full vesting. Given this basis for the calibration of the ranges, the vesting 
proportion for attaining threshold performance has been correspondingly reduced from the previous 20% to 0%.  This does not impact the TSR or CET1 
measures. The Committee retains ultimate discretion to ensure that the outcomes are appropriate in light of all relevant factors at the end of the 
performance period.

The Committee also considered how our ambition to be net zero by 2050 should be reflected in pay for the Executive Directors. The decision was to 
include a standalone Climate measure within the LTIP, providing clear alignment between the LTIP outcome, up to a maximum of 10%, and progress 
towards our targets which will help us to become net zero by 2050. To accommodate the addition of the Climate measure, the weighting for the Risk 
Scorecard and Strategic non-financial measures (excluding Climate) will be reduced to 10% each.

Performance against the Risk Scorecard has improved over the last three years, giving an outcome of 12% out of 15% for the 2018-2020 LTIP. While it is 
very important that the Executive Directors focus on maintaining performance in this area, the Committee felt comfortable that a lower weighting could 
be applied.

The 2021-2023 LTIP award will be subject to the following forward-looking performance measures.

Performance measure

Weighting 

Threshold

2023 return on tangible 
equity (RoTE) ex material 
itemsa

Average cost: income 
ratio ex material items

Maintain CET1 ratio within 
the target range

25%

10%

10%

0% of award vests for RoTE of 6.0% rising on a 
straight-line basis

0% of award vests for average cost: income ratio 
of 65.0% rising on a straight-line basis

If CET1 is below MDA hurdleb +180bps during the 
period, the Committee will consider what portion 
of this element should vest, based on the causes 
of the CET1 reduction.

If CET1 is above MDA hurdle +280bps but does 
not make progress towards the range over the 
period, the Committee will consider what portion 
of this element should vest, based on the reasons 
for the elevated levels of CET1 versus target 
range and the associated impacts.

Maximum vesting

RoTE of 12.0%

Average cost: income ratio of 62.0%

CET1 ratio between 180bps and 280bps above 
MDA hurdle throughout the period.

Relative Total Shareholder 
Return (TSR)

25%

6.25% vests for performancec at median of the 
peer groupd rising on a straight-line basis

Performance at the upper quartile

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Financial statements

Performance measure

Weighting 

Threshold

Maximum vesting

Risk Scorecard

10%

Climate

10%

Strategic non-financial

10%

The Risk Scorecard captures a range of risks and is aligned with the annual incentive risk alignment 
framework shared with the regulators. The current framework measures performance against three broad 
categories – Capital and Liquidity, Control Environment and Conduct – using a combination of quantitative 
and qualitative metrics. The framework may be updated from time to time in line with the Group’s risk 
strategy. Specific targets within each of the categories are deemed to be commercially sensitive. 
Retrospective disclosure will be made in the 2023 Remuneration Report, subject to commercial sensitivity 
no longer remaining.

The evaluation will focus on progress towards our ambition to be a net zero bank by 2050 including:
■■ our commitment to align our financing with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement; and
■■ our commitment to £100bn of green financing by 2030.
There will be detailed retrospective narrative on progress over the period, including consideration of 
progress towards other relevant targets. Performance will be assessed by the Committee to determine the 
percentage of the award that may vest between 0% and 10%.

The evaluation will focus on key performance measures from the Performance Measurement Framework, 
with a detailed retrospective narrative on progress throughout the period against each category. 
Performance against the strategic non-financial measures will be assessed by the Committee to determine 
the percentage of the award that may vest between 0% and 10%. The measures are organised around 
three main categories: Customer and Client, Colleagues and Society (Citizenship). Each of the three main 
categories has equal weighting. Measures will likely include, but not be limited to, the following:
■■ Customers and Clients: 
Drive world class outcomes for customers and clients and continue to support them through the pandemic: 
improve Net Promoter Scores, reduce BUK customer complaints and improve resolution time, maintain 
client ranking and market share within CIB, increase digital engagement.
■■ Colleagues: 
Protect and strengthen our culture through our Purpose, Values and Mindset: continue to improve diversity 
in leadership roles, improve inclusion indicators, maintain engagement at healthy levels and maintain culture 
and conduct indicators.
■■ Society (Citizenship): 
Drive a focus on the sustainable impact of our business: continue investing in our communities, including 
LifeSkills, Connect with Work and Unreasonable Impact.

Notes
a   Based on an assumed CET1 ratio at the mid-point of the Group target range, 13-14%.
b   Currently 11.2%.
c   Performance assessed over the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023. Start and end TSR data will be the Q4 average for 2020 and 2023 respectively and will be measured in 

GBP for each company. 

d  The peer group is comprised of multinational banks in Europe and North America of comparable size to Barclays and whose TSR has a high degree of correlation with Barclays’. The 
constituents of the comparator group are reviewed annually, prior to each new LTIP grant. The peer group for the 2021-23 award is: Banco Santander, Bank of America, BBVA, BNP 
Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Agricole, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, ING Groep, Lloyds Banking Group, Morgan Stanley, NatWest Group, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered, UBS, 
Unicredit.

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Annual report on Directors’ remuneration continued

Illustrative scenarios for Executive Directors’ remuneration
The charts below show the potential value of the current Executive Directors’ 2021 total remuneration in three main scenarios: ‘Minimum’ (i.e. Fixed Pay, 
Pension and benefits), ‘Mid-point’ (i.e. Fixed Pay, Pension, benefits and 50% of the maximum variable pay that may be awarded) and ‘Maximum’ (i.e. Fixed 
Pay, Pension, benefits and the maximum variable pay that may be awarded). For the purposes of these charts, the value of benefits is based on an 
estimated annual value for 2021 regular contractual benefits. Additional ad hoc benefits may arise, for example, overseas relocation of Executive 
Directors, but will always be provided in line with the DRP. 

A significant proportion of the potential remuneration of the Executive Directors is variable and is therefore performance related. It is also subject to 
deferral, additional holding periods, malus and clawback. In line with reporting requirements, we have provided an indication of the maximum 
remuneration receivable, assuming share price appreciation of 50% on the LTIP. 

Total remuneration opportunity:

Group Chief Executive
£m

Minimum

Total 2.53

93%

7%

Mid-point

Total 5.27

45%

3%

21%

31%

Group Finance Director
£m

Minimum

Total 1.79

92%

8%

Mid-point

Total 3.64

45%

4%

21%

30%

Maximum

30%

2%

Maximum with share price increase

24%

0

2%

2

27%

23%

Total 8.01

41%

Maximum

30%

3%

27%

Total 5.49

40%

Total 9.65

Maximum with share price increase

Total 6.59

34%

17%

25%

2%

22%

34%

17%

4

6

8

10

0

2

4

6

8

10

Fixed Pay
Pension and bene�ts
Annual bonus

LTIP
Potential outcome of a 50%
share price increase

Fixed Pay
Pension and bene�ts
Annual bonus

LTIP
Potential outcome of a 50%
share price increase

The illustrative scenarios are based on current Fixed Pay for the Executive Directors. Should the postponed 2020 Fixed Pay increases be implemented during H2 2021, the Maximum 
Opportunity will be £8.15m for the Group Chief Executive and £5.69m for the Group Finance Director.

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Financial statements

Additional remuneration disclosures
Group performance graph and Group CEO remuneration 
The performance graph below illustrates the performance of Barclays over the financial years from 2011 to 2020 in terms of Total Shareholder Return 
compared with that of the companies comprising the FTSE100 index. The index has been selected because it represents a cross-section of leading UK 
companies.

Total Shareholder Return – rebased to 100 in 2010
Year ended 31 December

108

105

128

121

129

111

127

103

100

100

98

69

151

108

169

99

154

75

181

94

160

77

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Barclays

FTSE 100

The table below presents the single figure for remuneration and annual incentive and long-term incentive plan outcomes for the Group Chief Executive 
over the past 10 years.

Year

Group Chief Executive
Single total remuneration figure CEO
Annual bonus award as a % of maximum
Long-term incentive plan vesting  
as a % of maximum

2012

2011
Robert
Robert
 Diamond
 Diamond
11,070a 1,892
0%

80%

Antony
 Jenkins
529
0%

2013
2014
Antony
Antony
 Jenkins
 Jenkins
1,602 5,467c

Antony
 Jenkins
3,399
0% 57% 48%

2015

John
 McFarlane
305
N/A

Jes 
Staley
277
N/A

2017
Jes 
Staley
3,873

2016
2018
2020
Jes 
Jes 
Jes 
Staley
Staley
Staley
4,233
4,013
3,362
60% 48.5% 48.3% 75% 38.6%

2019
Jes 
Staley
5,929

N/Ab

0% N/Ab

N/Ab

30% 39% N/Ab

N/Ab

N/Ab

N/Ab

N/Ab 48.5% 23%

Notes
a  This figure includes £5,745k tax equalisation as set out in the 2011 Remuneration Report. Robert Diamond was tax equalised on tax above the UK rate where that could not be offset by a 

double tax treaty.

b   Not a participant in a long-term incentive award which vested in the period.
c   Antony Jenkins’ 2014 pay is higher than in earlier years since he declined a bonus in 2012 and 2013 and did not have LTIP vesting in those years.

Group CEO pay ratio
The table below shows the ratios of the Group Chief Executive’s total remuneration to the remuneration of UK employees since 2018. The change in the 
pay ratios for 2020 is explained in more detail below.

2020

2019

2018

Option

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

A

A

A

137 x

213 x

126 x

90 x

140 x

85 x

51 x

77 x

45x

The regulations provide three options which may be used to calculate total pay for the employees at the 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile. 
Following guidance issued by some proxy advisers and institutional shareholders, we have selected Option A to calculate total pay for each calendar year 
using the employee population on the 31st of December of each respective year. 

Option A calculates total pay for all employees on the same basis as the single figure for remuneration is calculated for Executive Directors. Total pay for 
each employee includes earned Fixed Pay, which is made up of salary, Role Based Pay (RBP) and relevant allowances, annual incentives awarded for the 
2020 calendar year, and an estimate of pension and benefits for 2020. Other elements of pay such as overtime and shift allowances have been excluded 
as previously. The estimate of pension for each employee is based on the percentage currently available to new hires in the UK (between 10% for the 
more senior and 12% for the more junior Corporate Grades). The estimate of benefits is based on the cost of core benefits available at each Corporate 
Grade, including private medical insurance, income protection and life assurance. Calculations use full-time equivalent pay data taken from our HR 
systems for all employees.

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Total pay and Fixed Pay for the employees at the 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile are set out in the table below. 

2020
2019a
2018a

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Total pay
£29,380
£27,875
£26,587

Fixed Pay
£24,706
£23,348
£21,899

Total pay
£44,631
£42,362
£39,390

Fixed Pay
£37,460
£35,158
£32,202

Total pay
£79,324
£77,488
£74,685

Fixed Pay
£64,272
£62,263
£60,000

Notes
a  Fixed Pay figures for 2018 and 2019 have been restated to also include relevant allowances (such as the London mobility allowance and legacy supplementary cash allowances) 

in additional to earned salary. 2020 fixed pay figures include earned salary and the London mobility allowance. 2020 total pay also includes increases to employer funded pension 
contributions (up to 12% for junior colleagues) where relevant. 

The pay ratios have decreased between 2019 and 2020, largely due to a decrease in the CEO total single figure of remuneration, although employee total 
pay has also increased by 5% at the LQ and median, and by 2% at the UQ. 

The decrease in the CEO single figure of remuneration from 2019 to 2020 is a result of lower outcomes on the CEO’s annual bonus and LTIP due to 
reduced performance against financial measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the decrease in Executive Director pension contributions 
which were reduced as part of the new DRP in May 2020. The impact of the reduced financial performance on pay for the median employee is minimal, 
given the comparatively higher proportion of fixed pay, and the Company’s approach to protecting annual incentives outcomes for the more junior 
colleagues, in line with our approach to fair pay and to reward their contributions to supporting customers and clients during the pandemic.

Barclays remuneration philosophy is set out earlier in this report, and all remuneration decisions for Executive Directors and the wider workforce are made 
within this framework. The CEO pay ratio is one of the outcomes of all of these decisions, which are explained in more detail in the Chairman’s statement.

Total remuneration of the employees in the Barclays Bank Group
The table shows the number of employees in the Barclays Bank Group as at 31 December 2019 and 2020 in bands by reference to total remuneration. 
Total remuneration comprises salary, RBP, other allowances, bonus and the value at award of LTIP awards.

Barclays is a global business and particularly within the investment banking businesses a large proportion of our business and employees are based 
outside of the UK, with a strong presence in the US. Of those employees earning above £1m in total remuneration for 2020 in the table below, 59% are 
based in the US, and only 33% in the UK and 8% in the rest of the world.

Remuneration band
£0 to £25,000
£25,001 to £50,000
£50,001 to £100,000
£100,001 to £250,000
£250,001 to £500,000
£500,001 to £1,000,000
£1,000,001 to £2,000,000
£2,000,001 to £3,000,000
£3,000,001 to £4,000,000
£4,000,001 to £5,000,000
£5,000,001 to £6,000,000
Above £6,000,000

Number of employees

2020
27,446
27,815
18,799
11,534
2,217
882
325
71
31
10
8
3

2019
26,706
26,989
18,266
11,428
2,259
884
290
68
23
5
11
2

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Annual percentage change in remuneration of Directors’ and employees
The table below shows the percentage change in the Executive Directors’ Fixed Pay, benefits and bonus between 2019 and 2020 compared with the 
percentage change in each of those components of pay for UK-based employees, and employees of the Barclays PLC (BPLC) the Parent company of 
the Group.

2019/2020

Group CEO
Group FD
Median UK employee
Median employee of BPLC

Fixed Pay
0%
0%
7%
7%

Benefits
10%
9%
20%
26%

Annual bonus
-49%
-49%
-16%
-16%

For the Executive Directors, percentage change figures are calculated using the single total figure for 2020 remuneration table. Their increases in benefits 
from 2019 to 2020 are due to increased costs of the provision of private medical cover, life assurance and income protection. Similarly, for the UK 
employees and employees of BPLC, the increase in median benefits value between 2019 and 2020 is also due to an increase in the costs of the provision 
of private medical cover, life assurance and income protection.

For the UK employees, in addition to typical salary increases, the 7% increase in median Fixed Pay also reflects the impact of the Barclays UK Reward 
Strategy changes (effective July 2019). This amended how pay is structured for c.19,500 employees in line with our approach to fair pay. For the impacted 
employees, a portion of previous  bonus opportunity was transferred into Fixed Pay, ensuring a larger proportion of their overall pay package is fixed, 
pensionable and is not impacted by business performance. These increases in Fixed Pay and reductions in bonus opportunity are reflected in pay for the 
second half of 2019 and full year for 2020, also contributing to the 16% decrease in median bonus. 

BPLC only employs a very small number of Head Office employees (56 for 2020). Between 2019 and 2020, BPLC experienced significant headcount 
movement with around half the 2019 BPLC employees, predominantly at more junior levels, moving to other Legal employing entities in 2020. In order 
to make a meaningful year on year comparison, the figures are therefore based on all individuals employed by BPLC in both years.

The table below shows the percentage change in fees for the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors’ between 2019 and 2020. Non-Executive 
Directors who joined on or after 1 January 2020 are not included.

As set out in the 2019 Directors’ Remuneration Report, all Non-Executive Directors other than the Chairman received an increase of £10,000 to their 
basic Board fee from 1 January 2020 – the first increase to this fee since 2011. The Chairman receives an all-inclusive fee which was not increased. Fees 
were also increased by £10,000 for the Chairs of the Audit and Risk Committees (the first increases since 2011 and 2017, respectively) and by £5,000 for 
members of the Risk Committee (last increased in 2011). Other increases relate to set fees for additional responsibilities taken on by the Non-Executive 
Directors in 2020.

2019/2020

Nigel Higginsa
Mike Ashleyb
Tim Breedonb
Sir Ian Cheshire
Mary Anne Citrinoa, b
Dawn Fitzpatricka, c
Mary Francisb
Crawford Gillies
Diane Schuenemanb

Fees
0%
19%
24%
2%
33%
36%
−3%
4%
3%

Notes
a  For those who were appointed during 2019 or who stood down during 2020, fees are pro-rated up for the purposes of this comparison.
b  These Non-Executive Directors joined the Board of BBPLC in September 2019 and received a pro-rata fee for that year. For 2020, the full year fee of £30,000 was paid. The same applies 

to the Board fees for BCSL for Mike Ashley and Tim Breedon, for which an annual fee of £20,000 is paid. A significant portion of the change in fees relates to these additional 
responsibilities. 

c  Dawn Fitzpatrick joined the Risk Committee on 1 January 2020 and received the fee of £30,000 for this additional responsibility from that date. This accounts for 27% of the increase.

Relative importance of spend on pay
A year on year comparison of Group compensation costs and distributions to shareholders are shown below.

Group compensation costs
£m

Dividends to shareholdersa
£m

2020

2019

7,437

2020

0

7,343

2019

1,201

Note
a  Dividends reflected are those paid during the year i.e. for 2019, the figure 

represents the 2018 full year dividend paid in April 2019, and the 2019 half year 
dividend which was paid in September 2019. The distributions announced on 
18 February 2021 are therefore not reflected in this table

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Annual report on Directors’ remuneration continued

Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
Remuneration for Non-Executive Directors reflects their responsibilities, time commitment and the level of fees paid to Non-Executive Directors of 
comparable major UK companies. Fees are pro-rated for periods of service.

Non-Executive Directors are reimbursed expenses that are incurred for business reasons. Any tax that arises on these reimbursed expenses is paid by 
Barclays.

Chairman and Non-Executive Directors: Single total figure for 2020 fees (audited)

Chairman
Nigel Higginsa
John McFarlane
Non-Executive Directors
Mike Ashleyb, c
Tim Breedonb, c
Sir Ian Cheshired
Mary Anne Citrinob
Mohamed A. El-Erianb
Dawn Fitzpatrickb
Mary Francisb
Crawford Gillies
Brian Gilvary
Sir Gerry Grimstone
Reuben Jeffery III
Matthew Lester
Dambisa Moyo
Diane Schuenemanb, e
Mike Turner

Total

Fees

2020
 £000

800

265
295
490
113
135
150
150
241
108
–
–
–
–
390
–

2019 
£000

541
272

222
238
480
113
–
29
155
231
–
80
41
143
46
377
36

3,137

3,004

Benefits

2020 
£000

2019
 £000

6
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

6

3
6

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

9

Total

2020 
£000

806

265
295
490
113
135
150
150
241
108
–
–
–
–
390
–

2019 
£000

544
278

222
238
480
113
–
29
155
231
–
80
41
143
46
377
36

3,143

3,013

Notes
a  Nigel Higgins does not receive a fee in respect of his role as Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC. During 2020, Nigel donated one-third of his fees for a six month period to charitable causes 

supporting the response to COVID-19.

b  These Non-Executive Directors are appointed to the Board of Barclays Bank PLC. They receive an additional annual fee of £30,000, paid by Barclays Bank PLC in respect of this 

appointment (pro-rata for service in 2019).

c  These Non-Executive Directors received an additional annual fee of £20,000 for their services to Barclays Capital Securities Limited (pro-rata for service in 2019).
d  Sir Ian Cheshire’s figures include fees of £400,000 for his role as Chairman of Barclays Bank UK PLC.
e  Diane Schueneman is Chair of Barclays Execution Services Limited (the Group Service Company) and is a member of the Barclays US LLC (the US Intermediate Holding Company) Board. 

The 2020 figure includes fees of £70,000 for her role on the Barclays Execution Services Limited Board and $180k (£140k) for her role on the Barclays US LLC Board.

Chairman and Non-Executive Directors: Statement of implementation of remuneration policy in 2021
Fees for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors for 2021 are shown below. The fees were last reviewed in 2019 and revised for 2020, there have been 
no subsequent amendments.

Chairmana
Board member
Additional responsibilities

Senior Independent Director
Chairman of Board Audit or Risk Committee 
Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee 
Membership of Board Audit, Remuneration or Risk Committee
Membership of Board Nominations Committee

Notes
a   The Chairman does not receive any fees in addition to the Chairman fees. 

1 January 2021 
£000
800
90

1 January 2020 
£000
800
90

36
80
70
30
15

36
80
70
30
15

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Directors’ shareholdings and share interests
Interests in Barclays PLC shares (audited)
The table below shows shares owned beneficially by all the Directors (including any shares owned beneficially by their connected persons) and shares 
over which Executive Directors hold awards, which are subject to either deferral terms and/or performance measures. The shares shown below that are 
subject to performance measures are the maximum number of shares that may be released.

The total shares at 16 February 2021 were the same for all Directors in service as at 31 December 2020.

Executive Directors
Jes Staley
Tushar Morzaria
Chairman
Nigel Higgins
Non-Executive Directors
Mike Ashley
Tim Breedon
Sir Ian Cheshire
Mary Anne Citrino
Mohamed A. El-Erian
Dawn Fitzpatrick
Mary Francis
Crawford Gillies
Brian Gilvary
Diane Schueneman

Owned outright as at
 31 December 2020
 (or date of
 retirement from 
the Board, if earlier)

Unvested

Subject to
 performance 
measures

Not subject to
 performance 
measures

Total as at 
31 December 2020
 (or date of 
retirement from the
 Board, if earlier)

5,733,176
3,995,583

9,470,652
6,350,669

1,901,952
1,135,548

17,105,780
11,481,800

1,550,900

1,550,900

360,527
180,641
117,183
27,696
119,777
923,380
46,332
200,146
138,794
75,804

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

360,527
180,641
117,183
27,696
119,777
923,380
46,332
200,146
138,794
75,804

Executive Directors’ shareholdings and share interests (audited)
The chart below shows the value of Barclays’ shares held beneficially by Jes Staley and Tushar Morzaria that count towards the shareholding requirement 
as at 31 December 2020 using the Q4 2020 Barclays’ ordinary share price of £1.2677. The shareholding requirement is 233% of Fixed Pay for Jes Staley 
and 224% of Fixed Pay for Tushar Morzaria. The current Executive Directors have five years from their respective dates of appointment to meet 
this requirement. 

Jes Staley
£000

Requirement

Actual

Tushar Morzaria
£000

5,476

Requirement

3,696

7,268

Actual

5,065

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Annual report on Directors’ remuneration continued

Service contracts and letters of appointment
All Executive Directors have a service contract, whereas all Non-Executive Directors have a letter of appointment. Copies of the service contracts and 
letters of appointment are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office. The effective dates of the current Directors’ appointments 
disclosed in their service contracts or letters of appointment are shown in the table below.

As stated in the letters of appointment, the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors are appointed for an initial term of three years and are subject to 
annual re-election by shareholders. On expiry of the initial term and subject to the needs of the Board, Non-Executive Directors may be invited to serve 
a further three years. Non-Executive Directors appointed beyond six years will be at the discretion of the Board Nominations Committee.

Chairman
Nigel Higgins

Executive Directors
Jes Staley
Tushar Morzaria
Non-Executive Directors
Mike Ashley
Tim Breedon
Sir Ian Cheshire
Mohamed A. El-Erian
Dawn Fitzpatrick
Mary Francis
Crawford Gillies
Brian Gilvary
Diane Schueneman

Effective date of appointment

1 March 2019 (Non-Executive Director) 
2 May 2019 (Chairman)

1 December 2015
15 October 2013

18 September 2013
1 November 2012
3 April 2017
1 January 2020
25 September 2019
1 October 2016
1 May 2014
1 February 2020
25 June 2015

Payments to former Directors (audited)
Former Group Finance Director: Chris Lucas
In 2020, Chris Lucas continued to be eligible to receive life assurance cover, private medical cover and payments under the Executive Income Protection 
Plan (EIPP). Full details of his eligibility under the EIPP were disclosed in the 2013 Directors’ Remuneration Report (page 115 of the 2013 Annual Report). 
Chris Lucas did not receive any other payment or benefit in 2020.

Former Non-Executive: Reuben Jeffery III
Reuben Jeffery III was appointed as a member of the Barclays US LLC (the US Intermediate Holding Company) Board until 28 August 2020. He received 
fees of $150,000 per annum for this role on the Barclays US LLC Board, pro-rated for his period of service in line with policy.

Previous AGM voting outcomes
The table below shows the voting result in respect of our remuneration report and Directors’ remuneration policy at the AGM held on 7 May 2020.

Shareholder votes on remuneration

For % of votes cast 
Number

Against % of votes cast 
Number

Withheld Number

Vote on the 2019 Remuneration Report at the 2020 AGM

95.78% 

4.22% 

11,354,434,198

500,456,293

90,893,005

Vote on the Directors’ remuneration policy at the 2020 AGM

96.29% 

3.71% 

11,308,670,932

436,091,600

201,020,969

At the AGM held on 24 April 2014, 96.02% (10,364,453,159 votes) of shareholders of Barclays PLC voted for the resolution in respect of a fixed to variable 
remuneration ratio of 1:2 for ‘Remuneration Code Staff ’ (now known as MRTs). On 14 December 2017, the Board of Barclays PLC as shareholder of 
Barclays Bank PLC approved the resolution that Barclays Bank PLC and any of its current and future subsidiaries be authorised to apply a ratio of the fixed 
to variable components of total remuneration of their MRTs that exceeds 1:1, provided the ratio does not exceed 1:2. On 15 November 2018, the Board 
of Barclays PLC as shareholder of Barclays Bank UK PLC approved an equivalent resolution in relation to MRTs within Barclays Bank UK PLC and any of 
its subsidiaries.

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Financial review

Financial statements

Barclays Board Remuneration Committee
The Committee is responsible for overseeing Barclays’ remuneration as described in more detail below.

Terms of Reference
The role of the Committee is to:
■■ set the overarching principles and parameters of remuneration policy across the Group;
■■ consider and approve the remuneration arrangements of (i) the Chairman, (ii) the Executive Directors, (iii) members of the Barclays Group Executive 
Committee and any other senior executives specified by the Committee from time to time, and (iv) all other Group employees whose total annual 
compensation exceeds an amount determined by the Committee from time to time (currently £2m); and

■■ exercise oversight for remuneration issues.

The Committee considers the overarching objectives, principles and parameters of remuneration policy across the Group to ensure it is adopting a 
coherent approach in respect of all employees. In discharging this responsibility, the Committee seeks to ensure that the policy is fair and transparent, 
avoids complexity and assesses, among other things, the impact of pay arrangements in supporting the Group’s culture, Values and strategy and on all 
elements of risk management. The Committee also approves incentive pools for each of the Group, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC and BX, 
periodically reviews (at least annually) all material matters of retirement benefit design and governance, and exercises judgement in the application of 
remuneration policies to promote the long-term success of the Group for the benefit of shareholders. The Committee and its members work as 
necessary with other Board Committees, and is authorised to select and appoint its own advisers as required.

Committee effectiveness in 2020
The 2020 Committee effectiveness review was conducted in accordance with the Code. This internal review involved completion of a tailored 
questionnaire by Committee members and senior management, in line with the approach adopted for all Board Committees in 2020. The review is an 
important part of the way Barclays monitors and improves Committee performance and effectiveness, maximising strengths and highlighting areas for 
further development.

The results confirm that the Committee is operating effectively. The Committee continues to be well constituted and provides an effective level of 
challenge and oversight of the areas within its remit. In particular, feedback indicates that the Committee continued to operate effectively during the year 
in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, notwithstanding the need to convene remotely. It was also noted that the Committee spends time on key 
judgement areas, which was of particular importance during 2020. Consideration will be given to adding an additional member of the Committee, in light 
of Crawford Gillies stepping down as Committee Chair at the end of February 2021.

The Committee’s interaction with the Board, Board Committees and senior management is considered effective, with continued positive engagement 
and dialogue with senior management. It was also noted that the natural overlay with the Board Risk Committee had been reflected formally in the 
Committee’s Terms of Reference during the year. In response to a request to provide feedback on interaction with subsidiary committees, the 
Committee’s interaction with the principal subsidiary remuneration committees was also considered effective, and in line with regulatory requirements.

Following the consolidation of the membership of the Committee with the BBPLC Board Remuneration Committee in September 2019 (with the 
exception of the Committee Chair and Brian Gilvary, who attend as observers only for matters relating to BBPLC), coverage of BBPLC matters within 
aligned meetings was considered adequate.

Advisers to the Committee
The Committee appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as the independent adviser in October 2017. The Committee considered the independence 
and objectivity of advice provided by PwC during the year to the Committee and was satisfied that it is independent and objective. PwC is a signatory to 
the voluntary UK Code of Conduct for executive remuneration consultants.

PwC was paid £121,000 (excluding VAT) in fees for their advice to the Committee in 2020 relating to the Executive Directors (either exclusively or along 
with other employees within the Committee’s Terms of Reference). In addition to advising the Committee, PwC provided unrelated consulting advice to 
the Group in respect of strategic advice on business, operational models and cost, corporate taxation, climate-related financial disclosures, data strategy, 
technology consulting and internal audit.

Throughout 2020, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) continued to provide the Committee with market data on compensation when considering incentive 
levels and remuneration packages. WTW were paid £65,000 (excluding VAT) in fees for their services. In addition to the services provided to the 
Committee, WTW also provides pensions and benefits advice, insurance brokerage and pensions advice and administration services to the Barclays Bank 
UK Retirement Fund.

In the course of its deliberations, the Committee also considers the views of the Group Chief Executive, the Group Human Resources Director and the 
Group Reward and Performance Director. The Group Finance Director and the Group Chief Risk Officer provide regular updates on Group and business 
financial performance and risk profiles, respectively.

No Barclays’ employee or Director participates in discussions with, or decisions of, the Committee relating to his or her own remuneration. No other 
advisers provided services to the Committee in the year.

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Remuneration report

Annual report on Directors’ remuneration continued

Committee activity in 2020
The following provides a summary of the Committee’s activity during 2020 and at the January and February 2021 meetings at which 2020 remuneration 
decisions were finalised. The Committee is also provided with updates at each scheduled meeting on: operation of the Committee’s Control Framework 
on hiring, retention and termination, headcount and employee attrition, and extant LTIP performance.

January 
2020

February 
2020

July
2020

October 
2020

December 
2020

January 
2021

February 
2021

Overall 
remuneration

Incentive funding proposals including 
risk adjustments

2019 Remuneration Report

Group Fixed Pay budgets

Finance and Risk updates

Incentive funding approach

Barclays’ Fair Pay agenda and Report

2020 Remuneration Report

Wider workforce considerations

Executive Directors’ and senior 
executives’ bonus outcomes

Review of Directors’ remuneration 
policy

Annual bonus and LTIP performance 
measures and target calibration

Executive 
Directors’ 
and senior 
executives’ 
remuneration

Governance

Regulatory and stakeholder matters

Discussion with independent adviser

Remuneration Review Panel update

Review of Committee effectiveness

There were five additional Remuneration Committee meetings during the course of 2020. The Committee met in February, April (two meetings), 
June and September to consider regulatory matters, Executive Directors’ remuneration in the context of COVID-19 and leadership changes across 
the organisation.

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Risk review

The management of risk is a critical underpinning to 
the execution of Barclays’ strategy. The material risks 
and uncertainties the Group faces across its business 
and portfolios are key areas of management focus.

Risk management strategy
Overview of Barclays’ approach to risk management. 
A detailed overview together with more specific information 
on policies that the Group determines to be of particular 
significance in the current operating environment can be 
found in the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 or at 
barclays.com

Material existing and emerging risks 
Insight into the level of risk across our business and portfolios, 
the material existing and emerging risks and uncertainties 
we face and the key areas of management focus.

Climate change risk management
Overview of Barclays’ approach to managing climate 
change risk.

Principal risk management
Barclays’ approach to risk management for each principal 
risk with focus on organisation and structure and roles 
and responsibilities.

Risk performance
Credit risk: The risk of loss to the Group from the failure of 
clients, customers or counterparties, including sovereigns, 
to fully honour their obligations to the Group, including the 
whole and timely payment of principal, interest, collateral 
and other receivables.

■■ Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF)
■■ Segregation of duties – the ‘Three Lines of Defence’ model
■■ Principal risks
■■ Risk appetite for the principal risks
■■ Risk committees
■■ Frameworks, policies and standards
■■ Assurance
■■ Effectiveness of risk management arrangements
■■ Learning from our mistakes
■■ Barclays’ risk culture
■■ Group-wide risk management tools
■■ Risk management in the setting of strategy

■■ Material existing and emerging risks potentially impacting more than 

one principal risk

■■ Credit risk
■■ Market risk
■■ Treasury and capital risk 
■■ Operational risk 
■■ Model risk
■■ Conduct risk 
■■ Reputation risk
■■ Legal risk and legal, competition and regulatory matters

■■ Overview, organisation and structure
■■ Risk management policy

■■ Credit risk management
■■ Management of credit risk mitigation techniques and counterparty credit risk
■■ Market risk management
■■ Management of securitisation exposures
■■ Treasury and capital risk management
■■ Operational risk management
■■ Model risk management
■■ Conduct risk management
■■ Reputation risk management
■■ Legal risk management

■■ Credit risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Maximum exposure and effects of netting, collateral and risk transfer
■■ Expected Credit Losses
■■ Movements in gross exposure and impairment allowance including provisions 

for loan commitments and financial guarantees
■■ Management adjustments to models for impairment
■■ Measurement uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
■■ Analysis of the concentration of credit risk
■■ The Group’s approach to management and representation of credit quality
■■ Analysis of specific portfolios and asset types
■■ Forbearance
■■ Analysis of debt securities
■■ Analysis of derivatives

Annual 
Report

Pillar 3 
Report

145
145
146
146
146
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
146
n/a
n/a

147

152
153
153
154
156
157
157
158

159
160

161
n/a
162
n/a
163
164
165
166
166
166

168
168
171

175
180
181
189
191
195
198
200
201

150
150
151
151
152
153
153
153
154
154
154
158

n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a

159
177
180
189
193
201
205
208
210
212

n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

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Risk review 

Market risk: The risk of a loss arising from potential 
adverse changes in the value of the Group’s assets and 
liabilities from fluctuation in market variables including, but 
not limited to, interest rates, foreign exchange, equity prices, 
commodity prices, credit spreads, implied volatilities and 
asset correlations.

Treasury and capital risk – Liquidity: The risk that the Group 
is unable to meet its contractual or contingent obligations 
or that it does not have the appropriate amount, tenor and 
composition of funding and liquidity to support its assets.

■■ Market risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Balance sheet view of trading and banking books
■■ Review of management measures
■■ Review of regulatory measures 

■■ Liquidity risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Liquidity risk stress testing
■■ Liquidity pool
■■ Funding structure and funding relationships
■■ Contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities
■■ Asset encumbrance

Treasury and capital risk – Capital: The risk that the Group 
has an insufficient level or composition of capital to support 
its normal business activities and to meet its regulatory 
capital requirements under normal operating environments 
or stressed conditions (both actual and as defined for internal 
planning or regulatory testing purposes). This also includes 
the risk from the Group’s pension plans.

■■ Capital risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Regulatory minimum capital and leverage requirements
■■ Analysis of capital resources
■■ Analysis of risk weighted assets
■■ Analysis of leverage ratio and exposures
■■ Minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities
■■ Foreign exchange risk
■■ Pension risk review

Treasury and capital risk – Interest rate risk in the banking 
book: The risk that the Group is exposed to capital or income 
volatility because of a mismatch between the interest rate 
exposures of its (non-traded) assets and liabilities.

■■ Interest rate risk in the banking book overview and summary of performance
■■ Net interest income sensitivity
■■ Analysis of equity sensitivity
■■ Volatility of the fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) 

portfolio in the liquidity pool

■■ Operational risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Operational risk profile

Annual 
Report

Pillar 3 
Report

202
n/a
202
n/a

206
206
209
210
213
n/a

217
217
219
221
222
223
224
224

226
226
227
227

228
228

124
125
126
127

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
221

n/a
8
17
25
30
n/a
40
41

42
42
43
43

145
147

Operational risk: The risk of loss to the Group from 
inadequate or failed processes or systems, human factors 
or due to external events (for example fraud) where the root 
cause is not due to credit or market risks.

Model risk: The risk of the potential adverse consequences 
from financial assessments or decisions based on incorrect 
or misused model outputs and reports.

Conduct risk: The risk of detriment to customers, clients, 
market integrity, effective competition or Barclays from the 
inappropriate supply of financial services, including instances 
of wilful or negligent misconduct.

Reputation risk: The risk that an action, transaction, 
investment, event, decision, or business relationship will 
reduce trust in the Group’s integrity and/or competence.

Legal risk: The risk of loss or imposition of penalties, 
damages or fines from the failure of the Group to meet 
its legal obligations including regulatory or contractual 
requirements.

Supervision and regulation
The Group’s operations, including its overseas offices, 
subsidiaries and associates, are subject to a significant 
body of rules and regulations.

Pillar 3 Report
Contains extensive information on risk as well as capital 
management.

Risk and capital position review: Provides a detailed 
breakdown of Barclays’ regulatory capital adequacy 
and how this relates to Barclays’ risk management.

■■ Model risk overview and summary of performance

231

n/a

■■ Conduct risk overview and summary of performance

231

n/a

■■ Reputation risk overview and summary of performance

231

n/a

■■ Legal risk overview and summary of performance

231

n/a

■■ Supervision of the Group
■■ Global regulatory developments
■■ Financial regulatory framework

■■ Notes on basis of preparation
■■ Scope of application of Basel rules

■■ Group capital resources, requirements, leverage and liquidity
■■ Analysis of credit risk
■■ Analysis of counterparty credit risk
■■ Analysis of market risk
■■ Analysis of securitisation exposures
■■ Analysis of operational risk

232
232
234

n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a

3
6

15
45
108
124
132
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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Risk review 
Risk management

Barclays’ risk management 
strategy
This section introduces the Group’s approach to 
managing and identifying risks, and for fostering 
a strong risk culture.

Enterprise Risk Management 
Framework (ERMF)
The ERMF sets the strategic approach for risk 
management by defining standards, objectives 
and responsibilities for all areas of the Group. 
It is then approved by the Barclays PLC Board 
on recommendation of the Group Chief Risk 
Officer. It supports senior management in 
effective risk management and developing 
a strong risk culture.

The ERMF sets out:
■■ segregation of duties: The ERMF defines a 

Three Lines of Defence model.
■■ principal risks faced by the Group.  

This list guides the organisation of the 
risk management function, and the 
identification, management and reporting 
of risks

■■ risk appetite requirements. This helps define 
the level of risk we are willing to undertake in 
our business

■■ roles and responsibilities for risk 

management: The ERMF sets out the 
accountabilities of the Group CEO and other 
senior managers, as well as Barclays PLC 
committees.

The ERMF is complemented by frameworks, 
policies and standards which are mainly aligned 
to individual principal risks:
■■ frameworks cover the management 

approach for a collection of related activities 
and define the associated policies used to 
govern them

■■ policies set out principles and other core 

requirements for the activities of the Group. 
Policies describe ‘what’ must be done

■■ standards set out the key control objectives 
that describe how the requirements set out 
in the policy are met, and who needs to carry 
them out. Standards describe ‘how’ controls 
should be undertaken.

Segregation of duties –  
the ‘Three Lines of Defence’ model
The ERMF sets out a clear lines of defence 
model. All colleagues are responsible for 
understanding and managing risks within 
the context of their individual roles and 
responsibilities, as set out below:

■■ first line comprises all employees engaged 
in the revenue generating and client-facing 
areas of the Group and all associated support 
functions, including Finance, Treasury, 
and Human Resources. The first line is 
responsible for identifying and managing the 
risks they generate, establishing a control 
framework, and escalating risk events to 
Risk and Compliance

■■ second line is comprised of the Risk and 
Compliance functions. The role of the 
second line is to establish the limits, rules 
and constraints under which first line 
activities shall be performed, consistent with 
the risk appetite of the Group, and to monitor 
the performance of the first line against 
these limits and constraints. Note that limits 
for a number of first line activities, related to 
operational risk, will be set by the first line 
and overseen by the Chief Controls Office. 
These will remain subject to supervision by 
the second line

■■ third line of defence is Internal Audit, who 
are responsible for providing independent 
assurance over the effectiveness of 
governance, risk management and control 
over current, systemic and evolving risks
■■ the Legal function provides support to all 

areas of the bank and is not formally part of 
any of the three lines. However, it is subject 
to second line oversight.

Board  
Committees

Barclays PLC Board

Barclays PLC  
Board Risk 
Committee

Barclays PLC  
Board Audit 
Committee

Management  
Level  
Committees/
Forums

Business Level 
Committees/
Forums

Barclays Group 
ExCo

Group Risk Committee

Barclays Group Product/  
Risk Type Committees

Barclays PLC 
Board 
Remuneration 
Committee

Group 
Remuneration  
Review Panel

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Risk review 
Risk management continued

Principal risks
The ERMF identifies eight principal risks and 
sets out associated responsibilities and 
expectations around risk management 
standards. The principal risks are: credit risk, 
market risk, treasury and capital risk, operational 
risk, model risk, conduct risk, reputation risk 
and legal risk. 

Each of the principal risks is overseen by an 
accountable executive within the Group who 
is responsible for the framework, policies and 
standards that detail the related requirements. 
Risk reports to executive and Board committees 
are clearly organised by principal risk. In addition, 
certain risks span more than one principal risk; 
these are also subject to the ERMF and are 
reported to executive and Board committees.

Risk appetite for the principal risks
Risk appetite is defined as the level of risk which 
the Group’s businesses are prepared to accept 
in the conduct of their activities. It provides 
a basis for ongoing dialogue between 
management and Board with respect to the 
Group’s current and evolving risk profile, allowing 
strategic and financial decisions to be made on 
an informed basis.

Risk appetite is approved by the Barclays PLC 
Board and disseminated across legal entities. 
Total Group risk appetite is supported by limits 
to control exposures and activities that have 
material concentration risk implications.

Risk committees
Various committees also fulfil important roles 
and responsibilities. Barclays business level 
product/risk type committees consider risk 
matters relevant to their business, and escalate 
as required to the Group Risk Committee (GRC), 
whose Chairman, in turn, escalates to the 
Barclays PLC Board Committees and 
the Barclays PLC Board.

In addition to setting the risk appetite of the 
Group, the Board is responsible for approving 
the ERMF, and reviewing all reputation risk 
matters. It receives regular information on 
the risk profile of the bank, and has ultimate 
responsibility for risk appetite and capital plans.

Further, there are two Board-level committees 
which oversee the application of the ERMF and 
implementation of key aspects, the Barclays PLC 
Board Risk Committee (BRC) and the Barclays 
PLC Board Audit Committee (BAC). Membership 
of these committees is comprised solely of 
Non-Executive Directors providing independent 
oversight and challenge. Additionally, the 
Barclays PLC Board Remuneration Committee 
oversee pay practices focusing on aligning pay 
to sustainable performance. 
■■ The Barclays PLC Board Risk Committee 
(BRC): the BRC monitors the Group’s 
risk profile against the agreed appetite. 
Where actual performance differs from 
expectations, the actions taken by 
management are reviewed to ascertain that 
the BRC is comfortable with them. The BRC 
also reviews certain key risk methodologies, 
the effectiveness of risk management, and 
the Group’s risk profile, including the material 
issues affecting each business portfolio and 
forward risk trends. The committee also 
commissions in-depth analyses of significant 
risk topics, which are presented by the Group 
CRO or senior risk managers.

■■ The Barclays PLC Board Audit Committee 
(BAC): the BAC receives regular reports on 
the effectiveness of internal control systems, 
quarterly reports on material control issues 
of significance, quarterly papers on 
accounting judgements (including 
impairment), and a quarterly review of the 
adequacy of impairment allowances, relative 
to the risk inherent in the portfolios, the 
business environment, and Barclays policies 
and methodologies.

■■ The Barclays PLC Board Remuneration 

Committee (RemCo): the RemCo receives a 
report on risk management performance 
and risk profile, and proposals on ex-ante 
and ex-post risk adjustments to variable 
remuneration. These inputs are considered 
in the setting of performance incentives. 

The terms of reference and additional details 
on membership and activities for each of the 
principal Board committees are available from 
the corporate governance section of the 
Barclays website at: home.barclays/about-
barclays/barclays-corporate-governance.html.

The GRC is the most senior executive body 
responsible for reviewing and monitoring the risk 
profile of the Group. This includes coverage of 
all principal risks, and any other material risks, 
to which the Group is exposed. The GRC reviews 
and recommends the proposed risk appetite 
and relative limits to the BRC. The committee 
covers all business units and legal entities with 
the Group and incorporates specific coverage 
of Barclays Bank Group.

Barclays’ risk culture
Risk culture can be defined as the norms, 
attitudes and behaviours related to risk 
awareness, risk taking and risk management. 
This is reflected in how the Group identifies, 
escalates and manages risk matters.

Barclays is committed to maintaining a robust 
risk culture in which:
■■ management expect, model and reward 

the right behaviours from a risk and control 
perspective

■■ colleagues identify, manage and escalate 
risk and control matters, and meet their 
responsibilities around risk management.

Specifically, all employees regardless of their 
positions, functions or locations must play their 
part in the Group’s risk management. Employees 
are required to be familiar with risk management 
policies which are relevant to their 
responsibilities, know how to escalate actual or 
potential risk issues, and have a role-appropriate 
level of awareness of the risk management 
process as defined by the ERMF.

Our Code of Conduct – the Barclays Way
Globally, all colleagues must attest to the 
‘Barclays Way’, our Code of Conduct, and comply 
with all frameworks, policies and standards 
applicable to their roles. The Code of Conduct 
outlines the Purpose and Values which govern 
our ‘Barclays Way’ of working across our 
business globally. It constitutes a reference point 
covering the aspects of colleagues’ working 
relationships, with other Barclays employees, 
customers and clients, governments and 
regulators, business partners, suppliers, 
competitors and the broader community. 

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Risk review 
Material existing and emerging risks

Material existing and 
emerging risks to the 
Group’s future performance
The Group has identified a broad range of risks 
to which its businesses are exposed. Material 
risks are those to which senior management 
pay particular attention and which could cause 
the delivery of the Group’s strategy, results 
of operations, financial condition and/or 
prospects to differ materially from expectations. 
Emerging risks are those which have unknown 
components, the impact of which could 
crystallise over a longer time period. In addition, 
certain other factors beyond the Group’s 
control, including escalation of terrorism or 
global conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics 
and similar events, although not detailed below, 
could have a similar impact on the Group. 

Material existing and 
emerging risks potentially 
impacting more than 
one principal risk
i) Risks relating to the impact 
of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and 
continues to have, a material impact on 
businesses around the world and the economic 
environments in which they operate. There are a 
number of factors associated with the pandemic 
and its impact on global economies that could 
have a material adverse effect on (among other 
things) the profitability, capital and liquidity of 
financial institutions such as Barclays.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption 
to the Group’s customers, suppliers and staff 
globally. Most jurisdictions in which the Group 
operates have implemented severe restrictions 
on the movement of their respective 
populations, with a resultant significant impact 
on economic activity in those jurisdictions. 
These restrictions are being determined by the 
governments of individual jurisdictions (including 
through the implementation of emergency 
powers) and impacts (including the timing of 
implementation and any subsequent lifting or 
extension of restrictions) may vary from 
jurisdiction to jurisdiction and/or within 
jurisdictions. It remains unclear how the 
COVID-19 pandemic will evolve through 2021 
(including whether there will be further waves of 
the COVID-19 pandemic, whether COVID-19 
vaccines approved for use by regulatory 
authorities will be deployed successfully with 
desired results, whether further new strains of 
COVID-19 will emerge and whether, and in what 
manner, additional restrictions will be imposed 
and/or existing restrictions extended) and the 
Group continues to monitor the situation closely. 

However, despite the COVID-19 contingency 
plans established by the Group, the ability to 
conduct business may be adversely affected 
by disruptions to infrastructure, business 
processes and technology services, resulting 
from the unavailability of staff due to illness 
or the failure of third parties to supply services. 
This may cause significant customer detriment, 
costs to reimburse losses incurred by the 
Group’s customers, potential litigation costs 
(including regulatory fines, penalties and other 
sanctions), and reputational damage. 

In many of the jurisdictions in which the Group 
operates, schemes have been initiated by central 
banks, national governments and regulators 
to provide financial support to parts of the 
economy most impacted by the COVID-19 
pandemic. These schemes have been designed 
and implemented at pace, meaning lenders 
(including Barclays) continue to address 
operational issues which have arisen in 
connection with the implementation of the 
schemes, including resolving the interaction 
between the schemes and existing law and 
regulation. In addition, the full extent of how 
these schemes will impact the Group’s 
customers and therefore the impact on the 
Group remains uncertain at this stage. However, 
certain actions (such as the introduction of 
payment holidays for various consumer lending 
products or the cancellation or waiver of fees 
associated with certain products) may negatively 
impact the effective interest rate earned on the 
Group’s portfolios and may reduce fee income 
being earned on certain products and negatively 
impact the Group’s profitability. Furthermore, 
the introduction of, and participation in, 
central-bank supported loan and other financing 
schemes introduced as a result of the 
COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact 
the Group’s RWAs, level of impairment and, 
in turn, capital position (particularly when any 
transitional relief applied to the calculation of 
RWAs and impairment expires). This may be 
exacerbated if the Group is required by any 
government or regulator to offer forbearance 
or additional financial relief to borrowers or if the 
Group is unable to rely on guarantees provided 
by governments in connection with financial 
support schemes as a result of the Group’s 
failure to comply with scheme requirements 
or otherwise.

As these schemes and other financial support 
schemes provided by national governments 
(such as job retention and furlough schemes) 
expire, are withdrawn or are no longer 
supported, economic growth may be negatively 
impacted which may impact the Group’s results 
of operations and profitability. In addition, the 
Group may experience a higher volume of 
defaults and delinquencies in certain portfolios 
and may initiate collection and enforcement 
actions to recover defaulted debts. Where 
defaulting borrowers are harmed by the Group’s 
conduct, this may give rise to civil legal 
proceedings, including class actions, regulatory 
censure, potentially significant fines and other 
sanctions, and reputational damage. Other legal 
disputes may also arise between the Group and 
defaulting borrowers relating to matters such 
as breaches or enforcement of legal rights or 
obligations arising under loan and other credit 
agreements. Adverse findings in any such 
matters may result in the Group’s rights not 
being enforced as intended. For further details, 
refer to ‘viii) Legal risk and legal, competition 
and regulatory matters’ below.

The actions taken by various governments and 
central banks, in particular in the United Kingdom 
and the United States, may indicate a view on the 
potential severity of any economic downturn and 
post-recovery environment, which from a 
commercial, regulatory and risk perspective could 
be significantly different to past crises and persist 
for a prolonged period. The COVID-19 pandemic 
has led to a weakening in gross domestic product 
(GDP) in most jurisdictions in which the Group 
operates and an expectation of higher 
unemployment in those same jurisdictions. 
These factors all have a significant impact on the 
modelling of expected credit losses (ECLs) by the 
Group. As a result, the Group experienced higher 
ECLs in 2020 compared to prior periods and this 
trend may continue in 2021. The economic 
environment remains uncertain and future 
impairment charges may be subject to further 
volatility (including from changes to 
macroeconomic variable forecasts) depending 
on the longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic and 
related containment measures and the efficacy 
of any COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the longer 
term effectiveness of central bank, government 
and other support measures. For further details 
on macroeconomic variables used in the 
calculation of ECLs, refer to the credit risk 
performance section. In addition, ECLs may be 
adversely impacted by increased levels of default 
for single name exposures in certain sectors 
directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic 
(such as the oil and gas, retail, airline, and 
hospitality and leisure sectors). 

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Risk review 
Material existing and emerging risks continued

Furthermore, the Group relies on models to 
support a broad range of business and risk 
management activities, including informing 
business decisions and strategies, measuring 
and limiting risk, valuing exposures (including the 
calculation of impairment), conducting stress 
testing and assessing capital adequacy. Models 
are, by their nature, imperfect and incomplete 
representations of reality because they rely on 
assumptions and inputs, and so they may be 
subject to errors affecting the accuracy of 
their outputs and/or misused. This may be 
exacerbated when dealing with unprecedented 
scenarios, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, 
due to the lack of reliable historical reference 
points and data. For further details on model risk, 
refer to ‘v) Model risk’ below. 

The disruption to economic activity globally 
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could 
adversely impact the Group’s other assets such 
as goodwill and intangibles, and the value of 
Barclays PLC’s investments in subsidiaries. 
It could also impact the Group’s income due 
to lower lending and transaction volumes due 
to volatility or weakness in the capital markets. 
Other potential risks include credit rating 
migration which could negatively impact the 
Group’s RWAs and capital position, and potential 
liquidity stress due to (among other things) 
increased customer drawdowns, notwithstanding 
the significant initiatives that governments and 
central banks have put in place to support funding 
and liquidity. Furthermore, a significant increase 
in the utilisation of credit cards by Barclaycard 
customers could have a negative impact on 
the Group’s RWAs and capital position. 

Furthermore, in order to support lending activity 
to promote economic growth, governments 
and/or regulators may limit management’s 
flexibility in managing its business, require the 
deployment of capital in particular business lines 
or otherwise restrict or limit capital distributions 
and capital allocation. 

Any and all such events mentioned above 
could have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s business, financial condition, results of 
operations, prospects, liquidity, capital position 
and credit ratings (including potential credit 
rating agency changes of outlooks or ratings), 
aswell as on the Group’s customers, employees 
and suppliers.

ii) Business conditions, general 
economy and geopolitical issues
The Group’s operations are subject to 
potentially unfavourable global and local 
economic and market conditions, as well as 
geopolitical developments, which may have a 
material effect on the Group’s business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.

A deterioration in global or local economic and 
market conditions may lead to (among other 
things): (i) deteriorating business, consumer 
or investor confidence and lower levels of fixed 
asset investment and productivity growth, 
which in turn may lead to lower client activity, 
including lower demand for borrowing from 
creditworthy customers; (ii) higher default 
rates, delinquencies, write-offs and impairment 
charges as borrowers struggle with the burden 
of additional debt; (iii) subdued asset prices and 
payment patterns, including the value of any 
collateral held by the Group; (iv) mark-to-market 
losses in trading portfolios resulting from changes 
in factors such as credit ratings, share prices and 
solvency of counterparties; and (v) revisions to 
calculated ECLs leading to increases in 
impairment allowances. In addition, the Group’s 
ability to borrow from other financial institutions 
or raise funding from external investors may be 
affected by deteriorating economic conditions 
and market disruption. 

Geopolitical events may lead to further 
financial instability and affect economic growth. 
In particular:
■■ global GDP growth weakened sharply in the 
first half of 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 
pandemic. Whilst a number of central banks 
and governments implemented financial 
stimulus packages to counter the economic 
impact of the pandemic, recovery has been 
slower than anticipated and concerns remain 
as to whether (a) there will be subsequent 
waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
(b) further financial stimulus will be required 
and/or (c) governments will be required to 
significantly increase taxation to fund these 
commitments. All of these factors could 
adversely affect economic growth, affect 
specific industries or countries or affect the 
Group’s employees and business operations 
in affected countries. See ‘i) Risks relating 
to the impact of COVID-19’ above for 
further details

■■ in the UK, the decision to leave the European 
Union (EU) may give rise to further economic 
and political consequences including for 
investment and market confidence in the UK 
and the remainder of EU. See ‘(iii) The UK’s 
withdrawal from the European Union’ below 
for further details

■■ a significant proportion of the Group’s 
portfolio is located in the US, including 
a major credit card portfolio and a range 
of corporate and investment banking 
exposures. The possibility of significant 
continued changes in US policy in certain 
sectors (including trade, healthcare and 
commodities) may have an impact on the 
Group’s associated portfolios. Stress in 
the US economy, weakening GDP and the 
associated exchange rate fluctuations, 
heightened trade tensions (such as the 
current dispute between the US and China), 
an unexpected rise in unemployment and/or 
an increase in interest rates could lead to 
increased levels of impairment, resulting in 
a negative impact on the Group’s profitability

■■ an escalation in geopolitical tensions or 

increased use of protectionist measures may 
negatively impact the Group’s business in the 
affected regions

■■ in China the pace of credit growth remains a 
concern, given the high level of leverage and 
despite government and regulatory action. 
A stronger than expected slowdown could 
result if authorities fail to appropriately 
manage growth during the transition from 
manufacturing towards services and the 
end of the investment and credit-led boom. 
Deterioration in emerging markets could 
affect the Group if it results in higher 
impairment charges via sovereign or 
counterparty defaults.

iii) The UK’s withdrawal from 
the European Union
There are a number of factors associated with 
the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, which could 
have a material adverse effect on the Group’s 
business, results of operations, financial 
condition and prospects.

Trade and economic activity between 
the EU and UK
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement 
(TCA), which provides a new economic and 
social partnership between the EU and UK 
(including zero tariffs and zero quotas on all 
goods that comply with the appropriate rules 
of origin) came into force provisionally on 
1 January 2021.

The TCA is a new, unprecedented arrangement 
between the EU and the UK, and there is some 
uncertainty as to its operation and the manner 
in which trading arrangements will be enforced 
by both the EU and the UK. 

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Furthermore, the EU and/or the UK can invoke 
trade remedies (such as tariffs and non-tariff 
barriers) against each other in certain 
circumstances under the TCA. Resultant trading 
disruption may have a significant impact on 
economic activity in the EU and the UK which 
(in turn) could have a material adverse effect 
on the Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects. Unstable 
economic conditions could result in (among 
other things): 
■■ a recession in the UK and/or one or more 
member states of the EEA in which it 
operates, with lower growth, higher 
unemployment and falling property prices, 
which could lead to increased impairments 
in relation to a number of the Group’s 
portfolios (including, but not limited to, 
its UK mortgage portfolio, unsecured 
lending portfolio (including credit cards) 
and commercial real estate exposures)
■■ increased market volatility (in particular in 
currencies and interest rates), which could 
impact the Group’s trading book positions 
and affect the underlying value of assets in 
the banking book and securities held by the 
Group for liquidity purposes

■■ a credit rating downgrade for one or more 
members of the Group (either directly or 
indirectly as a result of a downgrade in the 
UK sovereign credit ratings), which could 
significantly increase the Group’s cost of 
and/or reduce its access to funding, widen 
credit spreads and materially adversely affect 
the Group’s interest margins and liquidity 
position and/or

■■ a widening of credit spreads more generally or 
reduced investor appetite for the Group’s debt 
securities, which could negatively impact the 
Group’s cost of and/or access to funding.

Current provision of financial services
The TCA does not cover financial services 
regulation. Accordingly, UK-based entities 
within the Group (such as Barclays Bank PLC 
and Barclays Bank UK PLC) are no longer able 
to rely on the European passporting framework 
for financial services. Barclays Bank PLC and 
Barclays Capital Securities Limited have put 
in place new arrangements in the provision of 
cross-border banking and investment services 
to customers and counterparties in the EEA 
(including by servicing EEA clients through the 
Group’s EEA hub (Barclays Bank Ireland PLC), 
whilst Barclays Bank UK PLC remains focused 
on UK customers. 

The TCA was accompanied by a Joint 
Declaration on Financial Services, requiring 
the parties to agree a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MoU), by March 2021, 
establishing the framework for cooperation in 
financial services. The MoU will also cover how 
to move forward on equivalence determinations 
between the EU and the UK. 

There can be no assurance that the EU and the 
UK will reach further agreement on equivalence 
decisions. As a result, equivalence decisions 
which would enable UK firms to access EEA 
clients on a cross-border basis for certain 
markets product, cannot be relied upon to allow 
UK-based entities within the Group to meet all 
of the needs of customers and clients based in 
the EEA. However, there are certain other types 
of equivalence decisions which are material to 
the operations of the Group. To date, the EU and 
the UK have only agreed a temporary position 
on mutual equivalence in relation to clearing 
and settlement (CCP equivalence). If the current 
mutual, temporary equivalence decision in 
relation to CCP equivalence expires and is not 
replaced, this could have a material adverse 
effect on the Group’s business as well as its 
clients. In addition, HM Treasury has made 
certain unilateral equivalence decisions, 
(including under the Capital Requirements 
Regulation (CRR) and the removal of such 
decisions could have a material impact on the 
operations of the Group. 

The Group provides the majority of its 
cross-border banking and investment services 
to EEA clients via Barclays Bank Ireland PLC. 
Additionally, in certain EEA Member States, 
Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Capital 
Securities Limited (BCSL) have applied for 
and received cross-border licences to enable 
them to continue to conduct a limited range 
of activities, including accessing EEA trading 
venues and interdealer trading. As a result of 
the onshoring of EU legislation in the UK and 
the exercise of the UK regulators’ Temporary 
Transitional Powers, UK-based entities within the 
Group are currently subject to substantially the 
same rules and regulations as prior to the UK’s 
withdrawal from the EU. It is the UK’s intention 
eventually to recast onshored EU legislation as 
part of UK legislation and PRA and FCA rules, 
which could result in changes to regulatory 
requirements in the UK.

If the regulatory regimes for EU and UK financial 
services change further, or if temporary 
permissions and equivalence decisions expire, 
and are not replaced, the provision of cross-
border banking and investment services across 
the Group may become more complex and 
costly which could have a material adverse 
effect on the Group’s business and results 
of operations and could result in the Group 
modifying its legal entity, capital and funding 
structures and business mix, exiting certain 
business activities altogether or not expanding 
in areas despite otherwise attractive potential 
returns. This may also be exacerbated if, Barclays 
Bank Ireland PLC expands further and, as a result 
of its growth and importance to the Group and 
the EEA banking system as a whole, Barclays 
Bank Ireland PLC is made subject to higher 
capital requirements or restrictions are imposed 
by regulators on capital allocation and capital 
distributions by Barclays Bank Ireland PLC.

iv) The impact of interest rate changes 
on the Group’s profitability
Changes to interest rates are significant for the 
Group, especially given the uncertainty as to the 
direction of interest rates and the pace at which 
they may change particularly in the Group’s main 
markets of the UK and the US. 

A continued period of low interest rates and 
flat yield curves, including any further rate cuts 
and/or negative interest rates, may affect and 
continue to put pressure on the Group’s net 
interest margins (the difference between its 
lending income and borrowing costs) and could 
adversely affect the profitability and prospects 
of the Group.

Interest rate rises could positively impact the 
Group’s profitability as retail and corporate 
business income increases due to margin 
decompression. However, further increases 
in interest rates, if larger or more frequent than 
expected, could lead to generally weaker than 
expected growth, reduced business confidence 
and higher unemployment. This, in turn, could 
cause stress in the lending portfolio and 
underwriting activity of the Group with resultant 
higher credit losses driving an increased 
impairment charge which would most notably 
impact retail unsecured portfolios and wholesale 
non-investment grade lending and could have a 
material effect on the Group’s business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.

In addition, changes in interest rates could have 
an adverse impact on the value of the securities 
held in the Group’s liquid asset portfolio. 
Consequently, this could create more volatility 
than expected through the Group’s Fair Value 
through Other Comprehensive Income 
(FVOCI) reserves.

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v) Competition in the banking 
and financial services industry
The Group operates in a highly competitive 
environment (in particular, in the UK and US) in 
which it must evolve and adapt to the significant 
changes as a result of financial regulatory 
reform, technological advances, increased public 
scrutiny and current economic conditions. The 
Group expects that competition in the financial 
services industry will continue to be intense 
and may have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s future business, results of operations 
and prospects. 

New competitors in the financial services 
industry continue to emerge. For example, 
technological advances and the growth of 
ecommerce have made it possible for non-
banks to offer products and services that 
traditionally were banking products. This has 
allowed financial institutions and other 
companies to provide electronic and internet-
based financial solutions, including electronic 
securities trading, payments processing and 
online automated algorithmic-based investment 
advice. Furthermore, both financial institutions 
and their non-banking competitors face the risk 
that payments processing and other services 
could be significantly disrupted by technologies, 
such as cryptocurrencies, that require no 
intermediation. New technologies have required 
and could require the Group to spend more to 
modify or adapt its products or make additional 
capital investments in its businesses to attract 
and retain clients and customers or to match 
products and services offered by its 
competitors, including technology companies. 

Ongoing or increased competition may put 
pressure on the pricing for the Group’s products 
and services, which could reduce the Group’s 
revenues and profitability, or may cause the 
Group to lose market share, particularly with 
respect to traditional banking products such as 
deposits, bank accounts and mortgage lending. 
This competition may be on the basis of quality 
and variety of products and services offered, 
transaction execution, innovation, reputation 
and price. The failure of any of the Group’s 
businesses to meet the expectations of clients 
and customers, whether due to general market 
conditions, under-performance, a decision not 
to offer a particular product or service, changes 
in client and customer expectations or other 
factors, could affect the Group’s ability to attract 
or retain clients and customers. Any such impact 
could, in turn, reduce the Group’s revenues.

vi) Regulatory change agenda 
and impact on business model
The Group remains subject to ongoing 
significant levels of regulatory change and 
scrutiny in many of the countries in which it 
operates (including, in particular, the UK and 
the US). As a result, regulatory risk will remain 
a focus for senior management. Furthermore, 
a more intensive regulatory approach and 
enhanced requirements together with the 
potential lack of international regulatory 
co-ordination as enhanced supervisory 
standards are developed and implemented 
may adversely affect the Group’s business, 
capital and risk management strategies and/or 
may result in the Group deciding to modify its 
legal entity, capital and funding structures 
and business mix, or to exit certain business 
activities altogether or not to expand in areas 
despite otherwise attractive potential.

There are several significant pieces of legislation 
and areas of focus which will require significant 
management attention, cost and resource, 
including:
■■ changes in prudential requirements may 
impact minimum requirements for own 
funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) (including 
requirements for internal MREL), leverage, 
liquidity or funding requirements, applicable 
buffers and/or add-ons to such minimum 
requirements and risk weighted assets 
calculation methodologies all as may be set 
by international, EU or national authorities. 
Such or similar changes to prudential 
requirements or additional supervisory and 
prudential expectations, either individually 
or in aggregate, may result in, among other 
things, a need for further management 
actions to meet the changed requirements, 
such as: 

– 

– 

increasing capital, MREL or liquidity 
resources, reducing leverage and risk 
weighted assets

restricting distributions on capital 
instruments

–  modifying the terms of outstanding 

capital instruments

–  modifying legal entity structure (including 
with regard to issuance and deployment 
of capital, MREL and funding) 

–  changing the Group’s business mix 
or exiting other businesses and/or 

–  undertaking other actions to strengthen 

the Group’s position.

■■ the derivatives market has been the subject 
of particular focus for regulators in recent 
years across the G20 countries and beyond, 
with regulations introduced which require 
the reporting and clearing of standardised 
over the counter (OTC) derivatives and the 
mandatory margining of non-cleared OTC 
derivatives. These regulations may increase 
costs for market participants, as well as 
reduce liquidity in the derivatives markets, 
in particular, if there are areas of overlapping 
or conflicting regulation. More broadly, 
changes to the regulatory framework 
(in particular, the review of the second 
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 
and the implementation of the Benchmarks 
Regulation) could entail significant costs 
for market participants and may have a 
significant impact on certain markets in 
which the Group operates

■■ the Group and certain of its members 

are subject to supervisory stress testing 
exercises in a number of jurisdictions. These 
exercises currently include the programmes 
of the Bank of England, the European 
Banking Authority (EBA), the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal 
Reserve Board (FRB). Failure to meet the 
requirements of regulatory stress tests, or 
the failure by regulators to approve the stress 
test results and capital plans of the Group, 
could result in the Group or certain of its 
members being required to enhance their 
capital position, limit capital distributions 
or position additional capital in specific 
subsidiaries.

For further details on the regulatory 
supervision of, and regulations applicable to, 
the Group, see the Supervision and 
regulation section.

vii) The impact of climate change 
on the Group’s business
The risks associated with climate change are 
subject to rapidly increasing societal, regulatory 
and political focus, both in the UK and 
internationally. Embedding climate risk into the 
Group’s risk framework in line with regulatory 
expectations, and adapting the Group’s 
operations and business strategy to address the 
financial risks resulting from both: (i) the physical 
risk of climate change; and (ii) the risk from the 
transition to a low-carbon economy, could have 
a significant impact on the Group’s business.

Physical risks from climate change arise from a 
number of factors and relate to specific weather 
events and longer-term shifts in the climate. 
The nature and timing of extreme weather 
events are uncertain but they are increasing 
in frequency and their impact on the economy 
is predicted to be more acute in the future. 

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The potential impact on the economy includes, 
but is not limited to, lower GDP growth, higher 
unemployment and significant changes in asset 
prices and profitability of industries. Damage to 
the properties and operations of borrowers 
could impair asset values and the 
creditworthiness of customers leading to 
increased default rates, delinquencies, write-offs 
and impairment charges in the Group’s 
portfolios. In addition, the Group’s premises 
and resilience may also suffer physical damage 
due to weather events leading to increased 
costs for the Group.

As the economy transitions to a low-carbon 
economy, financial institutions such as the 
Group may face significant and rapid 
developments in stakeholder expectations, 
policy, law and regulation which could impact the 
lending activities the Group undertakes, as well 
as the risks associated with its lending portfolios, 
and the value of the Group’s financial assets. 
As sentiment towards climate change shifts 
and societal preferences change, the Group 
may face greater scrutiny of the type of business 
it conducts, adverse media coverage and 
reputational damage, which may in turn impact 
customer demand for the Group’s products, 
returns on certain business activities and the 
value of certain assets and trading positions 
resulting in impairment charges. 

In addition, the impacts of physical and 
transition climate risks can lead to second 
order connected risks, which have the potential 
to affect the Group’s retail and wholesale 
portfolios. The impacts of climate change may 
increase losses for those sectors sensitive to 
the effects of physical and transition risks. 
Any subsequent increase in defaults and rising 
unemployment could create recessionary 
pressures, which may lead to wider deterioration 
in the creditworthiness of the Group’s clients, 
higher ECLs, and increased charge-offs and 
defaults among retail customers.

If the Group does not adequately embed risks 
associated with climate change into its risk 
framework to appropriately measure, manage 
and disclose the various financial and operational 
risks it faces as a result of climate change, or fails 
to adapt its strategy and business model to the 
changing regulatory requirements and market 
expectations on a timely basis, it may have a 
material and adverse impact on the Group’s 
level of business growth, competitiveness, 
profitability, capital requirements, cost of 
funding, and financial condition.

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to climate change, see the climate change 
risk management section.

viii) Impact of benchmark interest 
rate reforms on the Group
For several years, global regulators and central 
banks have been driving international efforts to 
reform key benchmark interest rates and indices, 
such as the London Interbank Offered Rate 
(LIBOR), which are used to determine the 
amounts payable under a wide range of 
transactions and make them more reliable and 
robust. This has resulted in significant changes 
to the methodology and operation of certain 
benchmarks and indices, the adoption of 
alternative ‘risk-free’ reference rates and the 
proposed discontinuation of certain reference 
rates (including LIBOR), with further changes 
anticipated, including UK, EU and US legislative 
proposals to deal with ‘tough legacy’ contracts 
that cannot convert into or cannot add fall-back 
risk-free reference rates. The consequences of 
reform are unpredictable and may have an 
adverse impact on any financial instruments 
linked to, or referencing, any of these benchmark 
interest rates.

Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential 
changes, the availability and/or suitability of 
alternative ‘risk-free’ reference rates and other 
reforms may adversely affect a broad range of 
transactions (including any securities, loans and 
derivatives which use LIBOR to determine the 
amount of interest payable that are included in 
the Group’s financial assets and liabilities) that 
use these reference rates and indices and 
introduce a number of risks for the Group, 
including, but not limited to:
■■ Conduct risk: in undertaking actions to 

transition away from using certain reference 
rates (such as LIBOR) to new alternative, 
risk-free rates, the Group faces conduct risks. 
These may lead to customer complaints, 
regulatory sanctions or reputational impact 
if the Group is considered to be (among 
other things) (i) undertaking market activities 
that are manipulative or create a false or 
misleading impression, (ii) misusing sensitive 
information or not identifying or 
appropriately managing or mitigating 
conflicts of interest, (iii) providing customers 
with inadequate advice, misleading 
information, unsuitable products or 
unacceptable service, (iv) not taking a 
consistent approach to remediation for 
customers in similar circumstances, 
(v) unduly delaying the communication 
and migration activities in relation to client 
exposure, leaving them insufficient time to 
prepare or (vi) colluding or inappropriately 
sharing information with competitors

■■ Financial risks: the valuation of certain of 

the Group’s financial assets and liabilities may 
change. Moreover, transitioning to alternative 
‘risk-free’ reference rates may impact the 
ability of members of the Group to calculate 
and model amounts receivable by them on 
certain financial assets and determine the 
amounts payable on certain financial liabilities 
(such as debt securities issued by them) 
because currently alternative ‘risk-free’ 
reference rates (such as the Sterling 
Overnight Index Average (SONIA) and the 
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)) 
are look-back rates whereas term rates (such 
as LIBOR) allow borrowers to calculate at the 
start of any interest period exactly how much 
is payable at the end of such interest period. 
This may have a material adverse effect on 
the Group’s cash flows

■■ Pricing risk: changes to existing reference 
rates and indices, discontinuation of any 
reference rate or indices and transition to 
alternative ‘risk-free’ reference rates may 
impact the pricing mechanisms used by 
the Group on certain transactions
■■ Operational risk: changes to existing 

reference rates and indices, discontinuation 
of any reference rate or index and transition 
to alternative ‘risk-free’ reference rates may 
require changes to the Group’s IT systems, 
trade reporting infrastructure, operational 
processes, and controls. In addition, if any 
reference rate or index (such as LIBOR) is no 
longer available to calculate amounts 
payable, the Group may incur additional 
expenses in amending documentation for 
new and existing transactions and/or 
effecting the transition from the original 
reference rate or index to a new reference 
rate or index and

■■ Accounting risk: an inability to apply hedge 
accounting in accordance with IFRS could 
lead to increased volatility in the Group’s 
financial results and performance.

Any of these factors may have a material 
adverse effect on the Group’s business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.

For further details on the impacts of 
benchmark interest rate reforms on the 
Group, see Note 41.

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Material existing and emerging risks continued

The SRR consists of five stabilisation options: 
(i) private sector transfer of all or part of the 
business or shares of the relevant entity, 
(ii) transfer of all or part of the business of the 
relevant entity to a ‘bridge bank’ established 
by the Bank of England, (iii) transfer to an asset 
management vehicle wholly or partly owned by 
HM Treasury or the Bank of England, (iv) the 
cancellation, transfer or dilution of the relevant 
entities’ equity (including Barclays PLC’s ordinary 
share capital) and write-down or conversion of 
the relevant entity’s capital instruments and 
liabilities (the bail-in tool) and (v) temporary 
public ownership (i.e. nationalisation). 

In addition, the relevant UK resolution authority 
may, in certain circumstances, in accordance 
with the Banking Act require the permanent 
write-down or conversion into equity of any 
outstanding Tier 1 capital instruments, Tier 2 
capital instruments and internal MREL prior 
to the exercise of any stabilisation option 
(including the bail-in tool). Any such action could 
result in the dilution of Barclays PLC’s ordinary 
share capital.

Shareholders should assume that, in a resolution 
situation, public financial support will only be 
available to a relevant entity as a last resort after 
the relevant UK resolution authorities have 
assessed and used, to the maximum extent 
practicable, the resolution tools, including the 
bail-in tool (the Bank of England’s preferred 
approach for the resolution of the Group is a 
bail-in strategy with a single point of entry at 
Barclays PLC). The exercise of any of such 
powers under the Banking Act or any suggestion 
of any such exercise could materially adversely 
affect the value of Barclays PLC ordinary shares 
and could lead to shareholders losing some or 
all of their investment.

In addition, any safeguards within the Banking 
Act (such as the ‘no creditor worse off’ principle) 
may not result in compensation to shareholders 
that is equivalent to the full losses incurred by 
them in the resolution and there can be no 
assurance that shareholders would recover 
such compensation promptly.

ix) Holding company structure of 
Barclays PLC and its dependency on 
distributions from its subsidiaries
Barclays PLC is a holding company and its 
principal sources of income are, and are 
expected to continue to be, distributions (in the 
form of dividends and interest payments) from 
operating subsidiaries which also hold the 
principal assets of the Group. As a separate legal 
entity, Barclays PLC relies on such distributions 
in order to be able to meet its obligations as they 
fall due (including its payment obligations with 
respect to its debt securities) and to create 
distributable reserves for payment of dividends 
to ordinary shareholders. 

The ability of Barclays PLC’s subsidiaries to pay 
dividends and interest and Barclays PLC’s ability 
to receive such distributions from its 
investments in its subsidiaries and other entities 
will be subject not only to such subsidiaries’ 
and other entities’ financial performance and 
macroeconomic conditions but also to applicable 
local laws and other restrictions (including 
restrictions imposed by governments and/or 
regulators, such as those imposed as part of the 
UK Government’s response to the COVID-19 
pandemic, which limit management’s flexibility 
in managing the business and taking action 
in relation to capital distributions and capital 
allocation). These laws and restrictions could 
limit the payment of dividends and distributions 
to Barclays PLC by its subsidiaries and any other 
entities in which it holds an investment from 
time to time, which could restrict Barclays PLC’s 
ability to meet its obligations and/or to pay 
dividends to ordinary shareholders.

x) Application of resolution measures 
and stabilisation powers under the 
Banking Act
Under the Banking Act 2009, as amended 
(Banking Act), substantial powers are granted to 
the Bank of England (or, in certain circumstances, 
HM Treasury), in consultation with the PRA, the 
FCA and HM Treasury, as appropriate, as part of 
a special resolution regime (SRR). These powers 
enable the relevant UK resolution authority to 
implement resolution measures and stabilisation 
options with respect to a UK bank or investment 
firm and certain of its affiliates (currently 
including Barclays PLC) (each, a relevant entity) 
in circumstances in which the relevant UK 
resolution authority is satisfied that the 
resolution conditions are met. 

Material existing and 
emerging risks impacting 
individual principal risks
i) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of loss to the Group from the 
failure of clients, customers or counterparties, 
including sovereigns, to fully honour their 
obligations to members of the Group, including 
the whole and timely payment of principal, 
interest, collateral and other receivables.

a) Impairment
The introduction of the impairment 
requirements of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, 
resulted in impairment loss allowances that are 
recognised earlier, on a more forward-looking 
basis and on a broader scope of financial 
instruments, and may continue to have a 
material impact on the Group’s business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Measurement involves complex judgement and 
impairment charges could be volatile, particularly 
under stressed conditions. Unsecured products 
with longer expected lives, such as credit cards, 
are the most impacted. Taking into account the 
transitional regime, the capital treatment on the 
increased reserves has the potential to adversely 
impact the Group’s regulatory capital ratios.

In addition, the move from incurred losses to 
ECLs has the potential to impact the Group’s 
performance under stressed economic 
conditions or regulatory stress tests. 

For more information, refer to Note 1.

b) Specific sectors and concentrations
The Group is subject to risks arising from 
changes in credit quality and recovery rates of 
loans and advances due from borrowers and 
counterparties in any specific portfolio. Any 
deterioration in credit quality could lead to lower 
recoverability and higher impairment in a specific 
sector. The following are areas of uncertainties 
to the Group’s portfolio which could have a 
material impact on performance:
■■ UK retail, hospitality and leisure. Softening 
demand, rising costs and a structural shift to 
online shopping is fuelling pressure on the UK 
High Street and other sectors heavily reliant 
on consumer discretionary spending. 
As these sectors continue to reposition 
themselves, the trend represents a potential 
risk in the Group’s UK corporate portfolio 
from the perspective of its interactions with 
both retailers and their landlords

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■■ consumer affordability has remained a 

■■ Oil & Gas sector. The Group’s corporate 

key area of focus, particularly in unsecured 
lending. Macroeconomic factors, such as 
rising unemployment, that impact a 
customer’s ability to service debt payments 
could lead to increased arrears in both 
unsecured and secured products
■■ UK real estate market. UK property 

represents a significant portion of the overall 
Group retail and corporate credit exposure. 
In 2020, property prices fluctuated 
significantly. In the first half of 2020 the 
Group’s retail exposure experienced a 
suppressed UK real estate market due to 
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
whilst the second half of 2020 saw increased 
activity as financial support schemes and 
a temporary stamp duty cut took effect. 
However, there can be no assurance that the 
recovery in the UK real estate market will 
continue in 2021 especially as the longer 
term macroeconomic effects of the 
COVID-19 pandemic are felt, financial 
support schemes are withdrawn and stamp 
duty cuts are reversed, and growth across 
the UK has slowed, particularly in London and 
the South East where the Group has a high 
exposure. The Group’s corporate exposure is 
vulnerable to the impacts of the ongoing 
COVID-19 stress, with particular weakness in 
retail property as a result of reduced rent 
collections and residential development. The 
Group is at risk of increased impairment from 
a material fall in property prices

■■ leverage finance underwriting. The Group 
takes on sub-investment grade underwriting 
exposure, including single name risk, 
particularly in the US and Europe. The Group 
is exposed to credit events and market 
volatility during the underwriting period. 
Any adverse events during this period may 
potentially result in loss for the Group, or an 
increased capital requirement should there 
be a need to hold the exposure for an 
extended period

■■ Italian mortgage and wholesale exposure. 
The Group is exposed to a decline in the 
Italian economic environment through a 
mortgage portfolio in run-off and positions 
to wholesale customers. The Italian economy 
was severely impacted by the COVID-19 
pandemic in 2020 and recovery has been 
slower than anticipated. Should the Italian 
economy deteriorate further or any recovery 
take longer to materialise, there could be 
a material adverse effect on the Group’s 
results of operations including, but not 
limited to, increased credit losses and higher 
impairment charges

credit exposure includes companies whose 
performance is dependent on the oil and gas 
sector. Weaker demand for energy products, 
in particular as a result of the COVID-19 
pandemic, combined with a sustained period 
of lower energy prices has led to the erosion 
of balance sheet strength, particularly for 
higher cost producers and those businesses 
who supply goods and services to the oil and 
gas sector. Any recovery from the drop in 
demand is likely to remain volatile and energy 
prices could remain subdued at low levels for 
the foreseeable future, below the break-even 
point for some companies. Furthermore, in 
the longer term, costs associated with the 
transition towards renewable sources of 
energy may place great demands on 
companies that the Group has exposure to 
globally. These factors could have a material 
adverse effect on the Group’s business, 
results of operations and financial condition 
through increased impairment charges.

The Group also has large individual exposures 
to single name counterparties, both in its lending 
activities and in its financial services and trading 
activities, including transactions in derivatives 
and transactions with brokers, central clearing 
houses, dealers, other banks, mutual and hedge 
funds and other institutional clients. The default 
of such counterparties could have a significant 
impact on the carrying value of these assets. 
In addition, where such counterparty risk has 
been mitigated by taking collateral, credit risk 
may remain high if the collateral held cannot be 
realised, or has to be liquidated at prices which 
are insufficient to recover the full amount of the 
loan or derivative exposure. Any such defaults 
could have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s results due to, for example, increased 
credit losses and higher impairment charges.

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to credit risk, see the credit risk management 
and credit risk performance sections.

ii) Market risk
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from 
potential adverse change in the value of the 
Group’s assets and liabilities from fluctuation 
in market variables including, but not limited to, 
interest rates, foreign exchange, equity prices, 
commodity prices, credit spreads, implied 
volatilities and asset correlations. 

Economic and financial market uncertainties 
remain elevated, as the path of the COVID-19 
pandemic is inherently difficult to predict. 
Further waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
deployment of COVID-19 vaccines not being 
as successful as desired, intensifying social 
unrest that weighs on market sentiment, and 
deteriorating trade and geopolitical tensions are 
some of the factors that could heighten market 
risks for the Group’s portfolios.

In addition, the Group’s trading business is 
generally exposed to a prolonged period of 
elevated asset price volatility, particularly if it 
negatively affects the depth of marketplace 
liquidity. Such a scenario could impact the 
Group’s ability to execute client trades and may 
also result in lower client flow-driven income 
and/or market-based losses on its existing 
portfolio of market risks. These can include 
having to absorb higher hedging costs from 
rebalancing risks that need to be managed 
dynamically as market levels and their 
associated volatilities change.

It is difficult to predict changes in market 
conditions, and such changes could have a 
material adverse effect on the Group’s business, 
results of operations, financial condition and 
prospects.

For further details on the Group’s approach to 
market risk, see the market risk management 
and market risk performance sections.

iii) Treasury and capital risk
There are three primary types of treasury 
and capital risk faced by the Group:

a) Liquidity risk 
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group is unable 
to meet its contractual or contingent obligations 
or that it does not have the appropriate amount, 
tenor and composition of funding and liquidity to 
support its assets. This could cause the Group 
to fail to meet regulatory liquidity standards or 
be unable to support day-to-day banking 
activities. Key liquidity risks that the Group faces 
include:
■■ the stability of the Group’s current funding 
profile: in particular, that part which is based 
on accounts and deposits payable on 
demand or at short notice, could be affected 
by the Group failing to preserve the current 
level of customer and investor confidence. 
The Group also regularly accesses the 
money and capital markets to provide 
short-term and long-term funding to 
support its operations. Several factors, 
including adverse macroeconomic 
conditions, adverse outcomes in conduct 
and legal, competition and regulatory 
matters and loss of confidence by investors, 
counterparties and/or customers in the 
Group, can affect the ability of the Group to 
access the capital markets and/or the cost 
and other terms upon which the Group is 
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Material existing and emerging risks continued

■■ credit rating changes and the impact on 
funding costs: rating agencies regularly 
review credit ratings given to Barclays PLC 
and certain members of the Group. Credit 
ratings are based on a number of factors, 
including some which are not within the 
Group’s control (such as political and 
regulatory developments, changes in rating 
methodologies, macroeconomic conditions 
and the sovereign credit ratings of the 
countries in which the Group operates).

Whilst the impact of a credit rating change will 
depend on a number of factors (including the 
type of issuance and prevailing market 
conditions), any reductions in a credit rating (in 
particular, any downgrade below investment 
grade) may affect the Group’s access to the 
money or capital markets and/or terms on which 
the Group is able to obtain market funding, 
increase costs of funding and credit spreads, 
reduce the size of the Group’s deposit base, 
trigger additional collateral or other 
requirements in derivative contracts and other 
secured funding arrangements or limit the range 
of counterparties who are willing to enter into 
transactions with the Group. Any of these 
factors could have a material adverse effect on 
the Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects.

b) Capital risk 
Capital risk is the risk that the Group has an 
insufficient level or composition of capital to 
support its normal business activities and to 
meet its regulatory capital requirements under 
normal operating environments or stressed 
conditions (both actual and as defined for 
internal planning or regulatory stress testing 
purposes). This includes the risk from the 
Group’s pension plans. Key capital risks that the 
Group faces include:
■■ failure to meet prudential capital 

requirements: this could lead to the Group 
being unable to support some or all of its 
business activities, a failure to pass 
regulatory stress tests, increased cost of 
funding due to deterioration in investor 
appetite or credit ratings, restrictions on 
distributions including the ability to meet 
dividend targets, and/or the need to take 
additional measures to strengthen the 
Group’s capital or leverage position

■■ adverse changes in FX rates impacting 
capital ratios: the Group has capital 
resources, risk weighted assets and leverage 
exposures denominated in foreign 
currencies. Changes in foreign currency 
exchange rates may adversely impact the 
Sterling equivalent value of these items. As a 
result, the Group’s regulatory capital ratios 
are sensitive to foreign currency movements. 
Failure to appropriately manage the Group’s 
balance sheet to take account of foreign 
currency movements could result in an 
adverse impact on the Group’s regulatory 
capital and leverage ratios

■■ adverse movements in the pension fund: 
adverse movements in pension assets and 
liabilities for defined benefit pension 
schemes could result in deficits on a funding 
and/or accounting basis. This could lead to 
the Group making substantial additional 
contributions to its pension plans and/or a 
deterioration in its capital position. Under IAS 
19, the liabilities discount rate is derived from 
the yields of high quality corporate bonds. 
Therefore, the valuation of the Group’s 
defined benefits schemes would be 
adversely affected by a prolonged fall in the 
discount rate due to a persistent low interest 
rate and/or credit spread environment. 
Inflation is another significant risk driver to 
the pension fund as the liabilities are 
adversely impacted by an increase in 
long-term inflation expectations.

c) Interest rate risk in the banking book 
Interest rate risk in the banking book is the risk 
that the Group is exposed to capital or income 
volatility because of a mismatch between the 
interest rate exposures of its (non-traded) 
assets and liabilities. The Group’s hedge 
programmes for interest rate risk in the banking 
book rely on behavioural assumptions and, as a 
result, the success of the hedging strategy 
cannot be guaranteed. A potential mismatch in 
the balance or duration of the hedge 
assumptions could lead to earnings 
deterioration. A decline in interest rates in G3 
currencies may also compress net interest 
margin on retail portfolios. In addition, the 
Group’s liquid asset portfolio is exposed to 
potential capital and/or income volatility due to 
movements in market rates and prices. 

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to treasury and capital risk, see the treasury 
and capital risk management and treasury 
and capital risk performance sections.

iv) Operational risk
Operational risk is the risk of loss to the Group 
from inadequate or failed processes or systems, 
human factors or due to external events where 
the root cause is not due to credit or market 
risks. Examples include: 

a) Operational resilience
The Group functions in a highly competitive 
market, with market participants that expect 
consistent and smooth business processes. 
The loss of or disruption to business processing 
is a material inherent risk within the Group and 
across the financial services industry, whether 
arising through impacts on the Group’s 
technology systems, real estate services 
including its retail branch network, or availability 
of personnel or services supplied by third parties. 
Failure to build resilience and recovery capabilities 
into business processes or into the services of 
technology, real estate or suppliers on which the 
Group’s business processes depend, may result 
in significant customer detriment, costs to 
reimburse losses incurred by the Group’s 
customers, and reputational damage.

b) Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks continue to be a global threat that is 
inherent across all industries, with a spike in both 
number and severity of attacks observed recently. 
The financial sector remains a primary target for 
cybercriminals, hostile nation states, opportunists 
and hacktivists. The Group, like other financial 
institutions, experiences numerous attempts to 
compromise its cybersecurity. 

The Group dedicates significant resources to 
reducing cybersecurity risks, but it cannot 
provide absolute security against cyberattacks. 
Malicious actors are increasingly sophisticated 
in their methods, seeking to steal money, gain 
unauthorised access to, destroy or manipulate 
data, and disrupt operations, and some of their 
attacks may not be recognised until launched, 
such as zero-day attacks that are launched 
before patches and defences can be readied. 
Cyberattacks can originate from a wide variety 
of sources and target the Group in numerous 
ways, including attacks on networks, systems, 
or devices used by the Group or parties such 
as service providers and other suppliers, 
counterparties, employees, contractors, 
customers or clients, presenting the Group 
with a vast and complex defence perimeter. 
Moreover, the Group does not have direct 
control over the cybersecurity of the systems 
of its clients, customers, counterparties and 
third-party service providers and suppliers, 
limiting the Group’s ability to effectively defend 
against certain threats.

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A failure in the Group’s adherence to its 
cybersecurity policies, procedures or controls, 
employee malfeasance, and human, governance 
or technological error could also compromise 
the Group’s ability to successfully defend against 
cyberattacks. Furthermore, certain legacy 
technologies that are at or approaching 
end-of-life may not be able to be able to 
maintained to acceptable levels of security. The 
Group has experienced cybersecurity incidents 
and near-misses in the past, and it is inevitable 
that additional incidents will occur in the future. 
Cybersecurity risks will continue to increase, due 
to factors such as the increasing demand across 
the industry and customer expectations for 
continued expansion of services delivered over 
the Internet; increasing reliance on Internet-
based products, applications and data storage; 
and changes in ways of working by the Group’s 
employees, contractors, and third party service 
providers and suppliers and their sub-
contractors in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic. Bad actors have taken advantage 
of remote working practices and modified 
customer behaviours during the COVID-19 
pandemic, exploiting the situation in novel ways 
that may elude defences.

Common types of cyberattacks include 
deployment of malware, including destructive 
ransomware; denial of service and distributed 
denial of service (DDoS) attacks; infiltration via 
business email compromise, including phishing, 
or via social engineering, including vishing and 
smishing; automated attacks using botnets; 
and credential validation or stuffing attacks using 
login and password pairs from unrelated 
breaches. A successful cyberattack of any type 
has the potential to cause serious harm to the 
Group or its clients and customers, including 
exposure to potential contractual liability, 
litigation, regulatory or other government action, 
loss of existing or potential customers, damage 
to the Group’s brand and reputation, and other 
financial loss. The impact of a successful 
cyberattack also is likely to include operational 
consequences (such as unavailability of services, 
networks, systems, devices or data) remediation 
of which could come at significant cost. 

Regulators worldwide continue to recognise 
cybersecurity as an increasing systemic risk 
to the financial sector and have highlighted the 
need for financial institutions to improve their 
monitoring and control of, and resilience to 
cyberattacks. A successful cyberattack may, 
therefore, result in significant regulatory fines 
on the Group.

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to cyberattacks, see the operational risk 
performance section.

c) New and emergent technology
Technology is fundamental to the Group’s 
business and the financial services industry. 
Technological advancements present 
opportunities to develop new and innovative 
ways of doing business across the Group, with 
new solutions being developed both in-house 
and in association with third party companies. 
For example, payment services and securities, 
futures and options trading are increasingly 
occurring electronically, both on the Group’s 
own systems and through other alternative 
systems, and becoming automated. Whilst 
increased use of electronic payment and trading 
systems and direct electronic access to trading 
markets could significantly reduce the Group’s 
cost base, it may, conversely, reduce the 
commissions, fees and margins made by the 
Group on these transactions which could have a 
material adverse effect on the Group’s business, 
results of operations, financial condition 
and prospects.

Introducing new forms of technology, however, 
has the potential to increase inherent risk. Failure 
to evaluate, actively manage and closely monitor 
risk exposure during all phases of business 
development could introduce new vulnerabilities 
and security flaws and have a material adverse 
effect on the Group’s business, results of 
operations, financial condition and prospects.

d) External fraud 
The nature of fraud is wide-ranging and 
continues to evolve, as criminals continually seek 
opportunities to target the Group’s business 
activities and exploit changes to customer 
behaviour and product and channel use (such as 
the increased use of digital products and 
enhanced online services) or exploit new 
products (such as loans provided under the UK 
Government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme and 
the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan 
Scheme, which have been designed to support 
customers and clients during the COVID-19 
pandemic). Fraud attacks can be very 
sophisticated and are often orchestrated by 
highly organised crime groups who use ever 
more sophisticated techniques to target 
customers and clients directly to obtain 
confidential or personal information that can be 
used to commit fraud. The UK market has also 
seen significant growth in ‘scams’ where the 
Group takes increased levels of liability as part 
of a voluntary code to provide additional 
safeguards to customers and clients who are 
tricked into making payments to fraudsters. 
The impact from fraud can lead to customer 
detriment, financial losses (including the 
reimbursement of losses incurred by 
customers), loss of business, missed business 
opportunities and reputational damage, all of 
which could have a material adverse impact on 
the Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects.

e) Data management and 
information protection 
The Group holds and processes large volumes 
of data, including personally identifiable 
information, intellectual property, and financial 
data and the Group’s businesses are subject 
to complex and evolving laws and regulations 
governing the privacy and protection of personal 
information of individuals, including Regulation 
(EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection 
Regulation (GDPR)). The protected parties can 
include: (i) the Group’s clients and customers, 
and prospective clients and customers; 
(ii) clients and customers of the Group’s clients 
and customers; (iii) employees and prospective 
employees; and (iv) employees of the Group’s 
suppliers, counterparties and other 
external parties. 

The international nature of both the Group’s 
business and its IT infrastructure also means 
that personal information may be available in 
countries other than those from where it 
originated. Accordingly, the Group needs to 
ensure that its collection, use, transfer and 
storage of personal information complies with 
all applicable laws and regulations in all relevant 
jurisdictions, which could: (i) increase the Group’s 
compliance and operating costs; (ii) impact the 
development of new products or services, 
impact the offering of existing products or 
services, or affect how products and services 
are offered to clients and customers; (iii) 
demand significant oversight by the Group’s 
management; and (iv) require the Group to 
review some elements of the structure of its 
businesses, operations and systems in less 
efficient ways. 

Concerns regarding the effectiveness of the 
Group’s measures to safeguard personal 
information, or even the perception that those 
measures are inadequate, could expose the 
Group to the risk of loss or unavailability of data 
or data integrity issues and/or cause the Group 
to lose existing or potential clients and 
customers, and thereby reduce the Group’s 
revenues. Furthermore, any failure or perceived 
failure by the Group to comply with applicable 
privacy or data protection laws and regulations 
may subject it to potential contractual liability, 
litigation, regulatory or other government action 
(including significant regulatory fines) and 
require changes to certain operations or 
practices which could also inhibit the Group’s 
development or marketing of certain products 
or services, or increase the costs of offering 
them to customers. Any of these events could 
damage the Group’s reputation and otherwise 
materially adversely affect its business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.

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Risk review 
Material existing and emerging risks continued

f ) Algorithmic trading
In some areas of the investment banking 
business, trading algorithms are used to 
price and risk manage client and principal 
transactions. An algorithmic error could result in 
erroneous or duplicated transactions, a system 
outage, or impact the Group’s pricing abilities, 
which could have a material adverse effect on 
the Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects and 
reputation. 

g) Processing error
The Group’s businesses are highly dependent 
on its ability to process and monitor, on a daily 
basis, a very large number of transactions, many 
of which are highly complex and occur at high 
volumes and frequencies, across numerous 
and diverse markets in many currencies. As the 
Group’s customer base and geographical reach 
expand and the volume, speed, frequency and 
complexity of transactions, especially electronic 
transactions (as well as the requirements to 
report such transactions on a real-time basis 
to clients, regulators and exchanges) increase, 
developing, maintaining and upgrading 
operational systems and infrastructure 
becomes more challenging, and the risk of 
systems or human error in connection with such 
transactions increases, as well as the potential 
consequences of such errors due to the speed 
and volume of transactions involved and the 
potential difficulty associated with discovering 
errors quickly enough to limit the resulting 
consequences. Furthermore, events that are 
wholly or partially beyond the Group’s control, 
such as a spike in transaction volume, could 
adversely affect the Group’s ability to process 
transactions or provide banking and payment 
services.

Processing errors could result in the Group, 
among other things, (i) failing to provide 
information, services and liquidity to clients and 
counterparties in a timely manner; (ii) failing to 
settle and/or confirm transactions; (iii) causing 
funds transfers, capital markets trades and/or 
other transactions to be executed erroneously, 
illegally or with unintended consequences; and 
(iv) adversely affecting financial, trading or 
currency markets. Any of these events could 
materially disadvantage the Group’s customers, 
clients and counterparties (including them 
suffering financial loss) and/or result in a loss of 
confidence in the Group which, in turn, could 
have a material adverse effect on the Group’s 
business, results of operations, financial 
condition and prospects.

h) Supplier exposure
The Group depends on suppliers for the 
provision of many of its services and the 
development of technology. Whilst the Group 
depends on suppliers, it remains fully 
accountable for any risk arising from the actions 
of suppliers. The dependency on suppliers and 
sub-contracting of outsourced services 
introduces concentration risk where the failure 
of specific suppliers could have an impact on the 
Group’s ability to continue to provide material 
services to its customers. Failure to adequately 
manage supplier risk could have a material 
adverse effect on the Group’s business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.

i) Estimates and judgements relating 
to critical accounting policies and 
capital disclosures
The preparation of financial statements requires 
the application of accounting policies and 
judgements to be made in accordance with IFRS. 
Regulatory returns and capital disclosures are 
prepared in accordance with the relevant capital 
reporting requirements and also require 
assumptions and estimates to be made. The key 
areas involving a higher degree of judgement or 
complexity, or areas where assumptions are 
significant to the consolidated and individual 
financial statements, include credit impairment 
charges, taxes, fair value of financial instruments, 
goodwill and intangible assets, pensions and 
post-retirement benefits, and provisions including 
conduct and legal, competition and regulatory 
matters (see the notes to the audited financial 
statements for further details). There is a risk that 
if the judgement exercised, or the estimates or 
assumptions used, subsequently turn out to be 
incorrect, this could result in material losses to the 
Group, beyond what was anticipated or provided 
for. Further development of accounting standards 
and capital interpretations could also materially 
impact the Group’s results of operations, financial 
condition and prospects.

j) Tax risk
The Group is required to comply with the 
domestic and international tax laws and 
practice of all countries in which it has business 
operations. There is a risk that the Group could 
suffer losses due to additional tax charges, 
other financial costs or reputational damage as 
a result of failing to comply with such laws and 
practice, or by failing to manage its tax affairs in 
an appropriate manner, with much of this risk 
attributable to the international structure of the 
Group. In addition, increasing reporting and 
disclosure requirements around the world and 
the digitisation of the administration of tax has 
potential to increase the Group’s tax compliance 
obligations further.

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k) Ability to hire and retain appropriately 
qualified employees
As a regulated financial institution, the Group 
requires diversified and specialist skilled 
colleagues. The Group’s ability to attract, 
develop and retain a diverse mix of talent is key 
to the delivery of its core business activity and 
strategy. This is impacted by a range of external 
and internal factors, such as the UK’s decision 
to leave the EU and the enhanced individual 
accountability applicable to the banking industry. 
Failure to attract or prevent the departure of 
appropriately qualified and skilled employees 
could have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s business, results of operations, financial 
condition and prospects. Additionally, this may 
result in disruption to service which could in turn 
lead to disenfranchising certain customer 
groups, customer detriment and reputational 
damage.

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to operational risk, see the operational risk 
management and operational risk 
performance sections.

v) Model risk
Model risk is the risk of potential adverse 
consequences from financial assessments or 
decisions based on incorrect or misused model 
outputs and reports. The Group relies on 
models to support a broad range of business 
and risk management activities, including 
informing business decisions and strategies, 
measuring and limiting risk, valuing exposures 
(including the calculation of impairment), 
conducting stress testing, assessing capital 
adequacy, supporting new business acceptance 
and risk and reward evaluation, managing client 
assets, and meeting reporting requirements.

Models are, by their nature, imperfect and 
incomplete representations of reality because 
they rely on assumptions and inputs, and so they 
may be subject to errors affecting the accuracy 
of their outputs and/or misused. This may be 
exacerbated when dealing with unprecedented 
scenarios, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, due 
to the lack of reliable historical reference points 
and data. For instance, the quality of the data 
used in models across the Group has a material 
impact on the accuracy and completeness of its 
risk and financial metrics. Model errors or misuse 
may result in (among other things) the Group 
making inappropriate business decisions and/or 
inaccuracies or errors being identified in the 
Group’s risk management and regulatory 
reporting processes. This could result in 
significant financial loss, imposition of additional 
capital requirements, enhanced regulatory 
supervision and reputational damage, all of 
which could have a material adverse effect on 
the Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects.

For further details on the Group’s approach to 
model risk, see the model risk management 
and model risk performance sections.

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vi) Conduct risk
Conduct risk is the risk of detriment to 
customers, clients, market integrity, effective 
competition or the Group from the inappropriate 
supply of financial services, including instances 
of wilful or negligent misconduct. This risk could 
manifest itself in a variety of ways:

a) Employee misconduct
The Group’s businesses are exposed to risk from 
potential non-compliance with its policies and 
standards and instances of wilful and negligent 
misconduct by employees, all of which could 
result in potential customer and client 
detriment, enforcement action (including 
regulatory fines and/or sanctions), increased 
operation and compliance costs, redress or 
remediation or reputational damage which in 
turn could have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s business, results of operations, financial 
condition and prospects. Examples of employee 
misconduct which could have a material adverse 
effect on the Group’s business include 
(i) employees improperly selling or marketing the 
Group’s products and services; (ii) employees 
engaging in insider trading, market manipulation 
or unauthorised trading; or (iii) employees 
misappropriating confidential or proprietary 
information belonging to the Group, its 
customers or third parties. These risks may 
be exacerbated in circumstances where the 
Group is unable to rely on physical oversight and 
supervision of employees (such as during the 
COVID-19 pandemic where employees have 
worked remotely).

b) Customer engagement 
The Group must ensure that its customers, 
particularly those that are vulnerable, are able 
to make well-informed decisions on how best 
to use the Group’s financial services and 
understand that they are appropriately 
protected if something goes wrong. Poor 
customer outcomes can result from the failure 
to: (i) communicate fairly and clearly with 
customers; (ii) provide services in a timely and 
fair manner; and (iii) undertake appropriate 
activity to address customer detriment, 
including the adherence to regulatory and legal 
requirements on complaint handling. The Group 
is at risk of financial loss and reputational 
damage as a result.

c) Product design and review risk
Products and services must meet the needs 
of clients, customers, markets and the Group 
throughout their life cycle, However, there is a 
risk that the design and review of the Group’s 
products and services fail to reasonably consider 
and address potential or actual negative 
outcomes, which may result in customer 
detriment, enforcement action (including 
regulatory fines and/or sanctions), redress and 
remediation and reputational damage. Both the 
design and review of products and services are 
a key area of focus for regulators and the Group, 
and this focus is set to continue in 2021.

d) Financial crime
The Group may be adversely affected if it fails to 
effectively mitigate the risk that third parties or 
its employees facilitate, or that its products and 
services are used to facilitate, financial crime 
(money laundering, terrorist financing, breaches 
of economic and financial sanctions, bribery and 
corruption, and the facilitation of tax evasion). 
UK and US regulations covering financial 
institutions continue to focus on combating 
financial crime. Failure to comply may lead to 
enforcement action by the Group’s regulators, 
including severe penalties, which may have a 
material adverse effect on the Group’s business, 
financial condition and prospects.

e) Regulatory focus on culture and 
accountability
Regulators around the world continue to 
emphasise the importance of culture and 
personal accountability and enforce the 
adoption of adequate internal reporting and 
whistleblowing procedures to help to promote 
appropriate conduct and drive positive 
outcomes for customers, colleagues, clients and 
markets. The requirements and expectations of 
the UK Senior Managers Regime, Certification 
Regime and Conduct Rules have reinforced 
additional accountabilities for individuals across 
the Group with an increased focus on 
governance and rigour. Failure to meet these 
requirements and expectations may lead to 
regulatory sanctions, both for the individuals 
and the Group.

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to conduct risk, see the conduct  
risk management and conduct risk 
performance sections.

vii) Reputation risk
Reputation risk is the risk that an action, 
transaction, investment, event, decision or 
business relationship will reduce trust in the 
Group’s integrity and/or competence. 

Any material lapse in standards of integrity, 
compliance, customer service or operating 
efficiency may represent a potential reputation 
risk. Stakeholder expectations constantly evolve, 
and so reputation risk is dynamic and varies 
between geographical regions, groups and 
individuals. A risk arising in one business area can 
have an adverse effect upon the Group’s overall 
reputation and any one transaction, investment 
or event (in the perception of key stakeholders) 
can reduce trust in the Group’s integrity and 
competence. The Group’s association with 
sensitive topics and sectors has been, and in 
some instances continues to be, an area of 
concern for stakeholders, including (i) the 
financing of, and investments in, businesses 
which operate in sectors that are sensitive 
because of their relative carbon intensity or local 
environmental impact; (ii) potential association 
with human rights violations (including 
combating modern slavery) in the Group’s 
operations or supply chain and by clients and 
customers; and (iii) the financing of businesses 
which manufacture and export military and riot 
control goods and services.

Reputation risk could also arise from negative 
public opinion about the actual, or perceived, 
manner in which the Group conducts its 
business activities, or the Group’s financial 
performance, as well as actual or perceived 
practices in banking and the financial services 
industry generally. Modern technologies, in 
particular, online social media channels and 
other broadcast tools that facilitate 
communication with large audiences in short 
time frames and with minimal costs, may 
significantly enhance and accelerate the 
distribution and effect of damaging information 
and allegations. Negative public opinion may 
adversely affect the Group’s ability to retain and 
attract customers, in particular, corporate and 
retail depositors, and to retain and motivate 
staff, and could have a material adverse effect on 
the Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects.

In addition to the above, reputation risk has the 
potential to arise from operational issues or 
conduct matters which cause detriment to 
customers, clients, market integrity, effective 
competition or the Group (see ‘iv) Operational 
risk’ above). 

For further details on the Group’s approach 
to reputation risk, see the reputation 
risk management and reputation risk 
performance sections.

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Material existing and emerging risks continued

The outcome of legal, competition and regulatory 
matters, both those to which the Group is 
currently exposed and any others which may arise 
in the future, is difficult to predict. In connection 
with such matters, the Group may incur 
significant expense, regardless of the ultimate 
outcome, and any such matters could expose 
the Group to any of the following outcomes: 
substantial monetary damages, settlements  
and/or fines; remediation of affected customers 
and clients; other penalties and injunctive relief; 
additional litigation; criminal prosecution; the 
loss of any existing agreed protection from 
prosecution; regulatory restrictions on the 
Group’s business operations including the 
withdrawal of authorisations; increased regulatory 
compliance requirements or changes to laws or 
regulations; suspension of operations; public 
reprimands; loss of significant assets or business; 
a negative effect on the Group’s reputation; loss 
of confidence by investors, counterparties, clients 
and/or customers; risk of credit rating agency 
downgrades; potential negative impact on the 
availability and/or cost of funding and liquidity; 
and/or dismissal or resignation of key individuals. 
In light of the uncertainties involved in legal, 
competition and regulatory matters, there can 
be no assurance that the outcome of a particular 
matter or matters (including formerly active 
matters or those arising after the date of this 
Annual Report) will not have a material adverse 
effect on the Group’s business, results of 
operations, financial condition and prospects. 

viii) Legal risk and legal, competition 
and regulatory matters
The Group conducts activities in a highly 
regulated global market which exposes it and 
its employees to legal risk arising from (i) the 
multitude of laws and regulations that apply 
to the businesses it operates, which are highly 
dynamic, may vary between jurisdictions, and 
are often unclear in their application to particular 
circumstances especially in new and emerging 
areas; and (ii) the diversified and evolving nature 
of the Group’s businesses and business 
practices. In each case, this exposes the Group 
and its employees to the risk of loss or the 
imposition of penalties, damages or fines from 
the failure of members of the Group to meet 
their respective legal obligations, including legal 
or contractual requirements. Legal risk may arise 
in relation to any number of the material existing 
and emerging risks identified above.

A breach of applicable legislation and/or 
regulations by the Group or its employees 
could result in criminal prosecution, regulatory 
censure, potentially significant fines and other 
sanctions in the jurisdictions in which the Group 
operates. Where clients, customers or other 
third parties are harmed by the Group’s conduct, 
this may also give rise to civil legal proceedings, 
including class actions. Other legal disputes may 
also arise between the Group and third parties 
relating to matters such as breaches or 
enforcement of legal rights or obligations arising 
under contracts, statutes or common law. 
Adverse findings in any such matters may result 
in the Group being liable to third parties or may 
result in the Group’s rights not being enforced 
as intended.

Details of legal, competition and regulatory 
matters to which the Group is currently exposed 
are set out in Note 26. In addition to matters 
specifically described in Note 26, the Group 
is engaged in various other legal proceedings 
which arise in the ordinary course of business. 
The Group is also subject to requests for 
information, investigations and other reviews 
by regulators, governmental and other public 
bodies in connection with business activities 
in which the Group is, or has been, engaged.

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Risk review 
Climate change risk management 

Organisation and structure
On behalf of the Board, the BRC reviews and 
approves the Group’s approach to managing 
the financial and operational risks associated 
with climate change. Reputation risk is the 
responsibility of the Board, which directly 
handles the most material issues facing the 
Group. Broader sustainability matters and 
other reputation risk issues associated with 
climate change are co-ordinated by the 
Sustainability team.

Two new roles were introduced in 2020: 
a Group Head of Public Policy and Corporate 
Responsibility, reporting to the CEO; and a 
Group Head of Climate Risk appointed to 
develop Barclays’ climate risk methodologies 
and manage climate risk in the portfolio. 
Working groups have been established to 
support management of climate risk at Barclays 
International and Barclays Bank UK Group.

Overview
The Group has a long-standing commitment 
to Environmental Risk Management (ERM) and 
its approach, aided by regulatory initiatives, 
has continued to evolve, incorporating climate 
change in recent years as the understanding 
of associated risks has grown. A dedicated 
Sustainability team considers how the Group 
approaches wider sustainability and 
environmental, social and governance (ESG) 
matters, working closely with the ERM function.

In 2020 the bank has implemented a Financial 
and Operational Risks of Climate Change Plan 
built around three main pillars: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

 Embedding climate risk into Enterprise Risk 
Management Framework (ERMF), via the 
Climate Change Financial and Operational 
Risk Policy 

 Developing methodologies and including 
climate in stress testing (see Barclays PLC 
Climate-related financial disclosures 2020, 
Risk management section) 

 Developing a carbon methodology to assess 
risk within high emitting sectors (see Barclays 
PLC Climate-related financial disclosures 
2020, Strategy section). 

For more detail on how climate change risks 
arise and their impact on the Group, refer 
to the ‘material existing and emerging 
risks’ section.

Governance

Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF)

Board Risk Committee

Board

Credit, market, treasury & capital  
and operational risks

Sustainability matters and reputation risk 
associated with climate change

Ownership

Group Chief Risk Officer

Global Head of Public Policy  
and Corporate Responsibility

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Climate change risk management continued

Risk management – Policy
Financial and Operational Risks:
The Group’s ‘Climate Change Financial Risk and Operational Risk Policy’ considers climate change as an overarching risk impacting certain principal risks: 
credit risk, market risk, treasury & capital risk and operational risk. The policy is jointly owned by the relevant Principal Risk Delegates with oversight by 
the BRC. The policy was implemented in 2020, including being embedded across 28 policies and standards.

Each relevant Principal Risk Delegate has developed a methodology and implementation plan for quantifying climate change risk.

Risk

Credit risk

Measurement approach

Credit Risk Materiality Matrix (Climate Lens): assesses the climate change risk of wholesale counterparties 
to which the Group is exposed across risk sectors.

Scenario Analysis: a first generation cash flow model has been developed to analyse how the entities’ business 
performance varies according to climate change. It applies Physical and Transition Risk variables to corporate 
counterparty earning over a scenario horizon.

Flood Risk: the impact of flooding on the BUK Mortgage credit risk is based on house price expectations in 
locations that are at risk of increased flooding in the future due to climate change. These updated house prices 
are then incorporated within existing stress testing and planning models to estimate potential future credit 
losses and capital requirements.

Sovereigns: a risk factor matrix, incorporating Physical, Transitional and Connected risk factors, has been 
developed to assess a sovereign’s ability and capacity to respond to climate-related challenges.

Carbon Emissions Model – BlueTrack™ has been developed to support Barclays’ portfolio transition in line with 
the Paris Climate Agreement.

Market risk

Stress tests are used to assess and aggregate exposures arising from climate related risks. Stress test 
scenarios are applied to a range of assets, reflecting the impact of climate change across sectors, countries 
and regions.

Treasury and capital risk

Exposures within the oversight of the Treasury and Capital Risk function are assessed and informed by analysis 
and stress testing for understanding of how they are impacted by climate change.

Operational risk

The Risks associated with Climate Change are relevant to the following Operational Risk Categories/Themes 
which are managed throughout the Operational Risk Framework: Resilience Risk Theme, which includes 
Barclays supply chain requirements, and Premises Risk. Climate Change has been included in the Strategic Risk 
Assessment to understand exposure on a forward-looking basis across the five-year business planning cycle.

Linking with ESG and Reputation Risk:
The Group has developed an internal standard to reflect its net zero carbon ambition in more detail and together with other climate-related Standards 
(such as the Forestry & Palm Oil Standard), these now determine the approach to climate change and relevant sensitive sectors. These standards sit 
under the management of reputation risk within the ERMF and are enforced through an existing transaction origination, review and approval process.

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Risk review 
Principal risk management 

The responsibilities of the credit risk 
management teams in the businesses, the 
sanctioning team and other shared services 
include: sanctioning new credit agreements 
(principally wholesale); setting strategies for 
approval of transactions (principally retail); 
setting risk appetite; monitoring risk against 
limits and other parameters; maintaining robust 
processes, data gathering, quality, storage 
and reporting methods for effective credit risk 
management; performing effective turnaround 
and workout scenarios for wholesale portfolios 
via dedicated restructuring and recoveries 
teams; maintaining robust collections and 
recovery processes/units for retail portfolios; 
and review and validation of credit risk 
measurement models. The credit risk 
management teams in each legal entity are 
accountable to the relevant Legal Entity CRO, 
who reports to the Group CRO.

For wholesale portfolios, credit risk managers 
are organised in sanctioning teams by 
geography, industry and/or product. In wholesale 
portfolios, credit risk approval is undertaken by 
experienced credit risk professionals operating 
within a clearly defined delegated authority 
framework, with only the most senior credit 
officers assigned the higher levels of delegated 
authority. The largest credit exposures, which 
are outside the Risk Sanctioning Unit or Risk 
Distribution Committee authority, require the 
support of a legal entity Senior Credit Officer. 
For exposures in excess of the legal entity Senior 
Credit Officer’s authority, approval by Group 
Senior Credit Officer/Board Risk Committee is 
also required. The Group Credit Risk Committee, 
attended by legal entity Senior Credit Officers, 
provides a formal mechanism for the Group 
Senior Credit Officer to exercise the highest 
level of credit authority over the most material 
Group single name exposures. 

Credit risk mitigation
The Group employs a range of techniques 
and strategies to actively mitigate credit risks. 
These can broadly be divided into three types:
■■ netting and set-off
■■ collateral
■■ risk transfer.

Netting and set-off
Credit risk exposures can be reduced by applying 
netting and set-off. For derivative transactions, 
the Group’s normal practice is, on a legal entity 
basis, to enter into standard master agreements 
with counterparties (e.g. ISDAs). These master 
agreements typically allow for netting of credit 
risk exposure to a counterparty resulting from 
derivative transactions against the obligations 
to the counterparty in the event of default, 
and so produce a lower net credit exposure. 
These agreements may also reduce settlement 
exposure (e.g. for foreign exchange 
transactions) by allowing payments on the 
same day in the same currency to be set-off 
against one another.

Collateral
The Group has the ability to call on collateral 
in the event of default of the counterparty, 
comprising:
■■ home loans: a fixed charge over residential 
property in the form of houses, flats and 
other dwellings

■■ wholesale lending: a fixed charge over 
commercial property and other physical 
assets, in various forms

■■ other retail lending: includes charges over 
motor vehicles and other physical assets; 
second lien charges over residential 
property; and finance lease receivables
■■ derivatives: the Group also often seeks to 
enter into a margin agreement (e.g. Credit 
Support Annex) with counterparties with 
which the Group has master netting 
agreements in place. These annexes to 
master agreements provide a mechanism 
for further reducing credit risk, whereby 
collateral (margin) is posted on a regular basis 
(typically daily) to collateralise the mark to 
market exposure of a derivative portfolio 
measured on a net basis

■■ reverse repurchase agreements: collateral 
typically comprises highly liquid securities 
which have been legally transferred to the 
Group subject to an agreement to return 
them for a fixed price and

■■ financial guarantees and similar off-

balance sheet commitments: cash collateral 
may be held against these arrangements.

Credit risk management 
(audited)
The risk of loss to the Group from 
the failure of clients, customers or 
counterparties, including sovereigns, 
to fully honour their obligations to the 
Group, including the whole and timely 
payment of principal, interest, collateral 
and other receivables.

Overview
The credit risk that the Group faces arises 
from wholesale and retail loans and advances 
together with the counterparty credit risk arising 
from derivative contracts with clients; trading 
activities, including: debt securities, settlement 
balances with market counterparties, FVOCI 
(Fair Value through Other Comprehensive 
Income) assets and reverse repurchase loans.

Credit risk management objectives are to:
■■ maintain a framework of controls to oversee 

credit risk

■■ identify, assess and measure credit risk 

clearly and accurately across the Group and 
within each separate business, from the level 
of individual facilities up to the total portfolio
■■ control and plan credit risk taking in line with 
external stakeholder expectations and 
avoiding undesirable concentrations
■■ monitor credit risk and adherence to 

agreed controls.

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
The first line of defence has primary 
responsibility for managing credit risk within the 
risk appetite and limits set by the Risk function, 
supported by a defined set of policies, standards 
and controls. In the entities, business risk 
committees (attended by the first line) monitor 
and review the credit risk profile of each 
business unit where the most material issues are 
escalated to the Retail Credit Risk Management 
Committee, Wholesale Credit Risk Management 
Committee and Group Risk Committee.

Wholesale and retail portfolios are managed 
separately to reflect the differing nature of the 
assets; wholesale balances tend to be larger 
and are managed on an individual basis, while 
retail balances are greater in number but lesser 
in value and are, therefore, managed in 
aggregated segments.

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Risk transfer
A range of instruments including guarantees, 
credit insurance, credit derivatives and 
securitisation can be used to transfer credit risk 
from one counterparty to another. These 
mitigate credit risk in two main ways:
■■ if the risk is transferred to a counterparty 

which is more creditworthy than the original 
counterparty, then overall credit risk is 
reduced

■■ where recourse to the first counterparty 

remains, both counterparties must default 
before a loss materialises. This is less likely 
than the default of either counterparty 
individually so credit risk is reduced.

Detailed policies are in place to appropriately 
recognise and record credit risk mitigation. 
For more information, refer to pages 177 to 
179 of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 
(unaudited).

Governance and oversight of ECLs 
under IFRS 9
The Group’s organisational structure and 
internal governance processes oversee the 
estimation of ECL across several areas, 
including: i) setting requirements in policy, 
including key assumptions and the application 
of key judgements; ii) the design and execution 
of models; and iii) review of ECL results.

i) Impairment policy requirements are set and 
reviewed regularly, at a minimum annually, to 
maintain adherence to accounting standards. 
Key judgements inherent in policy, including the 
estimated life of revolving credit facilities and the 
quantitative criteria for assessing the significant 
increase in credit risk (SICR), are separately 
supported by analytical study. In particular, the 
quantitative thresholds used for assessing SICR 
are subject to a number of internal validation 
criteria, particularly in retail portfolios where 
thresholds decrease as the origination PD of 
each facility increases. Key policy requirements 
are also typically aligned to the Group’s credit 
risk management strategy and practices, for 
example, wholesale customers that are risk 
managed on an individual basis are assessed for 
ECL on an individual basis upon entering Stage 3; 
furthermore, key internal risk management 
indicators of high risk are used to set SICR policy, 
for example, retail customers identified as High 
Risk Management Accounts are automatically 
deemed to have met the SICR criteria.

ii) ECL is estimated in line with internal policy 
requirements using models which are validated 
by a qualified independent party to the model 
development area, the Independent Validation 
Unit (IVU), before first use and at a minimum 
annually thereafter. Each model is designated 
an owner who is responsible for:
■■ model maintenance: monitoring of model 
performance including backtesting by 
comparing predicted ECL versus flow into 
stage 3 and coverage ratios; proposing 
material changes for independent IVU 
approval; and recalibrating model parameters 
on more timely data and 

■■ proposing post-model adjustments (PMA) 

to address model weaknesses or to account 
for situations where known or expected 
risk factors and information have not been 
considered in the modelling process. 
Each PMA above an absolute and relative 
threshold is approved by the IVU for a set 
time period (usually a maximum of six 
months) together with a plan for remediation 
where related to a model deficiency. 
The most material PMAs are also approved 
by the CRO.

Models must also assess ECL across a range of 
future economic conditions. These economic 
scenarios are generated via an independent 
model and ultimately set by the Senior Scenario 
Review Committee. Economic scenarios are 
regenerated at a minimum annually, to align with 
the Group’s medium-term planning exercise, 
but also if the external consensus of the UK 
or US economy materially worsen. Each model 
used in the estimation of ECL, including key 
inputs, are governed by a series of internal 
controls, which include the validation of 
completeness and accuracy of data in golden 
source systems, documented data 
transformations and documented lineage of 
data transfers between systems.

iii) The Group Impairment Committee, formed 
of members from both Finance and Risk and 
attended by both the Group Finance Director 
and the Group CRO, is responsible for 
overseeing impairment policy and practice 
across the Group and will approve impairment 
results. Reported results and key messages 
are communicated to the BAC, which has an 
oversight role and provides challenge of key 
assumptions, including the basis of the 
scenarios adopted. Impairment results are then 
factored into management decision making, 
including but not limited to, business planning, 
risk appetite setting and portfolio management.

Market risk management 
(audited)
The risk of loss arising from potential 
adverse changes in the value of the 
Group’s assets and liabilities from 
fluctuation in market variables including, 
but not limited to, interest rates, foreign 
exchange, equity prices, commodity 
prices, credit spreads, implied volatilities 
and asset correlations.

Overview
Market risk arises primarily as a result of client 
facilitation in wholesale markets, involving 
market making activities, risk management 
solutions and execution of syndications. Upon 
execution of a trade with a client, the Group will 
look to hedge against the risk of the trade 
moving in an adverse direction. Mismatches 
between client transactions and hedges result 
in market risk due to changes in asset prices, 
volatility or correlations. 

Organisation, roles and responsibilities 
Market risk in the businesses resides primarily 
in Barclays International and Treasury. These 
businesses have the mandate to assume market 
risk. The front office and Treasury trading desks 
are responsible for managing market risk on a 
day-to-day basis, where they are required to 
understand and adhere to all limits applicable to 
their businesses. The Market Risk team supports 
the trading desks with the day-to-day limit 
management of market risk exposures through 
governance processes which are outlined in 
supporting market risk policies and standards.

Market risk oversight and challenge is provided 
by business committees and Group 
committees, including the Market Risk 
Committee (MRC).

The objectives of market risk management 
are to: 
■■ identify, understand and control market risk 

by robust measurement, limit setting, 
reporting and oversight

■■ facilitate business growth within a controlled 

and transparent risk management 
framework

■■ control market risk in the businesses 
according to the allocated appetite.

To meet the above objectives, a governance 
structure is in place to manage these risks 
consistent with the ERMF. 

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Financial review

Financial statements

The BRC recommends market risk appetite to 
the Board for their approval. The Market Risk 
Principal Risk Lead (PR Lead) is responsible for 
the Market Risk Control Framework and, under 
delegated authority from the Group CRO, 
agrees with the business CROs a limit 
framework within the context of the approved 
market risk appetite.

The MRC reviews and makes recommendations 
concerning the Group-wide market risk profile. 
This includes overseeing the operation of the 
Market Risk Framework and associated 
standards and policies; reviewing market or 
regulatory issues and limits and utilisation. 
The committee is chaired by the PR Lead and 
attendees include the business heads of market 
risk and business aligned market risk managers.

In addition to MRC, the Corporate and 
Investment Bank Risk Committee (‘CIBRC’) is the 
main forum in which market risk exposures are 
discussed and reviewed with senior business 
heads. The Committee is chaired by the CRO 
of Barclays International and meets weekly, 
covering current market events, notable market 
risk exposures, and key risk topics. New business 
initiatives are generally socialised at CIBRC 
before any changes to risk appetite or 
associated limits are considered in other 
governance committees.

The head of each business is accountable for all 
market risks associated with its activities, while 
the head of the market risk team covering each 
business is responsible for implementing the risk 
control framework for market risk.

For more information on market risk 
management, refer to the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 
Report 2020 (unaudited).

Management value at risk (VaR)
VaR is an estimate of the potential loss arising 
from unfavourable market movements if the 
current positions were to be held unchanged 
for one business day. For internal market risk 
management purposes, a historical simulation 
methodology with a two-year equally weighted 
historical period, at the 95% confidence level 
is used for all trading books and some 
banking books.

Limits are applied at the total level as well as by 
risk factor type, which are then cascaded down 
to particular trading desks and businesses by 
the market risk management function.

See the market risk performance section  
for a review of management VaR in 2020.

Treasury and capital risk 
management
This comprises:

Liquidity risk: the risk that the Group 
is unable to meet its contractual or 
contingent obligations or that it does 
not have the appropriate amount, tenor 
and composition of funding and liquidity 
to support its assets.

Capital risk: the risk that the Group has 
an insufficient level or composition of 
capital to support its normal business 
activities and to meet its regulatory 
capital requirements under normal 
operating environments or stressed 
conditions (both actual and as defined 
for internal planning or regulatory 
testing purposes). This also includes 
the risk from the Group’s pension plans.

Interest rate risk in the banking book: 
the risk that the Group is exposed to 
capital or income volatility because of 
a mismatch between the interest rate 
exposures of its (non-traded) assets 
and liabilities.

The Treasury function manages treasury and 
capital risk exposure on a day-to-day basis with 
the Group Treasury Committee acting as the 
principal management body. The Treasury and 
Capital Risk function is responsible for oversight 
and provide insight into key capital, liquidity, 
interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) 
and pension risk management activities.

Liquidity risk management (audited)
Overview
The efficient management of liquidity is 
essential to the Group in order to retain the 
confidence of the financial markets and maintain 
the sustainability of the business. The liquidity 
risk control framework is used to manage all 
liquidity risk exposures under both typical and 
stressed conditions. The framework is designed 
to maintain liquidity resources that are sufficient 
in amount, quality and funding tenor profile to 
support the liquidity risk appetite as expressed 
by the Barclays PLC Board. The liquidity risk 
appetite is monitored against both internal and 
regulatory liquidity metrics.

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
Treasury has the primary responsibility for 
managing liquidity risk within the set risk 
appetite. Both Risk and Treasury contribute 
to the production of the Internal Liquidity 
Adequacy Assessment Process (ILAAP). The 
Treasury and Capital Risk function is responsible 
for the management and governance of the 
liquidity risk mandate, as defined by the Board. 

The liquidity risk control framework is designed 
to deliver the appropriate term and structure of 
funding, consistent with the liquidity risk appetite 
set by the Board. The control framework 
incorporates a range of ongoing business 
management tools to monitor, limit and stress 
test the Group’s balance sheet, contingent 
liabilities and the recovery plan. Limit setting and 
transfer pricing are tools that are designed to 
control the level of liquidity risk taken and drive 
the appropriate mix of funds. Together, these 
tools reduce the likelihood that a liquidity stress 
event could lead to an inability to meet Group’s 
obligations as they fall due.

The Board approves the Group funding plan, 
internal stress tests, regulatory stress test 
results, recovery plan and Liquidity Risk Appetite. 
The Group Treasury Committee is responsible 
for monitoring and managing liquidity risk in line 
with the Group’s funding management 
objectives, funding plan and risk appetite. The 
Treasury and Capital Risk Committee monitors 
and reviews the liquidity risk profile and control 
environment, providing second line oversight of 
the management of liquidity risk. The Board Risk 
Committee reviews the risk profile, and annually 
reviews risk appetite and the impact of stress 
scenarios on the Group funding plan/forecast 
in order to agree the Group’s projected 
funding abilities.

Capital risk management (audited)
Overview
Capital risk is managed through ongoing 
monitoring and management of the capital 
position, regular stress testing and a robust 
capital governance framework. The objectives of 
the framework are to maintain adequate capital 
for the Group and legal entities to withstand the 
impact of the risks that may arise under normal 
and stressed conditions, and maintain adequate 
capital to cover current and forecast business 
needs and associated risks to provide a viable 
and sustainable business offering.

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Organisation, roles and responsibilities
Treasury has the primary responsibility for 
managing and monitoring capital. The Treasury 
and Capital Risk function provides oversight of 
capital risk and is an independent risk function 
that reports to the Group CRO. Production of 
the Barclays PLC Internal Capital Adequacy 
Assessment Process (ICAAP) is the 
responsibility of Treasury.

Capital risk management is underpinned by 
a control framework and policy. The capital 
management strategy, outlined in the Group and 
legal entity capital plans, is developed in 
alignment with the control framework and policy 
for capital risk, and is implemented consistently 
in order to deliver on the Group’s objectives.

The Board approves the Group capital plan, 
internal stress tests and results of regulatory 
stress tests, and the Group recovery plan. The 
Group Treasury Committee is responsible for 
monitoring and managing capital risk in line with 
the Group’s capital management objectives, 
capital plan and risk frameworks. The Treasury 
and Capital Risk Committee monitors and 
reviews the capital risk profile and control 
environment, providing second line oversight 
of the management of capital risk. The BRC 
reviews the risk profile, and annually reviews risk 
appetite and the impact of stress scenarios on 
the Group capital plan/forecast in order to agree 
the Group’s projected capital adequacy. 

Local management assures compliance with 
an entity’s minimum regulatory capital 
requirements by reporting to local Asset and 
Liability Committees (ALCOs) with oversight 
by the Group Treasury Committee, as required. 
In 2020, Barclays complied with all regulatory 
minimum capital requirements.

Pension risk
The Group maintains a number of defined 
benefit pension schemes for past and current 
employees. The ability of schemes to meet 
pension payments is achieved with investments 
and contributions.

Pension risk arises because the market value of 
pension fund assets might decline; investment 
returns might reduce; or the estimated value 
of pension liabilities might increase. The Group 
monitors the pension risks arising from its 
defined benefit pension schemes and works 
with Trustees to address shortfalls. In these 
circumstances, the Group could be required or 
might choose to make extra contributions to the 
pension fund. The Group’s main defined benefit 
scheme was closed to new entrants in 2012.

Interest rate risk in the banking 
book management (IRRBB)
Overview
Interest rate risk in the banking book is driven 
by customer deposit taking and lending 
activities, investments in the liquid asset 
portfolio and funding activities. As per the 
Group’s policy to remain within the defined risk 
appetite, hedging strategies are executed to 
mitigate the risks. However, the Group remains 
susceptible to interest rate risk and other 
non-traded market risks from key sources: 
■■ interest rate and repricing risk: the risk 

that net interest income could be adversely 
impacted by a change in interest rates, 
differences in the timing of interest rate 
changes between assets and liabilities, and 
other constraints on interest rate changes 
as per product terms and conditions

■■ customer behavioural risk: the risk that net 
interest income could be adversely impacted 
by the discretion that customers and 
counterparties may have in respect of being 
able to vary their contractual obligations with 
Barclays. This risk is often referred to by 
industry regulators as ‘embedded option risk’

■■ investment risks in the liquid asset 

portfolio: the risk that the fair value of 
assets held in the liquid asset portfolio and 
associated risk management portfolios could 
be adversely impacted by market volatility, 
creating volatility in capital directly.

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
The entity ALCOs, together with the Group 
Treasury Committee, are responsible for 
monitoring and managing IRRBB risk in line with 
the Group’s management objectives and risk 
frameworks. The GRC and Treasury and Capital 
Risk Committee monitors and reviews the IRRBB 
risk profile and control environment, providing 
second line oversight of the management of 
IRRBB. The BRC reviews the interest rate risk 
profile, including annual review of the risk 
appetite and the impact of stress scenarios 
on the interest rate risk of the Group’s 
banking books.

In addition, the Group’s IRRBB policy sets out 
the processes and key controls required to 
identify all IRRBB risks arising from banking book 
operations, to monitor the risk exposures via a 
set of metrics with a frequency in line with the 
risk management horizon, and to manage these 
risks within agreed risk appetite and limits.

Operational risk 
management
The risk of loss to the Group from 
inadequate or failed processes or 
systems, human factors or due to 
external events (for example fraud) 
where the root cause is not due to credit 
or market risks.

Overview
The management of operational risk has three 
key objectives:
■■ deliver an operational risk capability owned 
and used by business leaders to enable 
sound risk decisions over the long term

■■ provide the frameworks, policies and 

standards to enable management to meet 
their risk management responsibilities while 
the second line of defence provides robust, 
independent, and effective oversight and 
challenge and

■■ deliver a consistent and aggregated 

measurement of operational risk that will 
provide clear and relevant insights, so that 
the right management actions can be taken 
to keep the operational risk profile consistent 
with the Group’s strategy, the stated risk 
appetite and stakeholder needs.

The Group operates within a system of 
internal controls that enables business to be 
transacted and risk taken without exposing 
it to unacceptable potential losses or 
reputational damages.

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
The prime responsibility for the management of 
operational risk and the compliance with control 
requirements rests within the business and 
functional units where the risk arises. The 
operational risk profile and control environment 
is reviewed by management through business 
risk committees and control committees. 
Operational risk issues escalated from these 
meetings are considered through the second 
line of defence review meetings. Depending on 
their nature, the outputs of these meetings are 
presented to the Operational Risk Profile Forum, 
the Operational Risk Committee, the BRC or the 
BAC. In addition, specific reports are prepared by 
Operational Risk on a regular basis for the GRC 
and the BRC.

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Financial review

Financial statements

The function reports to the Group CRO and 
operates a global framework. Implementation 
of best practice standards is a central objective 
of the Group. 

The key model risk management activities 
include: 
■■ correctly identifying models across all 

relevant areas of the Group, and recording 
models in the Group Models Database 
(GMD), the Group-wide model inventory
■■ enforcing that every model has a model 
owner who is accountable for the model. 
The model owner must sign off models prior 
to submission to IVU for validation and 
maintain that the model presented to IVU 
is and remains fit for purpose

■■ overseeing that every model is subject to 

validation and approval by IVU, prior to being 
implemented and on a continual basis

■■ defining model risk appetite in terms of risk 
tolerance, and qualitative metrics which are 
used to track and report model risk.

Legal entities, businesses and functions are 
required to report their operational risks on both 
a regular and an event-driven basis. The reports 
include a profile of the material risks that may 
threaten the achievement of their objectives 
and the effectiveness of key controls, 
operational risk events and a review of scenarios.

The Group Head of Operational Risk is 
responsible for establishing, owning and 
maintaining an appropriate Group-wide 
Operational Risk Framework and for overseeing 
the portfolio of operational risk across the Group.

The Operational Risk function acts in a second 
line of defence capacity, and is responsible for 
defining and overseeing the implementation 
of the framework and monitoring the Group’s 
operational risk profile. The Operational Risk 
function alerts management when risk levels 
exceed acceptable tolerance in order to drive 
timely decision making and actions by the first 
line of defence. 

Operational risk categories
Operational risks are grouped into risk 
categories to support effective risk 
management, measurement and reporting. 
These comprise: Data Management Risk; 
Financial Reporting Risk; Fraud Risk; Information 
Security Risk; Operational Resilience Planning 
Risk; Payments Process Risk; People Risk; 
Premises Risk; Physical Security Risk; Strategic 
Investment Change Management Risk; Supplier 
Risk; Tax Risk; Technology Risk; and Transaction 
Operations Risk.

In addition to the above, operational risk 
encompasses risks associated with prudential 
regulation. This includes the risk of failing to: 
adhere to prudential regulatory requirements, 
provide regulatory submissions; or monitor 
and manage adherence to new prudential 
regulatory requirements.

Risk themes
Barclays also recognises that there are certain 
threats/risk drivers that are more thematic 
and have the potential to impact the Group’s 
strategic objectives. These are risk themes 
which require an overarching and integrated 
risk management approach. The Group’s risk 
themes include Cyber, Data, and Resilience.

For definitions of the Group’s operational 
risk categories and risk themes, refer to the 
management of operational risk section in 
the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020.

Model risk management
The risk of the potential adverse 
consequences from financial 
assessments or decisions based on 
incorrect or misused model outputs 
and reports.

Overview
The Group uses models to support a broad 
range of activities, including informing business 
decisions and strategies, measuring and limiting 
risk, valuing exposures, conducting stress 
testing, assessing capital adequacy, managing 
client assets, and meeting reporting 
requirements. 

Since models are imperfect and incomplete 
representations of reality, they may be subject 
to errors affecting the accuracy of their output. 
Model errors and misuse are the primary 
sources of model risk.

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
The Group has a dedicated Model Risk 
Management (MRM) function that consists of 
four teams: (i) Independent Validation Unit (IVU), 
responsible for model validation and approval; 
(ii) Model Governance and Controls (MGC), 
responsible for regulatory, audit, policy, 
standards, conformance and controls; 
(iii) Strategy and Transformation responsible 
for inventory, strategy, communications and 
business management and (iv) Model Risk 
Measurement and Quantification (MRMQ), 
responsible for the design of the framework 
and methodology to accurately measure and 
quantify model risk.

The model risk management framework 
consists of the model risk policy and standards. 
The policy prescribes Group-wide, end-to-end 
requirements for the identification, 
measurement and management of model risk, 
covering model documentation, development, 
implementation, monitoring, annual review, 
independent validation and approval, change 
and reporting processes. The policy is supported 
by global standards covering model inventory, 
documentation, validation, complexity and 
materiality, testing and monitoring, overlays, 
risk appetite, as well as vendor models and 
stress testing challenger models.

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Conduct risk 
management
The risk of detriment to customers, 
clients, market integrity, effective 
competition or Barclays from the 
inappropriate supply of financial 
services, including instances of wilful 
or negligent misconduct.

Overview
The Group defines, manages and mitigates 
conduct risk with the objective of providing 
good customer and client outcomes, 
protecting market integrity and promoting 
effective competition.

Conduct risk incorporates risks associated 
with the maintenance of Market Integrity, 
Customer Protection and Product and Services 
Life Cycle Governance and the prevention of 
Financial Crime. 

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
The Conduct Risk Management Framework 
(CRMF) outlines how the Group manages and 
measures its conduct risk profile. The Group 
Chief Compliance Officer is accountable for 
developing, maintaining and overseeing a 
Group-wide CRMF. This includes defining and 
owning the relevant conduct risk policies which 
detail the control objectives, principles and 
other core requirements for the activities of the 
Group. It is the responsibility of the first line of 
defence to establish controls to manage its 
performance and assess conformance to these 
policies and controls. 

Senior managers are accountable within their 
areas of responsibility for owning and managing 
conduct risk in accordance with the CRMF, 
as defined within their regulatory Statement 
of Responsibilities. 

Compliance as an independent second line 
function is designed to help prevent, detect 
and manage breaches of applicable laws, 
rules, regulations and procedures and has a 
key role in helping Barclays achieve the right 
conduct outcomes and evolve a conduct-
focused culture. 

The governance of conduct risk within the 
Group is fulfilled through management 
committees and forums operated by the first 
and second lines of defence with clear escalation 
and reporting lines to the Board. The Barclays 
Group and Barclays Bank Group Risk Committee 
and the Barclays Bank UK Group Risk Committee 
are the primary second line governance 
committees for the oversight of the Conduct 
Risk Profile. The risk committees’ responsibilities 
include the identification and discussion of any 
emerging conduct risks exposures in their 
respective entities.

166

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Reputation risk 
management
The risk that an action, transaction, 
investment, event, decision, or business 
relationship will reduce trust in the 
Group’s integrity and/or competence.

Legal risk management 
The risk of loss or imposition of 
penalties, damages or fines from the 
failure of the Group to meet its legal 
obligations including regulatory or 
contractual requirements.

Overview
A reduction of trust in the Group’s integrity 
and competence may reduce the attractiveness 
of the Group to stakeholders and could lead to 
negative publicity, loss of revenue, regulatory or 
legislative action, loss of existing and potential 
client business, reduced workforce morale and 
difficulties in recruiting talent. Ultimately it may 
destroy shareholder value. 

Organisation, roles and responsibilities
Barclays Group ExCo is the most senior 
executive body responsible for reviewing and 
monitoring the effectiveness of the Group’s 
management of reputation risk.

The Group Chief Compliance Officer is 
accountable for developing a Reputation Risk 
Management Framework (RRMF), and the 
Group Head of Corporate Relations is 
responsible for developing a reputation risk 
policy and associated standards, including 
tolerances against which data is monitored, 
reported on and escalated, as required. The 
RRMF sets out what is required to manage 
reputation risk across the Group.

The primary responsibility for identifying and 
managing reputation risk and adherence to 
the control requirements sits with the business 
and support functions where the risk arises.

Barclays Bank Group and Barclays Bank UK 
Group are required to operate within established 
reputation risk appetite, and their component 
businesses prepare reports for their respective 
Risk and Board Risk Committees highlighting 
their most significant current and potential 
reputation risks and issues and how they 
are being managed. These reports are a key 
internal source of information for the quarterly 
reputation risk reports which are prepared 
for Barclays Group ExCo and the Board.

Overview 
The Group has no tolerance for wilful breaches 
of laws, regulations or other legal obligations. 
However, the multitude of laws and regulations 
across the globe are highly dynamic and their 
application to particular circumstances is often 
unclear. This results in a high level of inherent 
legal risk which the Group seeks to mitigate 
through the operation of a Group-wide legal 
risk management framework, including the 
implementation of Group-wide legal risk policies 
requiring the engagement of legal professionals 
in situations that have the potential for legal risk. 
Notwithstanding these mitigating actions, the 
Group operates with a level of residual legal risk, 
for which the Group has limited tolerance.

Organisation, roles and responsibilities 
The Group’s businesses and functions have 
primary responsibility for identifying and 
escalating legal risk in their area as well as 
responsibility for adherence to minimum 
control requirements.

The Legal Function organisation and coverage 
model aligns legal expertise to businesses, 
functions, products, activities and geographic 
locations so that the Group receives support 
from appropriate legal professionals, working 
in partnership to manage legal risk. The senior 
management of the Legal Function oversees, 
challenges and monitors the legal risk profile 
and effectiveness of the legal risk control 
environment across the Group. The Legal 
Function does not sit in any of the Three Lines 
of Defence but supports them all.

The Group General Counsel is responsible 
for maintaining a Group-wide legal risk 
management framework. This includes defining 
the relevant legal risk policies and oversight 
of the implementation of controls to manage 
and escalate legal risk. 

The legal risk profile and control environment 
is reviewed by management through business 
risk committees and control committees. 
The Group Risk Committee is the most senior 
executive body responsible for reviewing and 
monitoring the effectiveness of risk 
management across the Group. Escalation 
paths from this committee exist to the Barclays 
PLC Board Risk Committee.

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance 

Credit risk: summary of contents 

Credit risk represents a significant risk and mainly arises 
from exposure to wholesale and retail loans and advances 
together with the counterparty credit risk arising from 
derivative contracts entered into with clients.

This section outlines the expected credit loss allowances, 
the movements in allowances during the period, material 
management adjustments to model output and 
measurement uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.

■■ Credit risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Maximum exposure and effects of netting, collateral and risk transfer

■■ Expected Credit Losses

–  Loans and advances at amortised cost by stage
–  Loans and advances at amortised cost by product
–  Movement in gross exposure and impairment allowance for loans 

and advances at amortised cost

–  Stage 2 decomposition
–  Stage 3 decomposition

■■ Management adjustments to models for impairment
■■ Measurement uncertainty and sensitivity analysis

The Group reviews and monitors risk concentrations in a 
variety of ways. This section outlines performance against 
key concentration risks.

■■ Analysis of the concentration of credit risk

–  Geographic concentrations
Industry concentrations
– 

■■ Approach to management and representation of credit quality

–  Asset credit quality
–  Debt securities
–  Balance sheet credit quality
–  Credit exposures by internal PD grade

■■ Analysis of specific portfolios and asset types

–  Secured home loans
–  Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
–  Exposure to UK commercial real estate

■■ Forbearance

–  Retail forbearance programmes
–  Wholesale forbearance programmes

Credit risk monitors exposure performance across a range 
of significant portfolios.

The Group monitors exposures to assets where there is a 
heightened likelihood of default and assets where an actual 
default has occurred. From time to time, suspension of 
certain aspects of client credit agreements are agreed, 
generally during temporary periods of financial difficulties 
where the Group is confident that the client will be able to 
remedy the suspension. This section outlines the current 
exposure to assets with this treatment.

This section provides an analysis of credit risk on debt 
securities and derivatives.

■■ Analysis of debt securities
■■ Analysis of derivatives

Page

168
168

171
171
173
175

179
179
180
181

189
189
190
191
191
191
191
193

195
195
196
197

198
199
200

200
201

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167

  
 
Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Credit risk
All disclosures in this section are unaudited 
unless otherwise stated.

Overview
Credit risk represents a significant risk to 
the Group and mainly arises from exposure 
to wholesale and retail loans and advances 
together with the counterparty credit risk 
arising from derivative contracts entered 
into with clients.

Credit risk disclosures include many of the 
recommendations of the Taskforce on 
Disclosures about Expected Credit Losses 
(DECL) and it is expected that relevant 
disclosures will continue to be developed 
in future periods. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
has increased the level of judgement that 
management have been required to exercise 
over the course of 2020. Customer and client 
default rates have remained relatively stable 
despite the impact of the pandemic and 
volatile macroeconomic environment.  

In retail cards, credit profiles improved or 
were stable versus pre-pandemic levels as a 
result of government support measures and 
customer deleveraging. In wholesale, 
furlough and liquidity funding schemes are 
supporting businesses through the 
pandemic, with limited credit deterioration. 
This lack of deterioration, combined in some 
cases with improving economics, is leading 
to large scale credit loss stock releases on a 
modelled basis in pockets of the portfolio. 
Given this backdrop, management has 
applied COVID-19 specific adjustments to 
modelled outputs to ensure the full potential 
impacts of stress are provided for. These 
adjustments address the temporary nature 
of ongoing government support, the 
uncertainty in relation to the timing of stress 
and the degree to which economic 
consensus has yet captured the range of 
economic uncertainty, particularly in the UK. 
Refer to the Management adjustment to 
models for impairment section on page 180 
for further details.

Further detail can be found in the Financial 
statements section in Note 7 Credit 
impairment charges. Descriptions of 
terminology can be found in the glossary, 
available at home.barclays/annualreport

Key metrics
Increase in impairment allowances of

£2,769m

Impairment allowances on loans and 
advances at amortised cost, including 
off-balance sheet elements of the allowance, 
increased by £2,769m to £9,399m (2019: 
£6,630m). The increase is driven by Barclays 
International £1,828m, Barclays UK £855m, 
and Head Office £86m. Refer to the Expected 
Credit Losses section for further details.

Summary of performance 
in the period
Credit impairment charges increased 
to £4,838m (2019: £1,912m) due to the 
deterioration in economic outlook driven by 
the COVID-19 global pandemic. The current 
year charge is broadly driven by £2,323m of 
non-default provision for potential future 
customer and client stress and £800m of single 
name deterioration. The Expected Credit Loss 
(ECL) provision remains highly uncertain as 
the economic impact of the global pandemic 
continues to evolve. The Group loan loss rate 
was 138bps (2019: 55bps).

Refer to the credit risk management section for 
details of governance, policies and procedures.

Maximum exposure and 
effects of netting, collateral 
and risk transfer
Basis of preparation
The following tables present a reconciliation 
between the maximum exposure and its net 
exposure to credit risk, reflecting the financial 
effects of risk mitigation reducing the exposure. 

For financial assets recognised on the balance 
sheet, maximum exposure to credit risk 
represents the balance sheet carrying value after 
allowance for impairment. For off-balance sheet 
guarantees, the maximum exposure is the 

maximum amount that the Group would have 
to pay if the guarantees were to be called upon. 
For loan commitments and other credit related 
commitments that are irrevocable over the life of 
the respective facilities, the maximum exposure 
is the full amount of the committed facilities.

This and subsequent analyses of credit risk 
exclude other financial assets not subject to 
credit risk, mainly equity securities.

The Group mitigates the credit risk to which 
it is exposed through netting and set-off, 
collateral and risk transfer. Further detail on the 
Group’s policies to each of these forms of credit 
enhancement is presented on pages 177 to 179 
of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 
(unaudited).

Overview
As at 31 December 2020, the Group’s net 
exposure to credit risk, after taking into account 
credit risk mitigation, increased by 10% to 
£876.8bn. Overall, the extent to which the 
Group holds mitigation against its total exposure 
increased to 46% (2019: 43%).

Of the unmitigated on-balance sheet exposure, 
a significant portion relates to cash held at 
central banks, cash collateral and settlement 
balances, and debt securities issued by 
governments all of which are considered to 
be lower risk. The increase in the Group’s net 
exposure to credit risk is driven by increases 
in cash held at central banks, cash collateral and 
settlement balances, trading portfolio assets, 

derivative financial instruments, financial assets 
at fair value through other comprehensive 
income, and off-balance sheet loan 
commitments. Trading portfolio liability 
positions, which to a significant extent 
economically hedge trading portfolio assets 
but which are not held specifically for risk 
management purposes, are excluded from the 
analysis. The credit quality of counterparties to 
derivatives, financial investments and wholesale 
loan assets are predominantly investment 
grade. Further analysis on the credit quality 
of assets is presented in the approach to 
management and representation of credit 
quality section.

Collateral obtained
Where collateral has been obtained in the event 
of default, the Group does not, ordinarily, use 
such assets for its own operations and they are 
usually sold on a timely basis. The carrying value 
of assets held by the Group as at 31 December 
2020, as a result of the enforcement of collateral, 
was £6m (2019: £6m).

168

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Maximum exposure and effects of netting, collateral and risk transfer (audited)

Maximum 
exposure
£m

Netting and 
set-off
£m

Cash 
collateral
£m

Non-cash 
collateral
£m

Risk 
transfer
£m

Net 
exposure
£m

As at 31 December 2020
On-balance sheet:
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost:
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total loans and advances at amortised cost
Of which credit-impaired (Stage 3):
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total credit-impaired loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets:
Debt securities
Traded loans
Total trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement:
Loans and advances
Debt securities
Reverse repurchase agreements
Other financial assets
Total financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

Off-balance sheet:
Contingent liabilities
Loan commitments
Total off-balance sheet

Total 

191,127
101,367

159,647
40,813
142,172
342,632

1,813
921
2,525
5,259
9,031

56,482
8,348
64,830

30,879
1,693
137,616
343
170,531
302,446
77,927
850
1,260,741

21,609
333,049
354,658

–
–

–
–
(6,988)
(6,988)

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

191,127
101,367

(284)
(967)
(62)
(1,313)

(159,203)
(3,825)
(37,103)
(200,131)

(85)
(195)
(23,963)
(24,243)

75
35,826
74,056
109,957

(14)
(14)
(4)
(32)
–

–
–
–

(1,796)
(237)
(872)
(2,905)
(9,031)

(391)
(374)
(765)

–
(2)
(232)
(234)
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
(233,080)
–
–
(240,068)

(9)
–
(672)
–
(681)
(43,291)
–
–
(45,285)

(23,677)
(292)
(136,537)
–
(160,506)
(4,773)
(106)
–
(375,312)

–
–
–
–
–
(6,409)
(1,385)
–
(32,037)

3
668
1,417
2,088
–

56,091
7,974
64,065

7,193
1,401
407
343
9,344
14,893
76,436
850
568,039

–
–
–

(1,095)
(128)
(1,223)

(2,135)
(40,714)
(42,849)

(282)
(1,520)
(1,802)

18,097
290,687
308,784

1,615,399

(240,068)

(46,508)

(418,161)

(33,839)

876,823

Off-balance sheet exposures are shown gross of provisions of £1,064m (2019: £322m). See Note 25 for further details. In addition to the above, 
the Group holds forward starting reverse repos with notional contract amounts of £34.6bn (2019: £31.1bn). The balances are fully collateralised. 
Wholesale loans and advances at amortised cost include £12.1bn of BBLs, CBILs and CLBILs extended in 2020 and supported by UK Government 
guarantees of £11.5bn, which are included within the Risk transfer column in the table. For further information on credit risk mitigation techniques, refer to 
the Credit risk management section.

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Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Maximum exposure and effects of netting, collateral and risk transfer (audited)

As at 31 December 2019
On-balance sheet:
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost:
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total loans and advances at amortised cost
Of which credit-impaired (Stage 3):
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total credit-impaired loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets:
Debt securities
Traded loans
Total trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement:
Loans and advances
Debt securities
Reverse repurchase agreements
Other financial assets
Total financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

Off-balance sheet:
Contingent liabilities
Loan commitments
Total off-balance sheet

Total 

150,258
83,256

154,479
55,296
129,340
339,115

1,809
1,074
1,812
4,695
3,379

52,739
5,378
58,117

22,692
5,249
96,887
763
125,591
229,236
64,727
1,375
1,055,054

24,527
334,455
358,982

Maximum 
exposure
£m

Netting and 
set-off
£m

Cash 
collateral
£m

Non-cash 
collateral
£m

Risk 
transfer
£m

Net 
exposure
£m

–
–

–
–
(7,636)
(7,636)

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

150,258
83,256

(294)
(778)
(148)
(1,220)

(153,939)
(5,283)
(39,981)
(199,203)

(70)
(258)
(12,071)
(12,399)

176
48,977
69,504
118,657

(2)
(12)
(9)
(23)
–

–
–
–

(1,785)
(250)
(909)
(2,944)
(3,379)

(423)
(134)
(557)

(14)
(2)
(20)
(36)
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
(175,998)
–
–
(183,634)

(14)
–
(1,132)
–
(1,146)
(33,411)
–
–
(35,777)

(16,580)
–
(95,736)
–
(112,316)
(5,511)
(305)
–
(321,271)

(57)
–
–
–
(57)
(5,564)
(1,051)
–
(19,071)

8
810
874
1,692
–

52,316
5,244
57,560

6,041
5,249
19
763
12,072
8,752
63,371
1,375
495,301

–
–
–

(400)
(84)
(484)

(4,412)
(47,008)
(51,420)

(159)
(1,950)
(2,109)

19,556
285,413
304,969

1,414,036

(183,634)

(36,261)

(372,691)

(21,180)

800,270

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Expected Credit Losses
Loans and advances at amortised cost by stage
The table below presents an analysis of loans and advances at amortised cost by gross exposure, impairment allowance, impairment charge and 
coverage ratio by stage allocation and business segment as at 31 December 2020. Also included are off-balance sheet loan commitments and financial 
guarantee contracts by gross exposure and impairment allowance and coverage ratio by stage allocation as at 31 December 2020.

Impairment allowance under IFRS 9 considers both the drawn and the undrawn counterparty exposure. For retail portfolios, the total impairment 
allowance is allocated to the drawn exposure to the extent that the allowance does not exceed the exposure as ECL is not reported separately. Any excess 
is reported on the liability side of the balance sheet as a provision. For wholesale portfolios, the impairment allowance on the undrawn exposure is 
reported on the liability side of the balance sheet as a provision.

Loans and advances at amortised cost by stage (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
Barclays Internationala
Head Office
Total Barclays Group retail
Barclays UK
Barclays Internationala
Head Office
Total Barclays Group wholesaleb
Total loans and advances 
at amortised cost
Off-balance sheet loan 
commitments and financial 
guarantee contractsc
Totald

As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
Barclays Internationala
Head Office
Total Barclays Group retail
Barclays UK
Barclays Internationala
Head Office
Total Barclays Group wholesaleb
Total loans and advances 
at amortised cost
Off-balance sheet loan 
commitments and financial 
guarantee contractsc
Other financial assets subject 
to impairmentd
Totale

Gross exposure

Impairment allowance

Stage 1
£m
153,250
21,048
4,267
178,565
31,918
79,911
570
112,399

Stage 2 
£m
23,896
5,500
720
30,116
4,325
16,565
 – 
20,890

Stage 3
£m
2,732
1,992
844
5,568
1,126
2,270
33
3,429

Total
£m
179,878
28,540
5,831
214,249
37,369
98,746
603
136,718

Stage 1
£m
332
396
4
732
13
288
 – 
301

Stage 2 
£m
1,509
1,329
51
2,889
129
546
 – 
675

Stage 3
£m
1,147
1,205
380
2,732
116
859
31
1,006

Total
£m
2,988
2,930
435
6,353
258
1,693
31
1,982

Net exposure
£m
176,890
25,610
5,396
207,896
37,111
97,053
572
134,736

290,964

51,006

8,997

350,967

1,033

3,564

3,738

8,335

342,632

289,939
580,903

52,891
103,897

2,330
11,327

345,160
696,127

256
1,289

758
4,322

50
3,788

1,064
9,399

344,096
686,728

Coverage ratio

Stage 2
%
6.3
24.2
7.1
9.6
3.0
3.3
–
3.2

Stage 3
%
42.0
60.5
45.0
49.1
10.3
37.8
93.9
29.3

7.0

41.5

Loan impairment charge  
and loan loss rate

Loan 
impairment 
charge
£m
1,070
1,680
91
2,841
154
914
 – 
1,068

Loan 
loss rate
bps
59
589
156
133
41
93
 – 
78

3,909

111

Total
%
1.7
10.3
7.5
3.0
0.7
1.7
5.1
1.4

2.4

1.4

2.1

0.3

776

Stage 1
%
0.2
1.9
0.1
0.4
–
0.4
–
0.3

0.4

0.1

0.2

4.2

33.4

1.4

153
4,838

Notes
a  Private Banking have refined the methodology to classify £5bn of their exposure between Wholesale and Retail during the year. 
b 

Includes Wealth and Private Banking exposures measured on an individual customer exposure basis, and excludes Business Banking exposures that are managed on a collective basis. 
The net impact is a difference in total exposure of £7,551m of balances reported as wholesale loans in the Loans and advances at amortised cost by product disclosure.

c  Excludes loan commitments and financial guarantees of £9.5bn carried at fair value.
d  Other financial assets subject to impairment not included in the table above include cash collateral and settlement balances, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive 
income and other assets. These have a total gross exposure of £180.3bn and impairment allowance of £165m. This comprises £11m ECL on £175.7bn Stage 1 assets, £9m on £4.4bn 
Stage 2 fair value through other comprehensive income assets, other assets, cash collateral and settlement assets and £145m on £154m Stage 3 other assets.

e  The loan loss rate is 138bps after applying the total impairment charge of £4,838m.

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Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Loans and advances at amortised cost by stage (audited)

As at 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total Barclays Group retail
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total Barclays Group wholesalea
Total loans and advances 
at amortised cost
Off-balance sheet loan 
commitments and financial 
guarantee contractsb
Totalc

As at 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total Barclays Group retail
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total Barclays Group wholesalea
Total loans and advances 
at amortised cost
Off-balance sheet loan 
commitments and financial 
guarantee contractsb
Other financial assets subject 
to impairmentc
Totald

Gross exposure

Impairment allowance

Stage 1
£m
143,097
27,886
4,803
175,786
27,891
92,615
2,974
123,480

Stage 2 
£m
23,198
4,026
500
27,724
2,397
8,113
–
10,510

Stage 3
£m
2,446
1,875
826
5,147
1,124
1,615
37
2,776

Total
£m
168,741
33,787
6,129
208,657
31,412
102,343
3,011
136,766

Stage 1
£m
198
352
5
555
16
136
–
152

Stage 2 
£m
1,277
774
36
2,087
38
248
–
286

Stage 3
£m
974
1,359
305
2,638
108
447
35
590

Total
£m
2,449
2,485
346
5,280
162
831
35
1,028

Net exposure
£m
166,292
31,302
5,783
203,377
31,250
101,512
2,976
135,738

299,266

38,234

7,923

345,423

707

2,373

3,228

6,308

339,115

321,140
620,406

19,185
57,419

935
8,858

341,260
686,683

97
804

170
2,543

55
3,283

322
6,630

340,938
680,053

Coverage ratio

Stage 1
%
0.1
1.3
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
–
0.1

Stage 2
%
5.5
19.2
7.2
7.5
1.6
3.1
–
2.7

Stage 3
%
39.8
72.5
36.9
51.3
9.6
27.7
94.6
21.3

0.2

6.2

40.7

–

0.9

5.9

0.1

4.4

37.1

Loan impairment charge  
and loan loss rate

Loan 
impairment 
charge
£m
661
999
27
1,687
33
113
–
146

Loan 
loss rate
bps
39
296
44
81
11
11
–
11

1,833

53

71

8
1,912

Total
%
1.5
7.4
5.6
2.5
0.5
0.8
1.2
0.8

1.8

0.1

1.0

Notes
a 

Included in the above analysis are Wealth and Private Banking exposures measured on an individual customer exposure basis, and excludes Business Banking exposures that are managed 
on a collective basis. The net impact is a difference in total exposure of £6,434m of balances reported as wholesale loans in the Loans and advances at amortised cost by product 
disclosure.

b  Excludes loan commitments and financial guarantees of £17.7bn carried at fair value.
c  Other financial assets subject to impairment not included in the table above include cash collateral and settlement balances, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive 
income and other assets. These have a total gross exposure of £149.3bn and impairment allowance of £24m. This comprises £12m ECL on £148.5bn Stage 1 assets £2m on £0.8bn 
Stage 2 fair value through other comprehensive income assets, cash collateral and settlement balances and £10m on £10m Stage 3 other assets.

d  The loan loss rate is 55bps after applying the total impairment charge of £1,912m.

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Financial statements

Loans and advances at amortised cost by product (audited)
The table below presents a breakdown of loans and advances at amortised cost and the impairment allowance with stage allocation by asset classification.

Loans and advances at amortised cost by product (audited)

As at 31 December 2020 
Gross exposure
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Impairment allowance
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Net exposure
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Coverage ratio
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

As at 31 December 2019
Gross exposure
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Impairment allowance
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Net exposure
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Coverage ratio
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans 
Total

Stage 1
£m
138,639
33,021
119,304
290,964

Not past due
£m
16,651
9,470
19,501
45,622

33
680
320
1,033

57
2,382
650
3,089

138,606
32,341
118,984
289,931

16,594
7,088
18,851
42,533

%

–
2.1
0.3
0.4

£m

135,713
46,012
117,541
299,266

22
542
143
707

135,691
45,470
117,398
298,559

%

–
1.2
0.1
0.2

%

0.3
25.2
3.3
6.8

£m

14,733
9,759
9,374
33,866

37
1,597
284
1,918

14,696
8,162
9,090
31,948

%

0.3
16.4
3.0
5.7

Stage 2

<=30 days 
past due
£m
1,785
544
1,097
3,426

>30 days 
past due
£m
876
306
776
1,958

13
180
50
243

1,772
364
1,047
3,183

%

0.7
33.1
4.6
7.1

£m

1,585
496
374
2,455

14
159
9
182

1,571
337
365
2,273

%

0.9
32.1
2.4
7.4

14
207
11
232

862
99
765
1,726

%

1.6
67.6
1.4
11.8

£m

725
504
684
1,913

13
251
9
273

712
253
675
1,640

%

1.8
49.8
1.3
14.3

Total
£m
19,312
10,320
21,374
51,006

84
2,769
711
3,564

19,228
7,551
20,663
47,442

%

0.4
26.8
3.3
7.0

£m

17,043
10,759
10,432
38,234

64
2,007
302
2,373

16,979
8,752
10,130
35,861

%

0.4
18.7
2.9
6.2

Stage 3
£m
2,234
3,172
3,591
8,997

421
2,251
1,066
3,738

1,813
921
2,525
5,259

%

18.8
71.0
29.7
41.5

£m

2,155
3,409
2,359
7,923

346
2,335
547
3,228

1,809
1,074
1,812
4,695

%

16.1
68.5
23.2
40.7

Total
£m
160,185
46,513
144,269
350,967

538
5,700
2,097
8,335

159,647
40,813
142,172
342,632

%

0.3
12.3
1.5
2.4

£m

154,911
60,180
130,332
345,423

432
4,884
992
6,308

154,479
55,296
129,340
339,115

%

0.3
8.1
0.8
1.8

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Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Loans and advances at amortised cost by selected sectors
The table below presents a breakdown of loans and advances at amortised cost and the impairment allowance, with gross exposure and stage allocation 
for selected industry sectors within the wholesale loans portfolio. The industry sectors have been selected based upon the level of management focus 
they have received following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The credit risk industry concentration disclosure in the Analysis of the concentration 
of credit risk section represents all the industry categories and the below only covers a subset of that table. 

The gross loans and advances to selected sectors have increased over the year as a result of additional drawdowns on committed credit lines provided 
by the bank. Overall limits and exposures have remained broadly stable over the year whilst provisions have increased in light of the heightened stress. 
The wholesale portfolio also benefits from a hedge protection programme that enables effective risk management against systemic losses.

Loans and advances at amortised cost by selected sectors

Gross exposure

Impairment allowance

As at 31 December 2020
Air travel
Hospitality and leisure
Oil and gas
Retail
Shipping
Transportation
Total
Total of Wholesale exposures

As at 31 December 2019
Air travel
Hospitality and leisure
Oil and gas
Retail
Shipping
Transportation
Total
Total of Wholesale exposures

Stage 1
£m
367
4,440
1,754
3,907
308
1,148
11,924
10%

Stage 1
£m
194
4,321
2,539
3,395
357
873
11,679
10%

Stage 2 
£m
525
2,387
854
1,153
389
253
5,561
26%

Stage 3
£m
56
313
465
283
12
125
1,254
35%

Gross exposure

Stage 2 
£m
31
851
612
777
52
82
2,405
23%

Stage 3
£m
26
199
136
207
7
89
664
28%

Total
£m
948
7,140
3,073
5,343
709
1,526
18,739
13%

Total
£m
251
5,371
3,287
4,379
416
1,044
14,748
11%

Stage 1
£m
9
53
31
78
2
19
192
60%

Stage 1
£m
–
8
8
11
1
5
33
23%

Stage 2 
£m
27
115
27
51
30
10
260
37%

Stage 3
£m
23
61
140
108
1
57
390
37%

Impairment allowance

Stage 2 
£m
–
18
24
24
–
5
71
24%

Stage 3
£m
24
29
47
85
3
54
242
44%

Total
£m
59
229
198
237
33
86
842
40%

Total
£m
24
55
79
120
4
64
346
35%

A £0.2bn adjustment has been applied to selected sectors in Stage 1 to increase the ECL coverage on these names in line with the average Stage 2 
coverage of the respective sector. This adjustment is materially in response to the increased stress in these sectors not captured through the ECL 
models. An additional £0.1bn adjustment is held against undrawn exposure which does not appear in the table.

The coverage ratio for selected sectors has increased from 2.3% as at 31 December 2019 to 4.5% as at 31 December 2020. 

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Financial statements

Movement in gross exposures and impairment allowance including provisions  
for loan commitments and financial guarantees
The following tables present a reconciliation of the opening to the closing balance of the exposure and impairment allowance. An explanation of the 
terms: 12-month ECL, lifetime ECL and credit-impaired is included in Note 7. Transfers between stages in the tables have been reflected as if they had 
taken place at the beginning of the year. The movements are measured over a 12-month period.

Loans and advances at amortised cost (audited)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Home loans
As at 1 January 2020
Transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2
Transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1
Transfers to Stage 3
Transfers from Stage 3
Business activity in the year
Changes to models used for calculationa
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movements due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Final repayments
Disposalsc
Write-offsd
As at 31 December 2020e

Credit cards, unsecured loans  
and other retail lending
As at 1 January 2020
Transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2
Transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1
Transfers to Stage 3
Transfers from Stage 3
Business activity in the year
Changes to models used for calculationa
Net drawdowns, repayments, net 
re-measurement and movements due 
to exposure and risk parameter changesb
Final repayments
Disposalsc
Write-offsd
As at 31 December 2020e

Wholesale loans
As at 1 January 2020
Transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2
Transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1
Transfers to Stage 3
Transfers from Stage 3
Business activity in the year
Changes to models used for calculationa
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movements due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Final repayments
Disposalsc
Write-offsd
As at 31 December 2020e

Gross 
exposure
£m

135,713
(8,724)
4,618
(308)
47
22,548
–

(6,195)
(9,060)
–
–
138,639

46,012
(6,571)
3,080
(712)
76
5,598
–

(9,678)
(3,291)
(1,493)
–
33,021

117,541
(12,531)
4,121
(1,137)
471
27,863
–

13,828
(28,458)
(2,394)
–
119,304

ECL
£m

22
(1)
14
–
1
7
–

(9)
(1)
–
–
33

542
(134)
482
(25)
39
67
13

(229)
(67)
(8)
–
680

143
(35)
40
(4)
22
46
–

130
(22)
–
–
320

Gross 
exposure
£m

17,043
8,724
(4,618)
(420)
219
714
–

(841)
(1,509)
–
–
19,312

10,759
6,571
(3,080)
(1,162)
67
324
–

(2,706)
(270)
(183)
–
10,320

10,432
12,531
(4,121)
(875)
247
2,336
–

3,811
(2,977)
(10)
–
21,374

ECL
£m

64
1
(14)
(10)
2
2
–

42
(3)
–
–
84

2,007
134
(482)
(398)
12
83
296

1,174
(37)
(20)
–
2,769

302
35
(40)
(58)
13
149
–

339
(29)
–
–
711

Gross 
exposure
£m

2,155
–
–
728
(266)
4
–

(57)
(308)
–
(22)
2,234

3,409
–
–
1,874
(143)
59
–

(10)
(204)
(204)
(1,609)
3,172

2,359
–
–
2,012
(718)
634
–

(64)
(299)
–
(333)
3,591

Total

Gross 
exposure
£m

154,911
–
–
–
–
23,266
–

(7,093)
(10,877)
–
(22)
160,185

60,180
–
–
–
–
5,981
–

(12,394)
(3,765)
(1,880)
(1,609)
46,513

130,332
–
–
–
–
30,833
–

ECL
£m

432
–
–
–
–
9
–

138
(19)
–
(22)
538

4,884
–
–
–
–
178
309

2,298
(188)
(172)
(1,609)
5,700

992
–
–
–
–
280
–

ECL
£m

346
–
–
10
(3)
–
–

105
(15)
–
(22)
421

2,335
–
–
423
(51)
28
–

1,353
(84)
(144)
(1,609)
2,251

547
–
–
62
(35)
85
–

799
(59)
–
(333)
1,066

17,575
(31,734)
(2,404)
(333)
144,269

1,268
(110)
–
(333)
2,097

Notes
a  Changes to models used for calculation include a £309m adjustment which largely represents model remediation to correct for over recovery of debt in UK unsecured lending. 

Barclays continually review the output of models to determine accuracy of the ECL calculation including review of model monitoring, external benchmarking and experience of model 
operation over an extended period of time. This ensures that the models used continue to reflect the risks inherent across the businesses.

b  Transfers and risk parameters change has seen an ECL increase which is materially driven by stage migration in response to the macroeconomic scenario updates, partially offset by a net 
release in ECL of £0.6bn due to a reclassification of £2bn gross loans and advances from Stage 2 to Stage 1 in credit cards and unsecured loans. The reclassification followed a review of 
back-testing of results which indicated that origination probability of default characteristics were unnecessarily moving Stage 1 accounts into Stage 2.

c  The £1.9bn disposals reported within Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending portfolio include £1.7bn sale of motor financing business within the Barclays Partner Finance 

d 

business and £0.2bn relate to debt sales undertaken during the year. The £2.4bn disposal reported within Wholesale loans include sale of debt securities as part of Group Treasury Operations.
In 2020, gross write-offs amounted to £1,964m (2019: £1,883m) and post write-off recoveries amounted to £35m (2019: £124m). Net write-offs represent gross write-offs less post 
write-off recoveries and amounted to £1,929m (2019: £1,759m).

e  Other financial assets subject to impairment not included in the table above include cash collateral and settlement balances, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive 
income and other assets. These have a total gross exposure of £180.3bn (December 2019: £149.3bn) and impairment allowance of £165m (December 2019: £24m). This comprises 
£11m ECL (December 2019: £12m) on £175.7bn Stage 1 assets (December 2019: £148.5bn), £9m (December 2019: £2m) on £4.4bn Stage 2 fair value through other comprehensive 
income assets, cash collateral and settlement assets (December 2019: £0.8bn) and £145m (December 2019: £10m) on £154m Stage 3 other assets (December 2019: £10m).

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Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Reconciliation of ECL movement to impairment charge/(release) for the period
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
ECL movement excluding assets derecognised due to disposals and write-offs
Recoveries and reimbursementsa
Exchange and other adjustmentsb
Impairment charge on loan commitments and financial guarantees
Impairment charge on other financial assetsc
Income statement charge for the period

£m
128
2,597
1,438
4,163
(399)
145
776
153
4,838

Notes
a  Recoveries and reimbursements includes £364m for reimbursements expected to be received under the arrangement where Group has entered into financial guarantee contracts 

which provide credit protection over certain loans assets with third parties. Cash recoveries of previously written off amounts to £35m.
Includes foreign exchange and interest and fees in suspense.

b 
c  Other financial assets subject to impairment not included in the table above include cash collateral and settlement balances, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive 
income and other assets. These have a total gross exposure of £180.3bn (December 2019: £149.3bn) and impairment allowance of £165m (December 2019: £24m). This comprises 
£11m ECL (December 2019: £12m) on £175.7bn Stage 1 assets (December 2019: £148.5bn), £9m (December 2019: £2m) on £4.4bn Stage 2 fair value through other comprehensive 
income assets, cash collateral and settlement assets (December 2019: £0.8bn) and £145m (December 2019: £10m) on £154m Stage 3 other assets (December 2019: £10m).

Loan commitments and financial guarantees (audited)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Home loans
As at 1 January 2020
Net transfers between stages
Business activity in the year
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movement due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Limit management and final repayments
As at 31 December 2020

Credit cards, unsecured loans  
and other retail lending
As at 1 January 2020
Net transfers between stages
Business activity in the year
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movement due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Limit management and final repayments
As at 31 December 2020

Wholesale loans
As at 1 January 2020
Net transfers between stages
Business activity in the year
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movement due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Limit management and final repayments
As at 31 December 2020

Gross 
exposure
£m

9,542
(82)
7,975

(5,332)
(242)
11,861

125,759
(5,477)
5,214

1,298
(12,423)
114,371

185,839
(28,325)
42,917

13,637
(50,361)
163,707

ECL
£m

Gross 
exposure
£m

ECL
£m

Gross 
exposure
£m

–
–
–

–
–
–

35
43
2

(22)
(3)
55

62
67
32

500
78
–

(27)
(35)
516

6,238
4,725
158

1,636
(640)
12,117

12,447
27,319
4,708

47
(7)
201

(44)
(4,172)
40,258

–
–
–

–
–
–

71
(40)
3

272
(1)
305

99
(72)
102

338
(14)
453

4
4
–

(2)
(1)
5

250
752
2

(671)
(104)
229

681
1,006
774

(69)
(296)
2,096

ECL
£m

–
–
–

–
–
–

14
(3)
1

15
(4)
23

41
5
2

Gross 
exposure
£m

10,046
–
7,975

(5,361)
(278)
12,382

132,247
–
5,374

2,263
(13,167)
126,717

198,967
–
48,399

(20)
(1)
27

13,524
(54,829)
206,061

ECL
£m

–
–
–

–
–
–

120
–
6

265
(8)
383

202
–
136

365
(22)
681

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Financial statements

Loans and advances at amortised cost (audited)

Stage 1

Gross 
exposure
£m

Home loans
As at 1 January 2019
Transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2
Transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1
Transfers to Stage 3
Transfers from Stage 3
Business activity in the year
Changes to models used for calculationa
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movements due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Final repayments
Disposalsb
Write-offsc
As at 31 December 2019d

Credit cards, unsecured loans  
and other retail lending
As at 1 January 2019
Transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2
Transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1
Transfers to Stage 3
Transfers from Stage 3
Business activity in the year
Changes to models used for calculationa
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movements due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Final repayments
Disposalsb
Write-offsc
As at 31 December 2019d

Wholesale loans
As at 1 January 2019
Transfers from Stage 1 to Stage 2
Transfers from Stage 2 to Stage 1
Transfers to Stage 3
Transfers from Stage 3
Business activity in the year
Changes to models used for calculationa
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movements due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Final repayments
Disposalsb
Write-offsc
As at 31 December 2019d

130,066
(9,051)
8,000
(199)
43
24,935
–

(6,931)
(10,427)
(723)
–
135,713

45,785
(3,604)
4,522
(857)
144
9,664
–

(5,975)
(3,667)
–
–
46,012

105,375
(3,419)
5,213
(501)
473
40,837
–

5,929
(34,081)
(2,285)
–
117,541

Stage 2

Gross 
exposure
£m

18,206
9,051
(8,000)
(510)
294
734
–

(843)
(1,827)
(62)
–
17,043

12,229
3,604
(4,522)
(1,264)
28
704
–

351
(371)
–
–
10,759

13,012
3,419
(5,213)
(650)
205
1,757
–

321
(2,419)
–
–
10,432

ECL
£m

82
1
(28)
(15)
3
2
–

27
(4)
(4)
–
64

2,304
72
(701)
(448)
14
123
(110)

806
(53)
–
–
2,007

329
11
(84)
(19)
25
27
(19)

85
(53)
–
–
302

Stage 3

Gross 
exposure
£m

2,476
–
–
709
(337)
3
–

(214)
(454)
(2)
(26)
2,155

3,760
–
–
2,121
(172)
89
–

373
(290)
(777)
(1,695)
3,409

2,267
–
–
1,151
(678)
31
–

122
(372)
–
(162)
2,359

Total

Gross 
exposure
£m

150,748
–
–
–
–
25,672
–

(7,988)
(12,708)
(787)
(26)
154,911

61,774
–
–
–
–
10,457
–

(5,251)
(4,328)
(777)
(1,695)
60,180

120,654
–
–
–
–
42,625
–

6,372
(36,872)
(2,285)
(162)
130,332

ECL
£m

464
–
–
–
–
5
–

13
(19)
(5)
(26)
432

5,343
–
–
–
–
282
(101)

1,863
(181)
(627)
(1,695)
4,884

963
–
–
–
–
78
(28)

315
(174)
–
(162)
992

ECL
£m

351
–
–
15
(5)
–
–

24
(13)
–
(26)
346

2,511
–
–
469
(117)
39
(7)

1,836
(74)
(627)
(1,695)
2,335

505
–
–
21
(60)
–
–

334
(91)
–
(162)
547

ECL
£m

31
(1)
28
–
2
3
–

(38)
(2)
(1)
–
22

528
(72)
701
(21)
103
120
16

(779)
(54)
–
–
542

129
(11)
84
(2)
35
51
(9)

(104)
(30)
–
–
143

Notes
a  Changes to models used for calculation include a £101m movement in Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending and a £28m movement in Wholesale loans. These reflect 

methodology changes made during the year. Barclays continually review the output of models to determine accuracy of the ECL calculation including review of model monitoring, external 
benchmarking and experience of model operation over an extended period of time. This ensures that the models used continue to reflect the risks inherent across the businesses.
b  The £787m movement of gross loans and advances disposed of across Home loans relates to the sale of a portfolio of mortgages from the Italian loan book. The £777m disposal 

reported within Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending portfolio relates to debt sales undertaken during the year. Finally, disposals of £2,285m within Wholesale loans relate 
to the sale of debt securities as part of the Group’s Treasury operations.
In 2019, gross write-offs amounted to £1,883m (2018: £1,891m) and post write-off recoveries amounted to £124m (2018: £195m). Net write-offs represent gross write-offs less post 
write-off recoveries and amounted to £1,759m (2018: £1,696m).

c 

d  Other financial assets subject to impairment not included in the table above include cash collateral and settlement balances, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive 
income and other assets. These have a total gross exposure of £149.3bn (December 2018: £129.9bn) and impairment allowance of £24m (December 2018: £12m). This comprises 
£12m ECL (December 2018: £10m) on £148.5bn Stage 1 assets (December 2018: £129.3bn), £2m (December 2018: £2m) on £0.8bn Stage 2 fair value through other comprehensive 
income assets, cash collateral and settlement assets (December 2018: £0.6bn) and £10m (December 2018: £nil) on £10m Stage 3 other assets (December 2018: £nil).

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Reconciliation of ECL movement to impairment charge/(release) for the period
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
ECL movement excluding assets derecognised due to disposals and write-offs
Recoveries and reimbursements
Exchange and other adjustmentsa
Impairment charge on loan commitments and financial guarantees
Impairment charge on other financial assetsb
Income statement charge for the period

£m
(1)
1,863
191
2,053
(124)
(96)
71
8
1,912

Includes foreign exchange and interest and fees in suspense.

Notes
a 
b  Other financial assets subject to impairment not included in the table above include cash collateral and settlement balances, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive 
income and other assets. These have a total gross exposure of £149.3bn (December 2018: £129.9bn) and impairment allowance of £24m (December 2018: £12m). This comprises 
£12m ECL (December 2018: £10m) on £148.5bn Stage 1 assets (December 2018: £129.3bn), £2m (December 2018: £2m) on £0.8bn Stage 2 fair value through other comprehensive 
income assets, cash collateral and settlement assets (December 2018: £0.6bn) and £10m (December 2018: £nil) on £10m Stage 3 other assets (December 2018: £nil).

Loan commitments and financial guarantees (audited)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Gross 
exposure
£m

ECL
£m

Gross 
exposure
£m

ECL
£m

Gross 
exposure
£m

Home loans
As at 1 January 2019
Net transfers between stages
Business activity in the year
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movement due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Limit management and final repayments
As at 31 December 2019

Credit cards, unsecured loans  
and other retail lending
As at 1 January 2019
Net transfers between stages
Business activity in the year
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movement due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Limit management and final repayments
As at 31 December 2019

Wholesale loans
As at 1 January 2019
Net transfers between stages
Business activity in the year
Net drawdowns, repayments, 
net re-measurement and movement due 
to exposure and risk parameter changes
Limit management and final repayments
As at 31 December 2019

6,948
(39)
2,848

1
(216)
9,542

124,611
117
14,619

(1,151)
(12,437)
125,759

178,430
(875)
53,685

(487)
(44,914)
185,839

–
–
–

–
–
–

41
44
2

(48)
(4)
35

58
7
22

(1)
(24)
62

546
47
–

(40)
(53)
500

9,016
(1,082)
218

(1,172)
(742)
6,238

12,564
580
2,779

1,190
(4,666)
12,447

–
–
–

–
–
–

65
(43)
1

54
(6)
71

85
(8)
22

36
(36)
99

13
(8)
–

–
(1)
4

267
965
6

(874)
(114)
250

404
295
16

232
(266)
681

Total

Gross 
exposure
£m

7,507
–
2,848

(39)
(270)
10,046

133,894
–
14,843

(3,197)
(13,293)
132,247

ECL
£m

–
–
–

–
–
–

20
(1)
6

(9)
(2)
14

2
1
–

191,398
–
56,480

41
(3)
41

935
(49,846)
198,967

ECL
£m

–
–
–

–
–
–

126
–
9

(3)
(12)
120

145
–
44

76
(63)
202

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Stage 2 decomposition
Loans and advances at amortised costa

As at 31 December
Quantitative test
Qualitative test
30 days past due backstop
Total Stage 2

2020

2019

Gross 
exposure
£m
36,754
11,865
2,387
51,006

Impairment 
allowance
 £m
3,252
273
39
3,564

Gross 
exposure
£m
24,034
12,733
1,467
38,234

Impairment 
allowance
 £m
2,059
278
36
2,373

Note
a  Where balances satisfy more than one of the above three criteria for determining a significant increase in credit risk, the corresponding gross exposure and ECL has been assigned 

in order of categories presented.

Stage 2 exposures are predominantly identified using quantitative tests where the lifetime PD has deteriorated more than a pre-determined amount 
since origination during the year driven by changes in macroeconomic variables. This is augmented by inclusion of accounts meeting the designated high 
risk criteria (including watchlist) for the portfolio under the qualitative test. Qualitative tests predominantly include £8.5bn (2019: £9.3bn) in Barclays UK 
of which £7.1bn (2019: £7.4bn) relates to UK Home Finance, £1.0bn (2019: £1.1bn) relates to Business Banking and £0.1bn (2019: £0.4bn) relates to 
Barclaycard UK. A further £3.3bn (2019: £3.4bn) relates to Barclays International of which £2bn (2019: £1.7bn) relates to Corporate and Investment Bank, 
£0.3bn (2019: £0.9bn) relates to Barclaycard International and £0.7bn (2019: £0.7bn) relates to Private Bank.

A small number of other accounts (1% of impairment allowances and 5% of gross exposure) are included in Stage 2. These accounts are not otherwise 
identified by the quantitative or qualitative tests but are more than 30 days past due. The percentage triggered by these backstop criteria is a measure of 
the effectiveness of the Stage 2 criteria in identifying deterioration prior to delinquency. These balances include items in the Corporate and Investment 
Bank for reasons such as outstanding interest and fees rather than principal balances.

For further detail on the three criteria for determining a significant increase in credit risk required for Stage 2 classification, refer to Note 7.

Stage 3 decomposition

Loans and advances at amortised cost

As at 31 December
Exposures not charged-off including within cure perioda
Exposures individually assessed or in recovery bookb
Total Stage 3

2020

2019

Gross 
exposure
£m
3,773
5,224
8,997

Impairment 
allowance
 £m
831
2,907
3,738

Gross 
exposure
£m
3,540
4,383
7,923

Impairment 
allowance
 £m
857
2,371
3,228

Notes
a 
b  Exposures individually assessed or in recovery book cannot cure out of Stage 3.

Includes £2.6bn (2019: £2.5bn) of gross exposure in a cure period that must remain in Stage 3 for a minimum of 12 months before moving to Stage 2.

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Management adjustments to models for impairment (audited)
Management adjustments to impairment models are applied in order to factor in certain conditions or changes in policy that are not fully incorporated 
into the impairment models, or to reflect additional facts and circumstances at the period end. Management adjustments are reviewed and incorporated 
into future model development where applicable.

Total management adjustments to impairment allowance are presented by product below.

Management adjustments to models for impairment (audited)a 

As at 31 December
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total

Management adjustments to models for impairment charges (audited)a

As at 31 December 2020
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total

2020

2019

Management 
adjustments 
to impairment 
allowances
£m
131
1,234
23
1,388

Proportion 
of total 
impairment 
allowances
%
24.3
20.3
0.8
14.8

Management 
adjustments 
to impairment 
allowances
£m
57
308
(25)
340

Proportion 
of total 
impairment 
allowancesb
%
13.2
6.2
(2.1)
5.1

Impairment 
allowance pre 
management 
adjustmentsc
 £m
407
4,849
2,755
8,011

Economic 
uncertainty 
adjustments
£m
21
1,625
421
2,067

Other 
adjustments
£m
110
(391)
(398)
(679)

Total 
impairment 
allowance
 £m
538
6,083
2,778
9,399

Notes
a  Positive values relate to an increase in impairment allowance.
b  The 2019 comparative figures have been restated to include impairment allowance on both drawn and undrawn exposures.
c   Includes £6.8bn of modelled ECL, £0.9bn of individually assessed impairments and £0.3bn ECL from non-modelled exposures.

Economic uncertainty adjustments
The pandemic impacted the global economy throughout 2020 and macroeconomic forecasts indicate longer-term impacts will result in higher 
unemployment levels and customer and client stress. However, to date, little real credit deterioration has occurred, largely as a result of government 
and bank support. Observed 30-day arrears rates in consumer loans in particular have remained stable in both US cards (2020: 2.5%; 2019: 2.7%) and 
UK cards (2020: 1.7%; 2019: 1.7%). A similar phenomenon is observed in wholesale, where the average risk profile of the portfolio has broadly remained 
stable during the year and has not deteriorated in line with the macroeconomic crisis.

Given this backdrop, management has applied COVID-19 specific adjustments to modelled outputs to ensure the full potential impacts of stress are 
provided for. These adjustments address the temporary nature of ongoing government support, the uncertainty in relation to the timing of stress and 
the degree to which economic consensus has not yet captured the range of economic uncertainty. 

The COVID-19 adjustments of £2.1bn broadly comprised the following:
■■ Use of expert judgement to adjust the probability of default £0.7bn to pre-COVID levels to reflect the impact of temporary support measures on 

underlying customer behaviour, partially offset by government guarantees £(0.1)bn which are materially against BBLs;

■■ Adjusting macroeconomic variables deemed temporarily influenced by support measures, enabling models to consume the expected stress £1.2bn;
■■ A £0.3bn adjustment has been applied to selected sectors in Stage 1 to increase the ECL coverage on these names in line with the average Stage 2 

coverage. This adjustment is materially in response to the increased stress in these sectors not captured through the ECL models.

Other adjustments
Home loans: The low average LTV nature of the UK Home Loans portfolio means that modelled ECL estimates are low in all but the most severe 
economic scenarios. An adjustment is held to maintain an appropriate level of ECL.

Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending: Includes a net release in ECL of £0.6bn due to a reclassification of £2bn gross loans and 
advances from Stage 2 to Stage 1 in credit cards and unsecured loans. The reclassification followed a review of back-testing of results which indicated 
that origination probability of default characteristics were unnecessarily moving Stage 1 accounts into Stage 2.

Wholesale loans: Adjustments include a release in the Investment Bank to limit excessive ECL sensitivity to the macroeconomic variable for Federal 
Tax Receipts and a correction to Corporate and Investment Bank ECL to adjust for model inaccuracies informed by back-testing.

Management adjustments of £340m in 2019 largely comprises a £210m PMA to compensate for over-recovery of debt in UK unsecured lending, and 
subsequently fixed within the underlying model; and £150m for UK economic uncertainty, now subsumed within managements broader approach to 
economic uncertainty.

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Measurement uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
The measurement of ECL involves complexity and judgement, including estimation of probabilities of default (PD), loss given default (LGD), a range of unbiased 
future economic scenarios, estimation of expected lives, estimation of exposures at default (EAD) and assessing significant increases in credit risk.

The Group uses a five-scenario model to calculate ECL. An external consensus forecast is assembled from key sources, including HM Treasury (short 
and medium-term forecasts), Bloomberg (based on median of economic forecasts) and the Urban Land Institute (for US House Prices), which forms the 
Baseline scenario. In addition, two adverse scenarios (Downside 1 and Downside 2) and two favourable scenarios (Upside 1 and Upside 2) are derived, with 
associated probability weightings. The adverse scenarios are calibrated to a broadly similar severity to Barclays’ internal stress tests and stress scenarios 
provided by regulators whilst also considering IFRS 9 specific sensitivities and non-linearity. Downside 2 is benchmarked to the Bank of England’s stress 
scenarios and to the most severe scenario from Moody’s inventory, but is not designed to be the same. The favourable scenarios are calibrated to reflect 
upside risks to the Baseline scenario to the extent that is broadly consistent with recent favourable benchmark scenarios. All scenarios are regenerated 
at a minimum semi-annually. The scenarios include eight economic variables, (GDP, unemployment, House Price Index (HPI) and base rates in both the 
UK and US markets), and expanded variables using statistical models based on historical correlations. The upside and downside shocks are designed to 
evolve over a five-year stress horizon, with all five scenarios converging to a steady state after approximately eight years.

Scenarios used to calculate the Group’s ECL charge were reviewed and updated regularly throughout 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 
pandemic in the first quarter. The current Baseline scenario reflects the latest consensus economic forecasts with a steady recovery in GDP in the UK and 
the US, and unemployment continuing to decrease in the US and peaking at Q221 in the UK followed by a steady decline. In the downside scenarios, an 
economic downturn in early 2021 in the UK and the US begins to recover later in the year, with unemployment increasing to the end of 2021. In the upside 
scenarios, the strong rebound in UK and US GDP continues into 2021, following the bounce-back in growth in Q320 and, subsequently, the projections 
stay above the year on year growth rates seen in the Baseline for a prolonged period of time before finally reverting to the long-term run rate. This reflects 
the assumption of approved vaccines being successfully rolled out throughout 2021 and pent up savings being deployed into a more certain consumer 
environment to drive significant growth. Scenario weights have been updated to reflect the latest economics. 

As a result of government and bank support measures, significant credit deterioration has not yet occurred. This delay increases uncertainty on 
the timing of the stress and the realisation of defaults. Management has applied COVID-19 specific adjustments to modelled outputs to reflect the 
temporary nature of ongoing government support, the uncertainty in relation to the timing of stress and the degree to which economic consensus has 
yet captured the range of economic uncertainty, particularly in the UK. As a result, ECL is higher than would be the case if it were based on the forecast 
economic scenarios alone. 

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Scenario weights (audited)
The methodology for estimating probability weights for each of the scenarios involves a comparison of the distribution of key historical UK and US 
macroeconomic variables against the forecast paths of the five scenarios. The methodology works such that the Baseline (reflecting current consensus 
outlook) has the highest weight and the weights of adverse and favourable scenarios depend on the deviation from the Baseline; the further from the 
Baseline, the smaller the weight. This is reflected in the table below where the probability weights of the scenarios are shown. A single set of five scenarios 
is used across all portfolios and all five weights are normalised to equate to 100%. The same scenarios and weights that are used in the estimation of 
expected credit losses are also used for Barclays internal planning purposes. The impacts across the portfolios are different because of the sensitivities 
of each of the portfolios to specific macroeconomic variables, for example, mortgages are highly sensitive to house prices, and credit cards and 
unsecured consumer loans are highly sensitive to unemployment.

The range of forecast paths generated in the calculation of the weights at 31 December 2020 is much wider than in previous periods due to the 
uncertainty caused by COVID-19, thus the Upside and Downside scenarios are further away from the tails of the distribution than previously, resulting in a 
more even spread of weights than at 31 December 2019. 

The economic environment remains uncertain and future impairment charges may be subject to further volatility (including from changes to 
macroeconomic variable forecasts) depending on the longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures, as well as the longer 
term effectiveness of central bank, government and other support measures. 

The tables below show the key consensus macroeconomic variables used in the baseline scenario (3-year annual paths), the probability weights applied 
to each scenario and the macroeconomic variables by scenario using ‘specific bases’ i.e. the most extreme position of each variable in the context 
of the scenario, for example, the highest unemployment for downside scenarios and the lowest unemployment for upside scenarios. 5-year average 
tables and movement over time graphs provide additional transparency.

Annual paths show quarterly averages for the year (unemployment and base rate) or change in the year (GDP and HPI). Expected worst point is the most 
negative quarter in the relevant 3 year period, which is calculated relative to the start point for GDP and HPI.

Baseline average macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

2021
 %
6.3
6.7
2.4
–
3.9
6.9
2.8
0.3

2020
 %
1.3
4.1
1.9
0.6
2.1
3.6
3.4
1.7

2022
 %
3.3
6.4
2.3
(0.1)
3.1
5.7
4.7
0.3

2021
 %
1.5
4.2
3.1
0.5
1.9
3.9
2.9
1.5

2023
%
2.6
5.8
5.0
–
2.9
5.6
4.7
0.3

2022
%
1.6
4.2
3.6
0.8
1.9
4.0
2.8
1.7

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
1.2
7.4
0.6
(0.1)
1.0
7.5
0.7
0.3

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
0.3
4.2
0.3
0.5
0.5
4.0
1.0
1.5

Notes
a  Average Real GDP seasonally adjusted change in year; expected worst point is the minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter period.
b  Average UK unemployment rate 16-year+; expected worst point is the highest rate in the 12-quarter period starting Q121 (2019: Q120).
c  Change in year end UK HPI = Halifax All Houses, All Buyers index, relative to prior year end; worst point is based on minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter 

period.

d  Average US civilian unemployment rate 16-year+; expected worst point is the highest rate in the 12-quarter period starting Q121 (2019: Q120).
e  Change in year end US HPI = FHFA house price index, relative to prior year end; worst point is based on minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter period.

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Downside 2 average macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

Downside 1 average macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

2021
 %
(3.9)
8.0
(13.6)
(0.2)
(2.4)
13.4
(17.2)
0.3

2020
 %
1.3
4.1
1.9
0.6
2.1
3.6
3.4
1.7

2021
 %
0.1
7.3
(6.7)
(0.1)
0.4
11.0
(5.9)
0.3

2020
 %
0.6
4.7
(2.6)
1.7
1.2
4.0
1.2
2.6

2022
 %
6.5
9.3
(10.8)
(0.2)
3.6
11.9
(0.7)
0.3

2021
 %
1.5
4.2
3.1
0.5
1.9
3.9
2.9
1.5

2022
 %
6.6
8.0
(3.5)
(0.1)
3.6
8.9
1.8
0.3

2021
 %
0.3
5.7
(4.1)
2.8
0.4
5.1
0.5
3.0

2023
%
2.6
7.8
0.5
(0.1)
2.1
10.1
0.6
0.3

2022
%
1.6
4.2
3.6
0.8
1.9
4.0
2.8
1.7

2023
%
3.2
6.9
1.7
–
2.3
6.9
2.6
0.3

2022
%
0.6
5.7
(1.7)
2.8
0.8
5.3
0.8
3.0

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
(11.0)
10.1
(23.0)
(0.2)
(6.0)
13.7
(17.8)
0.3

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
0.3
4.2
0.3
0.5
0.5
4.0
1.0
1.5

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
(7.0)
8.4
(10.0)
(0.1)
(3.0)
11.5
(5.9)
0.3

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
0.1
5.8
(8.2)
0.8
0.2
5.4
0.5
2.0

Notes
a  Average Real GDP seasonally adjusted change in year; expected worst point is the minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter period.
b  Average UK unemployment rate 16-year+; expected worst point is the highest rate in the 12-quarter period starting Q121 (2019: Q120).
c  Change in year end UK HPI = Halifax All Houses, All Buyers index, relative to prior year end; worst point is based on minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter 

period.

d  Average US civilian unemployment rate 16-year+; expected worst point is the highest rate in the 12-quarter period starting Q121 (2019: Q120).
e  Change in year end US HPI = FHFA house price index, relative to prior year end; worst point is based on minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter period.

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Upside 2 average macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

Upside 1 average macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPa
UK unemploymentb
UK HPIc
UK bank rate
US GDPa
US unemploymentd
US HPIe
US federal funds rate

2021
 %
12.2
6.2
6.6
0.1
7.1
5.5
8.8
0.3

2020
 %
3.0
3.7
6.8
0.6
3.4
3.3
7.4
1.7

2021
 %
9.3
6.4
4.6
0.1
5.5
6.0
6.8
0.3

2020
 %
2.2
3.9
5.0
0.6
2.8
3.5
5.1
1.7

2022
 %
5.3
5.5
10.4
0.3
4.6
4.3
9.1
0.4

2021
 %
4.0
3.4
10.8
0.5
4.2
3.0
7.6
1.5

2022
 %
3.9
6.0
6.1
0.1
4.0
4.8
6.7
0.3

2021
 %
2.8
3.8
7.0
0.5
3.3
3.6
4.7
1.5

2023
%
3.9
4.8
10.8
0.3
4.0
4.1
8.9
0.6

2022
%
3.4
3.5
9.9
0.5
3.6
3.0
7.2
1.5

2023
%
3.4
5.2
6.1
0.3
3.7
4.6
6.3
0.5

2022
%
2.5
3.9
6.8
0.5
2.9
3.7
4.4
1.5

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
5.0
7.4
1.1
0.1
3.4
6.1
1.7
0.3

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
0.9
3.9
1.0
0.5
1.0
3.5
1.6
1.5

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
3.5
7.4
0.8
0.1
2.1
6.7
1.4
0.3

Expected 
Worst Point 
 %
0.6
4.0
0.7
0.5
0.8
3.7
1.4
1.5

Notes
a  Average Real GDP seasonally adjusted change in year; expected worst point is the minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter period.
b  Average UK unemployment rate 16-year+; expected worst point is the highest rate in the 12-quarter period starting Q121 (2019: Q120).
c  Change in year end UK HPI = Halifax All Houses, All Buyers index, relative to prior year end; worst point is based on minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter 

period.

d  Average US civilian unemployment rate 16-year+; expected worst point is the highest rate in the 12-quarter period starting Q121 (2019: Q120).
e  Change in year end US HPI = FHFA house price index, relative to prior year end; worst point is based on minimum growth relative to Q420 (2019: Q419) based on a 12-quarter period.

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Scenario probability weighting (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
Scenario probability weighting
As at 31 December 2019
Scenario probability weighting

Upside 2
 %

Upside 1
 %

Baseline
 %

Downside 1
 %

Downside 2
 %

20.2

10.1

24.2

23.1

24.7

40.8

15.5

22.7

15.4

3.3

Specific bases shows the most extreme position of each variable in the context of the scenario, for example, the highest unemployment for downside 
scenarios, average unemployment for baseline scenarios and lowest unemployment for upside scenarios. GDP and HPI downside and upside scenario 
data represents the lowest and highest points relative to the start point in the 20 quarter period.

Macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL (specific bases)a (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPb
UK unemploymentc
UK HPId
UK bank ratec
US GDPb
US unemploymentc
US HPId
US federal funds ratec
As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPb
UK unemploymentc
UK HPId
UK bank ratec
US GDPb
US unemploymentc
US HPId
US federal funds ratec

Upside 2
 %

Upside 1
 %

Baseline
 %

Downside 1
 %

Downside 2
 %

14.2
4.0
48.2
0.1
15.7
3.8
42.2
0.1

15.4
3.4
41.1
0.5
17.9
3.0
35.8
1.5

8.8
4.0
30.8
0.1
12.8
3.8
30.9
0.1

11.7
3.8
28.8
0.5
14.9
3.5
23.7
1.5

0.7
5.7
3.6
–
1.6
6.4
3.8
0.3

1.5
4.1
2.8
0.7
2.1
3.9
3.2
1.8

(22.1)
8.4
(4.5)
0.6
(10.6)
13.0
(3.7)
1.3

0.2
5.8
(6.3)
2.8
0.5
5.4
0.3
3.0

(22.1)
10.1
(18.3)
0.6
(10.6)
13.7
(15.9)
1.3

(4.6)
8.8
(31.1)
4.0
(3.0)
8.5
(16.7)
3.5

Average basis represents the average quarterly value of variables in the 20 quarter period with GDP and HPI based on yearly average and quarterly CAGRs 
respectively.

Macroeconomic variables used in the calculation of ECL (5-year averages)a (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
UK GDPe
UK unemploymentf
UK HPIg
UK bank ratef
US GDPe
US unemploymentf
US HPIg
US federal funds ratef
As at 31 December 2019
UK GDPe
UK unemploymentf
UK HPIg
UK bank ratef
US GDPe
US unemploymentf
US HPIg
US federal funds ratef

Upside 2
 %

Upside 1
 %

Baseline
 %

Downside 1
 %

Downside 2
 %

2.5
5.0
8.2
0.3
2.9
5.3
7.3
0.5

2.9
3.6
7.1
0.6
3.4
3.2
6.3
1.7

1.6
5.3
5.5
0.2
2.4
5.7
5.5
0.5

2.2
3.9
5.2
0.6
2.9
3.7
4.3
1.7

0.7
5.7
3.6
–
1.6
6.4
3.8
0.3

1.5
4.1
2.8
0.7
2.1
3.9
3.2
1.8

0.1
6.5
(0.2)
–
0.8
8.3
0.8
0.3

0.8
5.1
(1.1)
2.1
1.3
4.7
1.6
2.8

(0.9)
7.2
(3.6)
(0.1)
0.1
10.4
(3.0)
0.3

(0.6)
7.0
(6.9)
3.1
(0.1)
6.6
(3.4)
3.2

Notes
a  UK GDP = Real GDP growth seasonally adjusted; UK unemployment = UK unemployment rate 16-year+; UK HPI = Halifax All Houses, All Buyers Index; US GDP = Real GDP growth 

seasonally adjusted; US unemployment = US civilian unemployment rate 16-year+; US HPI = FHFA house price index. 

b  Maximum growth relative to Q419 (2019: Q418), based on 20 quarter period in Upside scenarios; 5-year yearly average CAGR in Baseline; minimum growth relative to Q419 (2019: Q418), 

based on 20 quarter period in Downside scenarios.

c  Lowest quarter in Upside scenarios; 5-year average in Baseline; highest quarter in Downside scenarios. Period based on 20 quarters from Q120 (2019: Q119).
d  Maximum growth relative to Q419 (2019: Q418), based on 20 quarter period in Upside scenarios; 5-year quarter end CAGR in Baseline; minimum growth relative to Q419 (2019: Q418), 

based on 20 quarter period in Downside scenarios.

e  5-year yearly average CAGR, starting 2019 (2019: 2018).
f  5-year average, Period based on 20 quarters from Q120 (2019: Q119).
g  5-year quarter end CAGR, starting Q419 (2019: Q418).

2019 data presented on a revised, simplified basis for ease of comparison. 
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The graphs below plot the historical data for GDP growth rate and unemployment rate in the UK and US as well as the forecasted data under each of the 
five scenarios.

UK GDP 
%

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

-30

UK unemployment 
%

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

Downside 2

Downside 1

Baseline

Upside 1

Upside 2

Downside 2

Downside 1

Baseline

Upside 1

Upside 2

US GDP 
%

15

10

5

0

-5

-10

-15

US unemployment 
%

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

Downside 2

Downside 1

Baseline

Upside 1

Upside 2

Downside 2

Downside 1

Baseline

Upside 1

Upside 2

GDP growth based on year on year growth each quarter (Q/(Q-4)).

ECL under 100% weighted scenarios for modelled portfolios (audited)
The table below shows the ECL assuming scenarios have been 100% weighted. Model exposures are allocated to a stage based on the individual scenario 
rather than through a probability-weighted approach as required for Barclays reported impairment allowances. As a result, it is not possible to back solve 
to the final reported weighted ECL from the individual scenarios as a balance may be assigned to a different stage dependent on the scenario. Model 
exposure uses exposure at default (EAD) values and is not directly comparable to gross exposure used in prior disclosures. For Credit cards, unsecured 
loans and other retail lending, an average EAD measure is used (12-month or lifetime, depending on stage allocation in each scenario). Therefore, the 
model exposure movement into Stage 2 is higher than the corresponding Stage 1 reduction.

All ECL using a model is included, with the exception of Treasury assets (£13m of ECL), providing additional coverage as compared to the 2019 year-end 
disclosure. Non-modelled exposures and management adjustments are excluded. Management adjustments can be found in the Management 
adjustments to models for impairment section.

Model exposures allocated to Stage 3 do not change in any of the scenarios as the transition criteria relies only on observable evidence of default as at 
31 December 2020 and not on macroeconomic scenarios.

The Downside 2 scenario represents a severe global recession with substantial falls in both UK and US GDP. Unemployment in UK markets rises towards 
10% and US markets rises towards 14% and there are substantial falls in asset prices including housing. Under the Downside 2 scenario, model exposure 
moves between stages as the economic environment weakens. This can be seen in the movement of £27bn of model exposure into Stage 2 between 
the Weighted and Downside 2 scenario. ECL increases in Stage 2 predominantly due to unsecured portfolios as economic conditions deteriorate.

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As at 31 December 2020
Stage 1 Model Exposure (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 1 Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 1 Coverage (%)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 2 Model Exposure (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 2 Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 2 Coverage (%)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 3 Model Exposure (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Stage 3 Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Stage 3 Coverage (%)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Total Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Total ECL

Weighted

Upside 2

Upside 1

Baseline

Downside 1

Downside 2

Scenarios

131,422
51,952
149,099

134,100
53,271
155,812

133,246
52,932
154,578

132,414
51,995
152,141

130,547
50,168
144,646

128,369
48,717
131,415

6
392
262

–
0.8
0.2

4
316
242

–
0.6
0.2

5
340
258

–
0.6
0.2

6
372
249

–
0.7
0.2

14
415
278

–
0.8
0.2

42
415
290

–
0.9
0.2

19,180
13,399
32,677

16,502
10,572
25,963

17,356
11,579
27,198

18,188
13,176
29,635

20,055
16,477
37,130

22,233
19,322
50,361

37
2,207
1,410

0.2
16.5
4.3

1,778
2,585
2,211

307
2,003
146

17.3
77.5
6.6

350
4,602
1,818
6,770

31
1,618
952

0.2
15.3
3.7

1,778
2,585
2,211

282
1,947
128

15.9
75.3
5.8

317
3,881
1,322
5,520

32
1,837
1,047

0.2
15.9
3.8

1,778
2,585
2,211

286
1,972
134

16.1
76.3
6.1

323
4,149
1,439
5,911

33
2,138
1,223

0.2
16.2
4.1

1,778
2,585
2,211

290
2,001
141

16.3
77.4
6.4

329
4,511
1,613
6,453

42
2,865
1,771

0.2
17.4
4.8

1,778
2,585
2,211

318
2,055
157

17.9
79.5
7.1

374
5,335
2,206
7,915

63
3,564
2,911

0.3
18.4
5.8

1,778
2,585
2,211

386
2,078
184

21.7
80.4
8.3

491
6,057
3,385
9,933

Note
a  Material wholesale loan defaults are individually assessed across different recovery strategies. As a result, ECL of £902m is reported as individually assessed impairments in the table below.

Reconciliation to total ECL
Total model ECL
ECL from individually assessed impairments
ECL from non-modelled and other management adjustmentsa
Total ECL

Note
a 

Includes £1.4bn of post-model adjustments and £0.3bn ECL from non-modelled exposures.

£m

6,770
902
1,727
9,399

The dispersion of results around the Baseline is an indication of uncertainty around the future projections. The disclosure highlights the results of the 
alternative scenarios enabling the reader to understand the extent of the impact on exposure and ECL from the upside/downside scenarios. 
Consequently, the use of five scenarios with associated weightings results in a total weighted ECL uplift from the Baseline ECL of 5%, largely driven by 
credit card losses which have more linear loss profiles than UK home loans and wholesale loan positions.

Home loans: Total weighted ECL of £350m represents a 6% increase over the Baseline ECL (£329m), and coverage ratios remain steady across the 
Upside scenarios, Baseline and Downside 1 scenario. However, total ECL increases in the Downside 2 scenario to £491m, driven by a significant fall in UK 
HPI (18.3%) reflecting the non-linearity of the UK portfolio. 

Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending: Total weighted ECL of £4,602m represents a 2% increase over the Baseline ECL (£4,511m) 
reflecting the range of economic scenarios used, mainly impacted by Unemployment and other key retail variables. Total ECL increases to £6,057m under 

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the Downside 2 scenario, mainly driven by Stage 2, where coverage rates increase to 18.4% from a weighted scenario approach of 16.5% and circa £6bn 
increase in model exposure that meets the Significant Increase in Credit Risk criteria and transitions from Stage 1 to Stage 2.

Wholesale loans: Total weighted ECL of £1,818m represents a 13% increase over the Baseline ECL (£1,613m) reflecting the range of economic 
scenarios used, with exposures in the Investment Bank particularly sensitive to the Downside 2 scenario.

As at 31 December 2019
Stage 1 Model Exposure (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 1 Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 1 Coverage (%)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 2 Model Exposure (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 2 Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 2 Coverage (%)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Stage 3 Model Exposure (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Stage 3 Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Stage 3 Coverage (%)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Total Model ECL (£m)
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
Wholesale loansa
Total ECL

Weighted

Upside 2

Upside 1

Baseline

Downside 1

Downside 2

Scenarios

137,929
68,619
160,544

139,574
69,190
162,717

138,992
69,012
162,058

138,249
68,388
161,111

136,454
68,309
157,720

132,505
67,015
143,323

6
505
209

–
0.7
0.1

4
490
162

–
0.7
0.1

5
495
174

–
0.7
0.1

5
495
188

–
0.7
0.1

7
511
271

–
0.7
0.2

19
528
297

–
0.8
0.2

16,889
13,406
15,947

15,245
11,449
13,773

15,826
12,108
14,433

16,570
13,075
15,380

18,364
15,663
18,770

22,314
19,615
33,168

41
1,844
414

0.2
13.8
2.6

1,670
3,008
1,489

268
2,198
118

16.0
73.1
7.9

315
4,547
741
5,603

33
1,412
285

0.2
12.3
2.1

1,670
3,008
1,489

262
2,154
111

15.7
71.6
7.4

299
4,056
558
4,913

34
1,562
323

0.2
12.9
2.2

1,670
3,008
1,489

264
2,174
114

15.8
72.3
7.6

303
4,231
611
5,145

36
1,771
374

0.2
13.5
2.4

1,670
3,008
1,489

266
2,195
117

15.9
73.0
7.9

307
4,461
679
5,447

47
2,384
579

0.3
15.2
3.1

1,670
3,008
1,489

272
2,235
127

16.3
74.3
8.5

326
5,130
977
6,433

170
4,285
1,427

0.8
21.8
4.3

1,670
3,008
1,489

316
2,292
128

18.9
76.2
8.6

505
7,105
1,852
9,462

Note
a  Material wholesale loan defaults are individually assessed across different recovery strategies. As a result, ECL of £419m is reported as individually assessed impairments in the table below.

Reconciliation to total ECLa
Total model ECL
ECL from individually assessed impairments
ECL from non-modelled and other management adjustments
Total ECL

£m

5,603
419
608
6,630

Note
a  The table has been re-presented to separately show the impact of individually assessed impairments of £419m. This was included in the Barclays PLC Annual Report 2019 with 
non-modelled and other adjustments of £268m. Non-modelled and other adjustments are now disclosed within the other management adjustments category of £608m.

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Staging sensitivity (audited)
An increase of 1% (£3,510m) of total gross exposure into Stage 2 (from Stage 1), would result in an increase in ECL impairment allowance of £232m 
based on applying the difference in Stage 2 and Stage 1 average impairment coverage ratios to the movement in gross exposure (refer to Loans and 
advances at amortised cost by product).

Analysis of the concentration of credit risk
A concentration of credit risk exists when a number of counterparties are located in a common geographical region or are engaged in similar activities and 
have similar economic characteristics that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or 
other conditions. The Group implements limits on concentrations in order to mitigate the risk. The analyses of credit risk concentrations presented below 
are based on the location of the counterparty or customer or the industry in which they are engaged. Further detail on the Group policies with regard to 
managing concentration risk is presented in the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 (unaudited).

Geographic concentrations
As at 31 December 2020, the geographic concentration of the Group’s assets remained broadly consistent with 2019. Exposure is concentrated in the 
UK 39% (2019: 40%), in the Americas 33% (2019: 34%) and Europe 21% (2019: 20%).

Americas
£m

Europe
£m

Asia
£m

Africa and 
Middle East
£m

Total
£m

Credit risk concentrations by geography (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
On-balance sheet:
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

United
Kingdom
£m

66,459
33,893
262,231
10
9,829
34,229
93,430
10,672
608
511,361

36,063
27,287
41,094
152
31,000
88,327
90,801
27,504
185
342,413

69,963
30,121
24,949
373
17,107
25,709
101,102
28,607
57
297,988

Off-balance sheet:
Contingent liabilities
Loan commitments
Total off-balance sheet
Total

As at 31 December 2019
On-balance sheet:
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

Off-balance sheet:
Contingent liabilities
Loan commitments
Total off-balance sheet
Total

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

5,876
112,561
118,437
629,798

10,122
175,926
186,048
528,461

3,809
38,836
42,645
340,633

51,477
27,431
257,459
1,005
11,550
29,001
69,844
9,444
1,170
458,595

28,273
23,595
46,569
15
27,621
70,849
63,344
23,052
126
283,267

54,632
26,008
25,599
1,056
13,397
11,286
83,165
24,443
79
239,628

7,539
105,350
112,889
571,484

10,838
188,109
198,947
482,214

3,862
36,033
39,895
279,523

17,987
9,558
10,728
8,285
5,948
14,742
14,532
11,006
–
92,786

1,222
4,169
5,391
98,177

15,130
5,385
6,275
470
4,786
12,534
11,189
7,665
–
63,434

1,562
3,166
4,728
68,162

655
508
3,630
211
946
7,524
2,581
138
–

191,127
101,367
342,632
9,031
64,830
170,531
302,446
77,927
850
16,193 1,260,741

580
1,557
2,137

21,609
333,049
354,658
18,330 1,615,399

746
837
3,213
833
763
1,921
1,694
123
–

150,258
83,256
339,115
3,379
58,117
125,591
229,236
64,727
1,375
10,130 1,055,054

726
1,797
2,523

24,527
334,455
358,982
12,653 1,414,036

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Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Industry concentrations
The concentration of the Group’s assets by industry remained broadly consistent year on year. As at 31 December 2020, total assets concentrated in 
banks and other financial institutions was 40% (2019: 36%), predominantly within derivative financial instruments. The proportion of the overall balance 
concentrated in governments and central banks was 21% (2019: 19%), cards, unsecured loans and other personal lending was 10% (2019: 10%) and in 
home loans remained stable at 11% (2019: 12%). Further details on material and emerging risks can be found on pages 147 to 158.

Credit risk concentrations by industry (audited)

Other 
financial
insti-
tutions
£m

Manu-
facturing
£m

Con-
struction
and 
property
£m

Govern-
ment and 
central 
bank
£m

Energy
and
water
£m

Banks 
£m

Whole-
sale
and retail 
distri-
bution
 and 
leisure
£m

Cards, 
 unsecured
loans and 
other
personal 
lending
£m

Business
and other
services
£m

Home
loans
£m

Other 
£m

Total 
£m

As at 31 December 2020
On-balance sheet:
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement 
balances 
Loans and advances at amortised 
cost
Reverse repurchase agreements 
and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through 
the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through 
other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

Off-balance sheet:
Contingent liabilities
Loan commitments
Total off-balance sheet
Total

As at 31 December 2019
On-balance sheet:
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement 
balances
Loans and advances at amortised 
cost
Reverse repurchase agreements 
and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through 
the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through 
other comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

Off-balance sheet:
Contingent liabilities
Loan commitments
Total off-balance sheet
Total

56

84

–

– 190,981

–

17,986 67,305

375

35 13,946

871

–

30

6

575

–

–

–

–

–

191,127

244

101,367

8,133 22,062

8,142 26,125 28,445

4,722 12,569 19,538 159,647 41,312 11,937

342,632

706

7,964
2,743 11,464

–
4,104

–

361
516 35,902

–
3,052

–
1,883

–
2,625

21,824 131,943
155,767 116,526

608
4,126

5,668
5,530
2,725 11,649

13
3,288

64
1,235

3,712
2,361

–
–

971
–

–
–

–
–

–
2,541

198
4,769

18,829
439

141
8
226,483 363,415 17,362 35,506 338,770 11,956 15,799 29,648 160,618 41,346 19,838

425 51,955
1

5,843
224

733
98

–
34

–
10

–
18

1
6

–
–

12

3,187

5,501

1,150
1,260
1,813 53,936 39,638 14,002
2,963 59,437 42,825 15,262

1,678
2,167
2,283
1,398 25,780 17,165 24,554 12,385 119,807 22,571
3,076 29,003 18,170 26,837 12,385 119,962 24,738
229,446 422,852 60,187 50,768 341,846 40,959 33,969 56,485 173,003 161,308 44,576

1,005

3,223

155

–

9,031
64,830

170,531
302,446

77,927
850
1,260,741

21,609
333,049
354,658
1,615,399

7

73

 – 

 –  150,178

 – 

– 

– 

16,599 55,262

516

64

9,251

536

51

642

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

150,258

335

83,256

8,788 20,473

8,323 24,403 23,847

5,346 10,031 17,125 154,479 55,232 11,068

339,115

1,172
2,872

2,134
9,049

– 
2,787

– 

73
1,053 33,092

– 
2,996

10,747 97,849
125,323 83,285

634
2,049

6,909
2,273

5,353
7,811

45
3,077

– 
842

– 
562

– 
3,158

3,569
1,520

– 
– 

358
– 

– 
– 

– 
2

– 
2,268

127
3,334

18,596
897

282
12
185,001 272,817 14,310 34,993 270,370 12,007 11,488 26,553 154,837 55,252 17,426

286 40,763
2

4,370
322

430
109

– 
18

– 
1

– 
7

– 
2

– 
– 

5

8,043

3,549

1,250
703
1,909 47,815 42,148 14,358
3,159 55,858 45,697 15,061

1,981
1,671
2,831
1,704 29,877 14,711 22,932 10,060 124,841 24,100
3,685 33,195 15,783 25,763 10,060 124,950 25,771
188,160 328,675 60,007 50,054 274,055 45,202 27,271 52,316 164,897 180,202 43,197

1,072

3,318

109

– 

3,379
58,117

125,591
229,236

64,727
1,375
1,055,054

24,527
334,455
358,982
1,414,036

190

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Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

The approach to management and representation of credit quality
Asset credit quality 
The credit quality distribution is based on the IFRS 9 12-month probability of default (PD) at the reporting date to ensure comparability with other ECL 
disclosures in the Expected Credit Losses section.

The following internal measures are used to determine credit quality for loans:

Default Grade
1-3
4-5 
6-8 
9-11 
12-14
15-19
19 
20-21
22

Retail and Wholesale lending
Probability of default
0.0 to <0.05%
0.05 to <0.15%
0.15 to <0.30%
0.30 to <0.60%
0.60 to <2.15%
2.15 to <10%
10 to <11.35%
11.35 to <100%
100%

Credit Quality Description
Strong

Satisfactory

Higher Risk
Credit Impaired

For retail clients, a range of analytical tools is used to derive the probability of default of clients at inception and on an ongoing basis.

For loans that are not past due, these descriptions can be summarised as follows:

Strong: there is a very high likelihood of the asset being recovered in full.

Satisfactory: while there is a high likelihood that the asset will be recovered and therefore, of no cause for concern to the Group, the asset may not be 
collateralised, or may relate to unsecured retail facilities. At the lower end of this grade there are customers that are being more carefully monitored, 
for example, corporate customers which are indicating some evidence of deterioration, mortgages with a high loan to value, and unsecured retail loans 
operating outside normal product guidelines.

Higher risk: there is concern over the obligor’s ability to make payments when due. However, these have not yet converted to actual delinquency. 
There may also be doubts over the value of collateral or security provided. However, the borrower or counterparty is continuing to make payments when 
due and is expected to settle all outstanding amounts of principal and interest.

Loans that are past due are monitored closely, with impairment allowances raised as appropriate and in line with the Group’s impairment policies. 

Debt securities
For assets held at fair value, the carrying value on the balance sheet will include, among other things, the credit risk of the issuer. Most listed and some 
unlisted securities are rated by external rating agencies. The Group mainly uses external credit ratings provided by Standard & Poor’s, Fitch or Moody’s. 
Where such ratings are not available or are not current, the Group will use its own internal ratings for the securities.

Balance sheet credit quality
The following tables present the credit quality of the Group’s assets exposed to credit risk.

Overview
As at 31 December 2020, the ratio of the Group’s on-balance sheet assets classified as strong (0.0 to <0.60%) remained stable at 87% (2019: 86%) 
of total assets exposed to credit risk. Further analysis of debt securities by issuer and issuer type and netting and collateral arrangements on derivative 
financial instruments is presented in the Analysis of debt securities section and Analysis of derivatives section.

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Risk review: Credit risk 
Risk performance continued

Balance sheet credit quality (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost:
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets:
Debt securities
Traded loans
Total trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the 
income statement:
Loans and advances
Debt securities
Reverse repurchase agreements
Other financial assets
Total financial assets at fair value through the 
income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other 
comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

As at 31 December 2019
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost:
Home loans
Credit cards, unsecured and other retail lending
Wholesale loans
Total loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets:
Debt securities
Traded loans
Total trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the 
income statement:
Loans and advances
Debt securities
Reverse repurchase agreements
Other financial assets
Total financial assets at fair value through the 
income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other 
comprehensive income
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet

192

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0.0 to 
<0.60% 
£m

PD range

0.60 to 
<11.35% 
£m

11.35 to 
100% 
£m

Total 
£m

0.0 to 
<0.60%
%

PD range

0.60 to 
<11.35%
%

11.35 to 
100%
%

191,127
90,633

150,748
15,870
105,968
272,586

–
10,725

6,310
22,427
31,538
60,275

–
9

191,127
101,367

2,589
2,516
4,666
9,771

159,647
40,813
142,172
342,632

100
89

94
39
75
79

9,019

12

–

9,031

100

51,395
704
52,099

4,871
5,107
9,978

216
2,537
2,753

56,482
8,348
64,830

16,467
1,126
95,376
330

113,299
282,617

14,369
521
41,566
13

56,469
19,352

43
46
674
–

763
477

30,879
1,693
137,616
343

170,531
302,446

77,919
778
1,090,077

8
68
156,887

–
4

77,927
850
13,777 1,260,741

150,258
73,122

146,269
20,750
97,854
264,873

–
10,134

5,775
31,425
28,150
65,350

–
–

150,258
83,256

2,435
3,121
3,336
8,892

154,479
55,296
129,340
339,115

3,290

89

–

3,379

3,479
3,219
6,698

7,993
413
34,232
6

42,644
13,012

143
1,295
1,438

52,739
5,378
58,117

232
30
180
–

442
121

22,692
5,249
96,887
763

125,591
229,236

49,117
864
49,981

14,467
4,806
62,475
757

82,505
216,103

64,727
1,242
906,101

–
133
138,060

–
–

64,727
1,375
10,893 1,055,054

100
90
86

91
9
81

53
66
70
96

67
94

100
92
87

100
88

94
38
75
78

97

93
16
86

64
91
65
99

66
94

–
11

4
55
22
18

–

9
61
15

47
31
30
4

33
6

–
8
12

–
12

4
56
22
19

3

7
60
12

35
8
35
1

34
6

–
10
13

–
–

2
6
3
3

–

–
30
4

–
3
–
–

–
–

–
–
1

–
–

2
6
3
3

–

–
24
2

1
1
–
–

–
–

–
–
1

Total
%

100
100

100
100
100
100

100

100
100
100

100
100
100
100

100
100

100
100
100

100
100

100
100
100
100

100

100
100
100

100
100
100
100

100
100

100
100
100

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Credit exposures by internal PD grade
The below tables represents credit risk profile by PD grade for loans and advances at amortised cost, contingent liabilities and loan commitments.

Stage 1 higher risk assets, presented gross of associated collateral held, are of weaker credit quality but have not significantly deteriorated since 
origination. Examples would include leveraged corporate loans or non-prime credit cards.

IFRS 9 Stage 1 and Stage 2 classification is not dependent solely on the absolute probability of default but on elements that determine a Significant 
Increase in Credit Risk (see Note 7), including relative movement in probability of default since initial recognition. There is therefore no direct relationship 
between credit quality and IFRS 9 stage classification.

Credit risk profile by internal PD grade for loans and advances at amortised cost (audited)

PD range
%

Credit quality 
description

Stage 1
£m

Gross carrying amount
Stage 3
£m

Stage 2
£m

Total
£m

Stage 1
£m

Allowance for ECL
Stage 2
£m

Stage 3
£m

Total
£m

Net 
exposure
£m

Coverage
 ratio
%

Grading
As at 31 December 2020
1-3
4-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
19
20-21
22
Total

0.0 to <0.05% Strong
0.05 to <0.15% Strong
0.15 to <0.30% Strong
0.30 to <0.60% Strong
0.60 to <2.15% Satisfactory
2.15 to <10% Satisfactory
10 to <11.35% Satisfactory
11.35 to <100% Higher Risk

100% Credit Impaired

As at 31 December 2019
1-3
4-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
19
20-21
22
Total

0.0 to <0.05% Strong
0.05 to <0.15% Strong
0.15 to <0.30% Strong
0.30 to <0.60% Strong
0.60 to <2.15% Satisfactory
2.15 to <10% Satisfactory
10 to <11.35% Satisfactory
11.35 to <100% Higher Risk

100% Credit Impaired

82,312
101,309
30,697
34,601
29,498
8,125
3,505
917
–
290,964

91,993
92,668
29,187
34,515
35,690
9,041
5,235
937
–
299,266

3,095
9,715
6,263
5,093
8,399
9,136
4,437
4,868
–
51,006

1,615
7,704
4,444
2,932
4,341
9,190
3,629
4,379
–
38,234

–
85,407
– 111,024
36,960
–
39,694
–
37,897
–
17,261
–
7,942
–
5,785
–
8,997
8,997
8,997 350,967

93,608
–
– 100,372
33,631
–
37,447
–
40,031
–
18,231
–
8,864
–
5,316
–
7,923
7,923
7,923 345,423

6
34
47
120
379
302
73
72
–
1,033

13
12
23
91
210
232
62
64
–
707

35
25
64
168
593
1,283
195
1,201
–
3,564

13
12
5
16
187
981
104
1,055
–
2,373

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3,738
3,738

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3,228
3,228

41
85,366
59 110,965
36,849
111
39,406
288
36,925
972
15,676
1,585
7,674
268
4,512
1,273
3,738
5,259
8,335 342,632

93,582
26
24 100,348
33,603
28
37,340
107
39,634
397
17,018
1,213
8,698
166
4,197
1,119
3,228
4,695
6,308 339,115

–
0.1
0.3
0.7
2.6
9.2
3.4
22.0
41.5
2.4

–
–
0.1
0.3
1.0
6.7
1.9
21.0
40.7
1.8

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Risk performance continued

Credit risk profile by internal PD grade for contingent liabilities (audited)a

PD range
%

Credit quality 
description

Stage 1
£m

Gross carrying amount
Stage 3
£m

Stage 2
£m

Total
£m

Stage 1
£m

Allowance for ECL
Stage 2
£m

Stage 3
£m

6,178
2,765
1,468
3,524
2,712
305
264
40
–
17,256

6,947
4,199
2,953
4,551
2,529
663
421
117
–
22,380

189
428
165
552
546
398
423
769
–
3,470

118
40
103
136
654
244
172
282
–
1,749

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
654
654

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
355
355

6,367
3,193
1,633
4,076
3,258
703
687
809
654
21,380

7,065
4,239
3,056
4,687
3,183
907
593
399
355
24,484

1
3
3
5
8
7
17
–
–
44

3
1
1
2
7
4
9
–
–
27

–
2
3
33
25
21
83
61
–
228

–
–
–
2
8
8
9
30
–
57

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
10
10

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
5
5

Total
£m

1
5
6
38
33
28
100
61
10
282

3
1
1
4
15
12
18
30
5
89

Net 
exposure
£m

Coverage 
ratio
%

6,366
3,188
1,627
4,038
3,225
675
587
748
644
21,098

7,062
4,238
3,055
4,683
3,168
895
575
369
350
24,395

–
0.2
0.4
0.9
1.0
4.0
14.6
7.5
1.5
1.3

–
–
–
0.1
0.5
1.3
3.0
7.5
1.4
0.4

Credit risk profile by internal PD grade for loan commitments (audited)a

PD range
%

Credit quality 
description

Stage 1
£m

Gross carrying amount
Stage 3
£m

Stage 2
£m

Total
£m

Stage 1
£m

Allowance for ECL
Stage 2
£m

Stage 3
£m

Total
£m

Net 
exposure
£m

Coverage 
ratio
%

Grading
As at 31 December 2020
1-3
4-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
19
20-21
22
Total

0.0 to <0.05% Strong
0.05 to <0.15% Strong
0.15 to <0.30% Strong
0.30 to <0.60% Strong
0.60 to <2.15% Satisfactory
2.15 to <10% Satisfactory
10 to <11.35% Satisfactory
11.35 to <100% Higher Risk

100% Credit Impaired

As at 31 December 2019
1-3
4-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
19
20-21
22
Total

0.0 to <0.05% Strong
0.05 to <0.15% Strong
0.15 to <0.30% Strong
0.30 to <0.60% Strong
0.60 to <2.15% Satisfactory
2.15 to <10% Satisfactory
10 to <11.35% Satisfactory
11.35 to <100% Higher Risk

100% Credit Impaired

Grading
As at 31 December 2020
1-3
4-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
19
20-21
22
Total

0.0 to <0.05% Strong
0.05 to <0.15% Strong
0.15 to <0.30% Strong
0.30 to <0.60% Strong
0.60 to <2.15% Satisfactory
2.15 to <10% Satisfactory
10 to <11.35% Satisfactory
11.35 to <100% Higher Risk

100% Credit Impaired

As at 31 December 2019
1-3
4-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
19
20-21
22
Total

0.0 to <0.05% Strong
0.05 to <0.15% Strong
0.15 to <0.30% Strong
0.30 to <0.60% Strong
0.60 to <2.15% Satisfactory
2.15 to <10% Satisfactory
10 to <11.35% Satisfactory
11.35 to <100% Higher Risk

100% Credit Impaired

60,525
74,860
51,255
43,650
30,994
5,702
4,886
811
–
272,683

85,908
70,112
53,340
44,097
36,112
4,913
3,662
616
–
298,760

5,525
6,322
6,719
6,950
9,908
4,971
5,129
3,897
–
49,421

1,025
1,889
1,019
1,592
3,955
3,857
2,106
1,993
–
17,436

66,050
–
81,182
–
57,974
–
50,600
–
40,902
–
10,673
–
10,015
–
4,708
–
1,676
1,676
1,676 323,780

86,933
–
72,001
–
54,359
–
45,689
–
40,067
–
8,770
–
5,768
–
2,609
–
580
580
580 316,776

4
12
17
17
119
27
11
5
–
212

2
5
8
13
30
8
4
–
–
70

2
16
47
72
131
113
25
124
–
530

1
1
1
1
26
55
7
21
–
113

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
40
40

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
50
50

6
28
64
89
250
140
36
129
40

66,044
81,154
57,910
50,511
40,652
10,533
9,979
4,579
1,636
782 322,998

3
6
9
14
56
63
11
21
50

86,930
71,995
54,350
45,675
40,011
8,707
5,757
2,588
530
233 316,543

–
–
0.1
0.2
0.6
1.3
0.4
2.7
2.4
0.2

–
–
–
–
0.1
0.7
0.2
0.8
8.6
0.1

Note
a  Excludes loan commitments and financial guarantees of £9.5bn (2019: £17.7bn) carried at fair value.

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Financial statements

Analysis of specific portfolios and asset types
This section provides an analysis of principal portfolios and businesses, in particular, home loans, credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending.

Secured home loans
The UK home loans portfolio comprises first lien home loans and accounts for 93% (2019: 92%) of the Group’s total home loan balances.

Home loans principal portfolios

As at 31 December
Gross loans and advances (£m)
90-day arrears rate, excluding recovery book (%)
Annualised gross charge-off rates – 180 days past due (%)
Recovery book proportion of outstanding balances (%)
Recovery book impairment coverage ratio (%)a

Note
a  2019 numbers have been restated to factor in Wealth accounts to align with 2020 figures.

Barclays UK
2020
148,343
0.2
0.6
0.6
3.2

2019
143,259
0.2
0.6
0.5
5.2

Within the UK home loans portfolio:
■■ gross loans and advances increased by £5.1bn (3.6%) following increases across both Residential (3.1%) and Buy to Let (BTL) (6.6%) books
■■ owner-occupied interest-only home loans comprised 22.1% (2019: 23.4%) of total balances
■■ the average balance weighted LTV on owner occupied loans dropped to 49.9% (2019: 50.2%). The primary driver of the decrease in the LTV of the 

portfolio was strong UK house price growth through 2020 particularly following the buoyant purchase market in Q3 and Q4. In addition, new high LTV 
lending was greatly reduced

■■ BTL home loans comprised 14.0% (2019: 13.6%) of total balances. In BTL, the average balance weighted LTV dropped to 55.3% (2019: 56.5%) 

primarily driven by positive house price growth in 2020.

Home loans principal portfolios – distribution of balances by LTVa

Stage 1
%

Distribution of balances
Stage 3
%

Stage 2
%

Distribution of impairment allowance

Coverage ratio

Total
%

Stage 1
%

Stage 2
%

Stage 3
%

Total
%

Stage 1
%

Stage 2
%

Stage 3
%

Total
%

Barclays UK
As at 31 December 2020
<=75%
>75% and <=90%
>90% and <=100%
>100%
As at 31 December 2019
<=75%
>75% and <=90%
>90% and <=100%
>100%

75.7
10.8
0.4
0.1

76.0
10.4
1.3
0.1

11.6
0.8
–
–

10.7
0.7
0.1
–

0.6
–
–
–

0.7
–
–
–

87.9
11.6
0.4
0.1

87.4
11.1
1.4
0.1

17.9
9.7
0.8
0.7

4.2
2.7
0.8
0.2

15.0
14.8
1.5
3.4

15.4
11.5
2.5
4.1

19.0
7.6
2.2
7.4

28.5
12.6
4.9
12.6

51.9
32.1
4.5
11.5

48.1
26.8
8.2
16.9

–
0.1
0.1
0.7

–
–
–
0.2

0.1
1.2
2.6
10.3

0.1
0.9
1.8
8.7

1.8
16.0
35.7
69.1

2.2
19.7
54.4
107.4

Note
a   Portfolio marked to market based on the most updated valuation including recovery book balances. Updated valuations reflect the application of the latest HPI available as at 

31 December 2020.

Home loans principal portfolios – average LTV

As at 31 December
Overall portfolio LTV (%):
Balance weighted
Valuation weighteda
For >100% LTVs:
Balances (£m)
Marked to market collateral (£m)
Average LTV: balance weighted (%)
Average LTV: valuation weighted (%)
Balances in recovery book (%)

Barclays UK
2020

50.7
37.6

129
112
138.2
120.6
10.8

–
0.2
0.7
8.0

–
0.1
0.3
9.0

2019

51.1
37.9

160
140
133.5
119.7
10.0

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Risk performance continued

Home loans principal portfolios – new lending

As at 31 December
New bookings (£m)
New home loan proportion above >90% LTV (%)
Average LTV on new home loans: balance weighted (%)
Average LTV on new home loans: valuation weighted (%)a

Note
a   2019 numbers have been restated to factor in Wealth accounts to align with 2020 figures.

Barclays UK
2020
22,776
2.6
67.5
59.6

2019
25,530
4.2
67.9
59.8

New bookings reduced by 10.8% with a decrease in new flows across both portfolios: 6.1% decrease in owner occupied and 34.8% decrease in the BTL 
portfolio. This decrease was driven by supply and demand effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand was impacted by a significant shrinking of the 
market in Q2 although this was partially offset by a resurgent Q3 and Q4. High LTV supply was reduced by credit management actions.

During 2020, a total of 128,000 payment holidays were provided to customers. At 31 December 2020, the book value of the portfolio where payment 
holidays remain in place was £2.2bn, representing 1.5% of the portfolio.

Head Office: Italian home loans and advances at amortised cost reduced to £5.7bn (2019: £6.0bn) and continue to run-off since new bookings ceased 
in 2016. The portfolio is secured on residential property with an average balance weighted mark to market LTV of 62.1% (2019: 64.4%). 90-day arrears 
remained broadly stable at 1.7% (2019: 1.8%) and gross charge-off rate increased to 1.0% (2019: 0.8%). At 31 December 2020, the book value of the 
portfolio where payment holidays remain in place was £181.7m, representing 3.2% of the portfolio.

Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending
The principal portfolios listed below accounted for 84% (2019: 87%) of the Group’s total credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending.

Credit cards, unsecured loans and other retail lending principal portfolios

As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
UK cards
UK personal loans
Barclays Partner Financea
Barclays International
US cards
Germany consumer lending
As at 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
UK cards
UK personal loans
Barclays International
US cards
Barclays Partner Financea
Germany consumer lendingb

Gross 
loans and 
advances
£m

11,911
4,591
2,469

16,845
3,458

16,457
6,139

22,041
4,134
3,683

30-day 
arrears, 
excluding 
recovery 
book
%

90-day 
arrears, 
excluding 
recovery 
book
%

Annualised 
gross 
write-off 
rate
%

Annualised 
net 
write-off 
rate
%

1.7
2.3
0.5

2.5
1.9

1.7
2.1

2.7
0.9
1.8

0.8
1.2
0.3

1.4
0.8

0.8
1.0

1.4
0.3
0.7

2.9
3.4
1.1

5.6
1.2

1.6
3.2

4.5
1.7
1.1

2.9
3.1
1.1

5.6
1.1

1.6
2.9

4.4
1.7
1.0

Notes
a  On 1 April 2020, the Barclays Partner Finance business moved from Barclays International to Barclays UK. The 2019 comparative figures have not been restated.
b  2019 Germany consumer lending numbers have been restated to include the Fundy unsecured portfolio and other adjustments to write-off rates.

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UK cards: 30 and 90-day arrears rates remained stable at 1.7% and 0.8% respectively, despite balances reducing by c.£4.5bn. Delinquency rates initially 
increased as some customers missed payments prior to payment holidays being initiated. Subsequently payment holidays and government support 
schemes were introduced which, coupled with significantly lower spend and balance growth activities, resulted in suppressed flows into delinquency 
cycles. Upon exit from payment holidays the majority of customers were able to resume making payments. During 2020, a total of 178,000 payment 
holidays were provided to customers. At 31 December 2020, the book value of the portfolio where payment holidays remain in place was £93m, 
representing 0.8% of the portfolio.

UK personal loans: 30 and 90-day arrears rates both increased by 0.2% to 2.3% and 1.2% respectively driven by a 25% reduction in overall balances, 
coupled with a higher flow in to delinquency of customers previously granted a payment holiday. During 2020, a total of 84,000 payment holidays were 
provided to customers. At 31 December 2020, the book value of the portfolio where payment holidays remain in place was £85.4m, representing 1.9% of 
the portfolio.

Barclays Partner Finance: 30-day arrears rate reduced to 0.5% (2019: 0.9%) due to the sale of the motor financing business and the impact of payment 
holidays however the vast majority of these were exited and customers resumed making payments. A total of 17,000 payment holidays were provided to 
customers and 18,000 payment holidays were provided to motor financing business customers in the year. At 31 December 2020, the book value of the 
portfolio where payment holidays remain in place was £6.6m, representing 0.3% of the portfolio.

US cards: 30-day arrears rate decreased to 2.5% (2019: 2.7%) due to government support schemes and payment holidays resulting in fewer accounts 
entering into delinquency. 90-day arrears rate remained stable at 1.4%. Write-off rates were in line with seasonal trends. A total of 251,000 payment 
holidays were provided to customers in the year. At 31 December 2020, the book value of the portfolio where payment holidays remain in place was 
£54.7m, representing 0.3% of the portfolio.

Germany consumer lending: Increases in 30- and 90-days arrear rates were primarily driven by the drop in the overall balances. A total of 9,000 payment 
holidays were provided to customers in the year. At 31 December 2020, the book value of the portfolio where payment holidays remain in place was 
£0.24m, representing 0.01% of the portfolio.

Exposure to UK commercial real estate (CRE)
The UK CRE portfolio includes property investment, development, trading and house builders but excludes social housing and contractors. 

UK CRE summary

As at 31 December
UK CRE loans and advances (£m)
Stage 3 balances (£m)
Stage 3 balances as % of UK CRE balances (%)
Impairment allowances (£m)
Stage 3 coverage ratio (%)
Total collateral (£m)a

Year ended 31 December
Impairment charge (£m)

Note
a  Based on the most recent valuation assessment.

Maturity analysis of exposure to UK CRE

As at 31 December
2020
2019

2020

2019

9,969
384
3.9
99
19.7
26,240

9,051
254
2.8
52
7.5
26,876

47

6

Contractual maturity of UK CRE loans and advances at amortised cost

Stage 3 
balances
£m
384
254

Not 
more than 
six months
£m
171
146

Over 
six months 
but not 
more than 
one year
£m
132
111

Over 
one year 
but not 
more than 
two years
£m
398
377

Over 
two years 
but not 
more than 
five years
£m
3,227
3,088

Over 
five years 
but not 
more than 
ten years
£m
4,357
3,687

Over 
ten years
£m
1,299
1,388

Total
 loans and
 advances
£m
9,969
9,051

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Forbearance
Forbearance measures consist of concessions towards a debtor that is experiencing or about to experience difficulties in meeting their financial 
commitments (‘financial difficulties’).

Analysis of forbearance programmesa

Gross balances

Impairment allowances

As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total retail
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total wholesale
Group total

As at 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total retail
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total wholesale
Group total

Stage 1
£m

59
1
–
60
–
–
–
–
60

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Stage 2
£m

144
2
–
146
48
1,373
–
1,421
1,567

147
2
–
149
47
918
–
965
1,114

Stage 3
£m

374
350
126
850
534
1,460
–
1,994
2,844

298
225
130
653
449
1,016
–
1,465
2,118

Total
£m

Stage 1
£m

Stage 2
£m

Stage 3
£m

577
353
126
1,056
582
2,833
–
3,415
4,471

445
227
130
802
496
1,934
–
2,430
3.232

3
–
–
3
–
–
–
–
3

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

77
1
–
78
3
86
–
89
167

35
1
–
36
4
37
–
41
77

106
198
18
322
54
564
–
618
940

92
158
8
258
31
226
–
257
515

Total
£m

186
199
18
403
57
650
–
707
1,110

127
159
8
294
35
263
–
298
592

Note
a 

For 2020 year end, there has been a standardisation of the definition of forbearance across the Group. 2019 balances have not been restated.

Balances on forbearance programmes increased 38% as a limited range of clients across Corporate and Investment Bank, some impacted by the 
COVID-19 pandemic, proceeded through restructuring.

Retail balances on forbearance increased 32%, reflecting an increase in Barclays UK and Barclays International.

Wholesale balances subject to forbearance rose to £3.4bn (2019: £2.4bn) with higher exposure in Corporate Bank and Investment Bank of £624m and 
£312m respectively. Impairment allowances rose to £707m (2019: £298m) following a small number of material single name charges in the year. Barclays 
International accounted for 83% of wholesale forbearance with corporate cases representing 82% of all forborne balances.

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Retail forbearance programmes
Forbearance on the Group’s principal retail portfolios is presented below. The principal portfolios account for 100% (2019: 100%) of total retail 
forbearance balances.

Analysis of key portfolios in forbearance programmesa

Gross balances on 
forbearance programmes

As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
UK home loans
UK cards
UK personal loans
Barclays partner financeb
Barclays International
US cards
Germany consumer lending
Head Office
Italian home loans

As at 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
UK home loans
UK cards
UK personal loans
Barclays International
US cards
Barclays partner financeb
Germany consumer lending
Head Office
Italian home loans

% of 
gross retail 
loans and 
advances
%

0.1
3.2
1.2
0.1

1.7
1.9

2.2

0.1
1.5
0.9

0.8
0.1
1.0

2.2

Total
£m

135
384
54
4

286
67

126

137
254
54

183
3
37

130

Marked to market 
LTV of 
forbearance 
balances: 
balance weighted
%

Marked to market 
LTV of 
forbearance 
balances: 
valuation weighted
%

Impairment 
allowances 
marked against 
balances on 
forbearance 
programmes
£m

Total balances 
on forbearance 
programmes 
coverage ratio
%

40.2
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a

59.2

42.7
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a

29.0
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a

43.2

31.0
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a

60.6

44.9

2
151
31
2

155
44

18

-
97
30

131
2
23

8

1.4
39.3
57.6
49.0

54.2
65.0

14.5

-
38.2
55.3

71.6
66.7
60.9

5.9

Notes
a  For 2020 year end, there has been a standardisation of the definition of forbearance across the Group. 2019 balances have not been restated.
b  On 1 April 2020, the Barclays Partner Finance business moved from Barclays International to Barclays UK. The 2019 comparative figures have not been restated.

UK home loans: forbearance balances reduced to £135m (2019: 137m) due to availability of payment holidays for those in short term financial difficulties 
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of payment holidays does not necessitate the reclassification of assets as forborne.

UK cards: gross balances on forbearance programmes increased to £384m (2019: £254m) due to increasing numbers of customers utilising breathing 
space during the pandemic and £101m due to the impact of the standardisation of the definition of forbearance.

UK personal loans: gross balances on forbearance programmes remained stable at £54m (2019: £54m) due to the impact of customers utilising 
temporary COVID-19 relief instead of longer term forbearance options offset by £9m due to the impact of the standardisation of the definition of 
forbearance.

Barclays partner finance: gross balances on forbearance programmes remained broadly stable. 

US cards: forbearance balances increased to £286m (2019: £183m) due to the impact of the standardisation of the definition of forbearance of £143m 
partially offset by the impact of fewer forbearance enrolments. 

Germany consumer lending: forbearance balances increased to £67m (2019: £37m) due to the impact of the standardisation of the definition of 
forbearance.

Italian home loans: forbearance balances reduced to £126m (2019: £130m) due to a natural exit from forbearance status as the portfolio is in run-off.

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Wholesale forbearance programmes
The tables below detail balance information for wholesale forbearance cases.

Analysis of wholesale balances in forbearance programmesa

As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Total

As at 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Total

Gross balances on  
forbearance programmes

Total balances
£m

% of gross 
wholesale loans 
and advances
%

Impairment
 allowances 
marked against 
balances on 
forbearance 
programmes
£m

Total balances 
on forbearance 
programmes 
coverage ratio
%

582
2,833
3,415

496
1,934
2,430

1.6
2.9
2.5

1.6
1.9
1.8

57
650
707

35
263
298

9.8
22.9
20.7

7.1
13.6
12.3

Note
a  For 2020 year end, there has been a standardisation of the definition of forbearance across the Group. 2019 balances have not been restated.

Analysis of debt securities
Debt securities include government securities held as part of the Group’s treasury management portfolio for liquidity and regulatory purposes, and are 
for use on a continuing basis in the activities of the Group.

The following tables provide an analysis of debt securities held by the Group for trading and investment purposes by issuer type, and where the Group 
held government securities exceeding 10% of shareholders’ equity. Further information on the credit quality of debt securities is presented in the Balance 
sheet credit quality section.

Debt securities

As at 31 December
Of which issued by: 
Governments and other public bodies
Corporate and other issuers
US agency
Mortgage and asset backed securities
Total

Government securities

As at 31 December
United States
United Kingdom
Japan

2020

£m

105,496
39,733
8,742
5,745
159,716

%

66.0
24.9
5.5
3.6
100.0

2019

£m

91,058
39,231
4,480
5,084
139,853

Fair value

2020
£m
30,363
23,873
16,258

%

65.1
28.1
3.2
3.6
100.0

2019
£m
32,145
28,010
6,679

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Analysis of derivatives
The tables below set out the fair values of the derivative assets together with the value of those assets subject to enforceable counterparty netting 
arrangements for which the Group holds offsetting liabilities and eligible collateral.

Derivative assets (audited)

As at 31 December
Foreign exchange
Interest rate
Credit derivatives
Equity and stock index
Commodity derivatives
Total derivative assets
Cash collateral held
Net exposure less collateral

Balance sheet
assets 
£m
85,115
172,334
4,605
38,972
1,420
302,446

2020

Counterparty
netting
£m
68,108
128,072
3,584
32,183
1,133
233,080

Balance sheet
assets 
£m
56,606
142,468
8,215
20,806
1,141
229,236

2019

Counterparty
netting
£m
44,284
106,589
6,589
17,517
1,019
175,998

Net
exposure
£m
17,007
44,262
1,021
6,789
287
69,366
43,291
26,075

Net
exposure
£m
12,322
35,879
1,626
3,289
122
53,238
33,411
19,827

Derivative asset exposures would be £276bn (2019: £209bn) lower than reported under IFRS if netting were permitted for assets and liabilities with 
the same counterparty or for which the Group holds cash collateral. Similarly, derivative liabilities would be £276bn (2019: £212bn) lower reflecting 
counterparty netting and collateral placed. In addition, non-cash collateral of £5bn (2019: £6bn) was held in respect of derivative assets. The Group 
received collateral from clients in support of over the counter derivative transactions. These transactions are generally undertaken under International 
Swaps and Derivative Association (ISDA) agreements governed by either UK or New York law.

The table below sets out the fair value and notional amounts of OTC derivative instruments by type of collateral arrangement.

Derivatives by collateral arrangement

Unilateral in favour of Barclays
Foreign exchange
Interest rate
Credit derivatives
Equity and stock index
Total unilateral in favour of Barclays
Unilateral in favour of counterparty
Foreign exchange
Interest rate
Credit derivatives
Equity and stock index
Total unilateral in favour of counterparty
Bilateral arrangement
Foreign exchange
Interest rate
Credit derivatives
Equity and stock index
Commodity derivatives
Total bilateral arrangement
Uncollateralised derivatives
Foreign exchange
Interest rate
Credit derivatives
Equity and stock index
Commodity derivatives
Total uncollateralised derivatives
Total OTC derivative assets/(liabilities)

Notional 
contract 
amount
£m

28,431
6,580
227
860
36,098

16,420
36,973
287
451
54,131

5,154,176
13,267,129
365,757
453,990
4,235
19,245,287

269,417
250,857
18,629
10,850
9
549,762
19,885,278

2020

Fair value

Assets
£m

618
982
2
17
1,619

545
3,524
 – 
146
4,215

79,337
161,909
3,348
15,376
89
260,059

4,277
4,583
324
3,268
 – 
12,452
278,345

Liabilities
£m

(532)
(10)
 – 
(77)
(619)

(1,003)
(4,543)
 – 
(22)
(5,568)

(77,919)
(155,453)
(3,490)
(18,399)
(100)
(255,361)

(4,589)
(2,131)
(419)
(7,596)
(10)
(14,745)
(276,293)

Notional 
contract 
amount
£m

32,441
5,202
338
158
38,139

11,230
44,360
116
494
56,200

4,484,380
12,303,652
390,790
210,267
7,269
17,396,358

379,741
284,168
8,142
21,131
58
693,240
18,183,937

2019

Fair value

Assets
£m

398
859
3
5
1,265

424
3,094
 – 
298
3,816

51,571
131,700
5,034
8,925
294
197,524

4,117
4,697
216
1,400
9
10,439
213,044

Liabilities
£m

(422)
(13)
(1)
(27)
(463)

(1,206)
(4,210)
(1)
(40)
(5,457)

(51,001)
(128,096)
(4,923)
(11,178)
(210)
(195,408)

(4,216)
(1,668)
(474)
(4,540)
(46)
(10,944)
(212,272)

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Risk review: Market risk 
Risk performance continued

Summary of contents 

Outlines key measures used to summarise the market 
risk profile of the bank such as value at risk (VaR).

The Group discloses details on management measures 
of market risk. Total management VaR includes all trading 
positions and is presented on a diversified basis by 
risk factor. 

This section also outlines the macroeconomic conditions 
modelled as part of the Group’s risk management 
framework.

■■ Market risk overview and summary of performance

■■ Traded market risk
■■ Review of management measures

–  The daily average, maximum and minimum values of management 

VaR

–  Business scenario stresses

Page

202

202
202
203

203

Market risk
All disclosures in this section are 
unaudited unless otherwise stated.

Overview
This section contains key statistics 
describing the market risk profile of the 
Group. The market risk management 
section provides a description of 
management VaR.

Traded market risk review
Review of management measures
The following disclosures provide details on 
management measures of market risk. Refer to 
the market risk management section of the 
Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 (unaudited) for 
more detail on management measures and the 
differences when compared to regulatory 
measures.

The table below shows the total management 
VaR on a diversified basis by risk factor. Total 
management VaR includes all trading positions 
in CIB and Treasury and it is calculated with a 
one-day holding period.

Limits are applied against each risk factor VaR as 
well as total management VaR, which are then 
cascaded further by risk managers to each 
business.

Measures of market risk in 
the Group and accounting 
measures
Traded market risk measures such as VaR and 
balance sheet exposure measures have 
fundamental differences:
■■ balance sheet measures show accruals-

based balances or marked to market values 
as at the reporting date

■■ VaR measures also take account of current 
marked to market values, but in addition 
hedging effects between positions are 
considered

■■ market risk measures are expressed in terms 
of changes in value or volatilities as opposed 
to static values.

For these reasons, it is not possible to present 
direct reconciliations of traded market risk and 
accounting measures.

Summary of performance 
in the period
Average management VaR increased to £32m 
in 2020 (2019: £23m), driven by an increase in 
market volatility in late Q1 and Q2 during the 
initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Management VaR stabilised and declined in 
the second half of the year.

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The daily average, maximum and minimum values of management VaR

Management VaR (95%, one day) (audited)

For the year ended 31 December
Credit risk 
Interest rate risk 
Equity risk 
Basis risk 
Spread risk 
Foreign exchange risk 
Commodity risk 
Inflation risk 
Diversification effecta
Total management VaR

2020

2019

Average
£m
20
10
13
10
5
5
1
2
(34)
32

Higha
£m
38
17
35
16
9
7
1
3
n/a
57

Lowa
£m
10
6
6
7
3
2
–
1
n/a
18

Average
£m
12
6
10
8
4
3
1
2
(23)
23

Higha
£m
17
11
22
11
5
5
2
3
n/a
29

Lowa
£m
8
3
5
6
3
2
–
1
n/a
17

Note
a  Diversification effects recognise that forecast losses from different assets or businesses are unlikely to occur concurrently, hence the expected aggregate loss is lower than the sum of 

the expected losses from each area. Historical correlations between losses are taken into account in making these assessments. The high and low VaR figures reported for each category 
did not necessarily occur on the same day as the high and low VaR reported as a whole. Consequently, a diversification effect balance for the high and low VaR figures would not be 
meaningful and is therefore omitted from the above table.

Group Management VaR 
£m

60

40

20

0

Jan 2019

Jan 2020

Dec 2020

Business scenario stresses
As part of the Group’s risk management framework, on a regular basis the performance of the trading business in hypothetical scenarios characterised by 
severe macroeconomic conditions is modelled. Up to seven global scenarios are modelled on a regular basis, for example, a sharp deterioration in liquidity, 
a slowdown in the global economy, global recession, and a sharp increase in economic growth.

In 2020, the scenario analyses showed that the largest market risk related impacts would be due to a severe deterioration in financial liquidity and an 
associated global recession.

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Treasury and Capital risk: summary of contents 

Liquidity risk performance
The risk that the firm is unable to meet its contractual or 
contingent obligations or that it does not have the 
appropriate amount, tenor and composition of funding and 
liquidity to support its assets. 

This section provides an overview of the Group’s liquidity 
risk.

The liquidity pool is held unencumbered and is intended to 
offset stress outflows.

■■ Liquidity overview and summary of performance
■■ Liquidity risk stress testing
–  Liquidity risk appetite
–  Liquidity regulation
–  Liquidity coverage ratio

■■ Liquidity pool

–  Composition of the liquidity pool
–  Liquidity pool by currency
–  Management of the liquidity pool
–  Contingent liquidity

The basis for sound liquidity risk management is a funding 
structure that reduces the probability of a liquidity stress 
leading to an inability to meet funding obligations as they fall 
due.

■■ Funding structure and funding relationships

–  Deposit funding
–  Wholesale funding

Provides details on the contractual maturity of all financial 
instruments and other assets and liabilities.

■■ Contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities

Capital risk performance
Capital risk is the risk that the firm has an insufficient level or 
composition of capital to support its normal business 
activities and to meet its regulatory capital requirements 
under normal operating environments or stressed 
conditions (both actual and as defined for internal planning 
or regulatory testing purposes). This also includes the risk 
from the firm’s pension plans.

This section details the Group’s capital position providing 
information on both capital resources and capital 
requirements. It also provides details of the leverage ratios 
and exposures.

This section outlines the Group’s capital ratios, capital 
composition, and provides information on significant 
movements in CET1 capital during the year.

This section outlines risk weighted assets by risk type, 
business and macro drivers.

This section outlines the Group’s leverage ratios, leverage 
exposure composition, and provides information on 
significant movements in the IFRS and leverage balance 
sheet.

This section outlines the Group’s Minimum requirement for 
own funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL) position and ratios.

The Group discloses the two sources of foreign exchange 
risk that it is exposed to.

■■ Capital risk overview and summary of performance
■■ Regulatory minimum capital and leverage requirements

–  Capital
–  Leverage

■■ Analysis of capital resources
■■ Capital ratios

–  Capital resources
–  Movement in CET1 capital

■■ Analysis of risk weighted assets

–  Risk weighted assets by risk type and business
–  Movement analysis of risk weighted assets

■■ Analysis of leverage ratios and exposures

–  Leverage ratios and exposures

■■ Minimum Requirement for own funds and Eligible Liabilities

■■ Foreign exchange risk

–  Transactional foreign currency exposure
–  Translational foreign exchange exposure
–  Functional currency of operations

Page

206
206
206
208
208

209
209
209
209
209

210
210
210

213

217
217
218
218

219
219
219
220

221
221
221

222
222

223

224
224
224
224

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Financial review

Financial statements

Treasury and Capital risk: summary of contents 

A review focusing on the UK retirement fund, which represents 
the majority of the Group’s total retirement benefit obligation.

■■ Pension risk review

–  Assets and liabilities
IAS 19 position
– 
–  Risk measurement

■■ Net interest income sensitivity

–  by business unit
–  by currency

■■ Analysis of equity sensitivity 
■■ Volatility of the FVOCI portfolio in the liquidity pool

Interest rate risk in the banking 
book performance
A description of the non-traded market risk framework is 
provided.

The Group discloses a sensitivity analysis on pre-tax net 
interest income for non-trading financial assets and 
liabilities. The analysis is carried out by business unit and 
currency.

The Group measures some non-traded market risks, in 
particular prepayment, recruitment, and residual risk using 
an economic capital methodology.

The Group discloses the overall impact of a parallel shift in 
interest rates on other comprehensive income and cash 
flow hedges.

The Group measures the volatility of the value of the FVOCI 
instruments in the liquidity pool through non-traded market 
risk VaR.

Page

224
224
225
225

226
226
226
227
227

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Summary of performance
The liquidity pool at £266bn (December 2019: 
£211bn) reflects the Group’s prudent approach 
to liquidity management. The Liquidity Coverage 
Ratio (LCR) remained well above the 100% 
regulatory requirement at 162% (December 
2019: 160%), equivalent to a surplus of £99bn 
(December 2019: £78bn). The increase in the 
liquidity pool, LCR and surplus over the year was 
driven by a 16% growth in deposits, which was 
largely a consequence of government and 
central bank policy response to the COVID-19 
pandemic. The reduction in Q420 reflects 
actions taken to manage down surplus liquidity 
proactively as the prevailing uncertainty from 
earlier in the year abated.

During the year, the Group issued £7.9bn of 
minimum requirement for own funds and eligible 
liabilities (MREL) instruments in a range of tenors 
and currencies.

Barclays Bank PLC continued to issue in the 
shorter-term and medium-term notes markets 
and Barclays Bank UK PLC continued to issue in 
the shorter-term markets and maintains an 
active secured funding programme. This funding 
capacity enables the respective entities maintain 
their stable and diversified funding bases. 

The Group’s reliance on short-term wholesale 
funding, as measured by the proportion of 
wholesale funding maturing in less than one year 
was broadly flat year on year. At 31 December 
2020, it was 29% (December 2019: 28%).

Liquidity risk stress testing 
Under the Liquidity Framework, the Group 
has established a liquidity risk appetite (LRA) 
together with the appropriate limits for the 
management of the liquidity risk. This is the level 
of liquidity risk the Group chooses to take in 
pursuit of its business objectives and in meeting 
its regulatory obligations. The Group sets its 
internal liquidity risk appetite based on internal 
liquidity risk assessments and, external 
regulatory requirements namely the Capital 
Requirements Regulation (CRR) LCR as 
amended by CRR II.

Liquidity risk appetite 
The liquidity risk assessment measures the 
potential contractual and contingent stress 
outflows under a range of stress scenarios, 
which are then used to determine the size of 
the liquidity pool that is immediately available to 
meet anticipated outflows should a stress occur.

As part of the LRA, the Group runs three 
short-term liquidity stress scenarios, aligned 
to the PRA’s prescribed stresses:
■■ 90-day market-wide stress event
■■ 30-day Barclays-specific stress event
■■ combined 30-day market-wide and 

Barclays-specific stress event.

Liquidity risk
All disclosures in this section are 
unaudited unless otherwise stated.

Overview
The Group has a comprehensive key 
risk control framework for managing 
the Group’s liquidity risk. The Liquidity 
Framework meets the PRA’s standards 
and is designed to maintain liquidity 
resources that are sufficient in amount 
and quality, and a funding profile that is 
appropriate to meet the liquidity risk 
appetite. The Liquidity Framework is 
delivered via a combination of policy 
formation, review and governance, 
analysis, stress testing, limit setting 
and monitoring.

This section provides an analysis of the 
Group’s: (i) summary of performance, 
(ii) liquidity risk stress testing, iii) liquidity 
pool, (iv) funding structure and funding 
relationships, (v) credit ratings, and (vi) 
contractual maturity of financial assets 
and liabilities. 

For further detail on liquidity risk 
governance and framework, refer to 
page 194 to 197 of the Barclays PLC 
Pillar 3 Report 2020 (unaudited).

Key metrics
Liquidity Coverage Ratio

162%

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Key LRA assumptions
For the year ended 31 December 2020

Drivers of Liquidity Risk

LRA Combined stress – key assumptions

Wholesale Secured and Unsecured 
Funding Risk

■■ Zero rollover of maturing wholesale unsecured funding
■■ Loss of repo capacity on non-extremely liquid repos at contractual maturity date
■■ Roll of repo for extremely liquid repo at wider haircut at contractual maturity date
■■ Withdrawal of contractual buyback obligations, excess client futures margin, Prime Brokerage 

(PB) client cash and overlifts

■■ Haircuts applied to the market value of marketable assets held in the liquidity buffer

Retail and Corporate Funding Risk

■■ Retail and Corporate deposit outflows as counterparties seek to diversify their deposit 

balances

Intraday Liquidity Risk

■■ Liquidity held to meet increased intraday liquidity usage due to payment and receipts volatility, 
loss of unsecured credit lines and haircuts applied to collateral values used to back secured 
credit lines, in a stress

Intra-Group Liquidity Risk

■■ Liquidity support for material subsidiaries. Surplus liquidity held within certain subsidiaries 

is not taken as a benefit to the wider Group

Cross-Currency Liquidity Risk

■■ Deterioration in FX market capacity that may result in restriction in net currency positions

Off-Balance Sheet Liquidity Risk

■■ Drawdown on committed facilities based on facility and counterparty type
■■ Collateral outflows due to a two-notch credit rating downgrade
■■ Increase in the Group’s initial margin requirement across all major exchanges
■■ Variation margin outflows from collateralised risk positions
■■ Outflow of collateral owing but not called
■■ Loss of internal sources of funding within the PB synthetics business

Franchise-Viability Risk

■■ Liquidity held to enable the firm to meet select non-contractual obligations to ensure market 
confidence in the firm is maintained, including debt buy-backs, swap tear-ups and increased 
prime brokerage margin debits

Funding Concentration Risk

■■ Liquidity held against largest wholesale funding counterparty refusing to roll

As at 31 December 2020, the Group held eligible liquid assets well in excess of 100% of net stress outflows of the 30-day combined scenario,  
which has the highest net outflows of the three short-term liquidity stress scenarios.

The Group also runs a long-term liquidity stress test, which measures the anticipated outflows over a 12-month market-wide scenario.  
As at 31 December 2020, the Group remained compliant with this internal metric.

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Liquidity regulation
The Group monitors its position against the LCR, and the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) as defined in the CRR as amended by CRR IIb.

The LCR is designed to promote short-term resilience of a bank’s liquidity risk profile by holding sufficient High Quality Liquid Assets to survive an acute 
stress scenario lasting for 30 days. The NSFR has been developed to promote a sustainable maturity structure of assets and liabilities.
The original LCR Delegated Act underwent a revision in April 2020a. The key areas which were updated include rules around the recognition of 
securitisations as High Quality Liquid Assets (requiring them to be simple, transparent and standardised) as well as an update to the stressed inflow/
outflow rates for repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements and collateral swaps. These revisions were consistent with the requirements 
of the Basel standards.

Detailed NSFR provisions were contained in CRR II. Barclays expects all its entities in scope of NSFR requirements to be compliant at their respective date 
of implementation.

Regulatory developments and impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union
LCR
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018c ensures ‘direct EU legislation’ operative in the UK immediately before ‘exit day’ (31 December 2020) 
continues to be in force unless otherwise specified. This ensures that the LCR provisions operative in the UK before ‘exit day’ contained in the CRR 
(as amended by CRR II) and LCR Delegated Act continue to apply in the UK subject to the temporary transitional powers (TTP) available to UK regulators 
to delay or phase-in onshoring changes.
The relief made available under the TTP extends to the recognition of EU member states’ sovereign debt as Level 1 HQLAd up to 31 March 2022 unless 
the relevant equivalence decision is made earlier.

NSFR
The NSFR rules were not operative in the UK prior to ‘exit day’ and therefore they were not automatically onshored into UK domestic law and the UK 
is under no direct obligation to align to the requirements contained in CRR II. Instead the NSFR will be subject to implementation by the UK’s PRA. 
In November 2020 the PRA published a joint statement with HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authoritye that the implementation of the 
outstanding provisions of CRR II in the UK would be moved from June 2021 to January 2022. The PRA intends to consult during the course of 2021 which 
will determine how closely implementation of the NSFR in the UK will align with the EU requirements of CRR II.

This does not apply to Barclays Bank Ireland (BBI) which remains subject to the NSFR requirements as set out in CRR II due to be implemented in June 
2021.

Notes
a  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/61 of 10 October 2014 to supplement Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and Council with regard to liquidity 

coverage requirement for Credit Institutions, as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and as amended from time to time.

b  Capital Requirements Regulation II (CRRII): Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/87.
c  Section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
d  Part 15 of ‘Capital Requirements Regulation: Guidance on the PRA’s use of the transitional direction’.
e  Joint statement on the implementation of prudential reforms in the Financial Services Bill.

Liquidity coverage ratio
The external LCR requirement is prescribed by the regulator taking into account the relative stability of different sources of funding and potential 
incremental funding requirements in a stress. 

As at 31 December
Eligible liquidity buffer
Net stress outflows
Surplus
Liquidity coverage ratio

2020
£bn
258
(159)
99
162%

2019
£bn
206
(128)
78
160%

As part of the LRA, Barclays also establishes the minimum LCR limit. The Group plans to maintain its surplus to the internal and regulatory stress 
requirements at an efficient level, while continuously assessing risks to market funding conditions and its liquidity position and taking actions to manage 
the size of the liquidity pool as appropriate.

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Liquidity pool 
The Group liquidity pool as at 31 December 2020 was £266bn (2019: £211bn). During 2020, the month-end liquidity pool ranged from £218bn to £332bn 
(2019: £211bn to £256bn), and the month-end average balance was £287bn (2019: £235bn). The liquidity pool is held unencumbered and is intended to 
offset stress outflows. It comprises the following cash and unencumbered assets.

Composition of the Group liquidity pool as at 31 December 2020

Cash and deposits with central banksa

Government bondsb
AAA to AA-
A+ to A-
BBB+ to BBB-
Total government bonds

Other 
Government guaranteed issuers, PSEs and GSEs 
International organisations and MDBs
Covered bonds 
Other
Total other
Total as at 31 December 2020
Total as at 31 December 2019

Liquidity pool of which CRR LCR eligiblec

Liquidity pool
£bn
197

Cash
£bn
192

Level 1
£bn
–

Level 2A
£bn
–

2019
Liquidity pool
£bn
153

31
13
1
45

10
6
8
–
24
266
211

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
192
150

29
6
1
36

8
5
6
–
19
55
50

1
7
–
8

1
–
2
–
3
11
3

31
2
3
36

9
7
6
–
22
211

Notes
a 

Includes cash held at central banks and surplus cash at central banks related to payment schemes. Of which over 98% (2019: over 98%) was placed with the Bank of England, US Federal 
Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan and Swiss National Bank.

b  Of which over 78% (2019: over 79%) comprised UK, US, French, German, Japanese, Swiss and Dutch securities.
c  The LCR eligible liquidity pool is adjusted for trapped liquidity and other regulatory deductions. It also incorporates other CRR (as amended by CRR II) qualifying assets that are not eligible 

under Barclays’ internal risk appetite.

The Group liquidity pool is well diversified by major currency and the Group monitors LRA stress scenarios for major currencies.

Liquidity pool by currency

Liquidity pool as at 31 December 2020
Liquidity pool as at 31 December 2019

USD
£bn
60
52

EUR
£bn
50
42

GBP
£bn
80
67

Other 
£bn
76
50

Total
£bn
266
211

Management of the liquidity pool
The composition of the liquidity pool is subject to limits set by the Board and the independent liquidity risk, credit risk and market risk functions. 
In addition, the investment of the liquidity pool is monitored for concentration risk by issuer, currency and asset type. Given the returns generated 
by these highly liquid assets, the risk and reward profile is continuously managed.

As at 31 December 2020, 64% (2019: 67%) of the liquidity pool was located in Barclays Bank PLC, 23% (2019: 20%) in Barclays Bank UK PLC and 7% 
(2019: 6%) in Barclays Bank Ireland PLC. The residual portion of the liquidity pool is held outside of these entities, predominantly in the US subsidiaries, 
to meet entity-specific stress outflows and local regulatory requirements. To the extent the use of this portion of the liquidity pool is restricted due to 
local regulatory requirements, it is assumed to be unavailable to the rest of the Group in calculating the LCR.

Contingent liquidity
In addition to the Group liquidity pool, the Group has access to other unencumbered assets which provide a source of contingent liquidity. While these are 
not relied on in the Group’s LRA, a portion of these assets may be monetised in a stress to generate liquidity through their use as collateral for secured 
funding or through outright sale.

In a Barclays-specific, market-wide or combined liquidity stress, liquidity available via market sources could be severely disrupted. In circumstances where 
market liquidity is unavailable or available only at significantly elevated prices, the Group could generate liquidity via central bank facilities. To this end, as at 
31 December 2020, the Group had £99.2bn (December 2019: £79.7bn) of assets prepositioned at various central banks.

For more detail on the Group’s other unencumbered assets, see pages 221 to 223 of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 (unaudited).

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Risk performance continued

Funding structure and funding relationships
The basis for sound liquidity risk management is a funding structure that reduces the probability of a liquidity stress leading to an inability to meet funding 
obligations as they fall due. The Group’s overall funding strategy is to develop a diversified funding base (geographically, by type and by counterparty) and 
maintain access to a variety of alternative funding sources, to provide protection against unexpected fluctuations, while minimising the cost of funding.

Within this, the Group aims to align the sources and uses of funding. As such, retail and corporate loans and advances are largely funded by deposits in 
the relevant entities, with the surplus primarily funding the liquidity pool. The majority of reverse repurchase agreements are matched by repurchase 
agreements. Derivative liabilities and assets are largely matched. A substantial proportion of balance sheet derivative positions qualify for counterparty 
netting and the remaining portions are largely offset when netted against cash collateral received and paid. Wholesale debt and equity is used to fund 
residual assets.

These funding relationships are summarised below:

Assets
Loans and advances at amortised costa
Group liquidity pool

Reverse repurchase agreements, 
trading portfolio assets, cash collateral 
and settlement balances
Derivative financial instruments
Other assetsb

2020
£bn
335
266

376
302
71

2019
£bn
335
211

298
229
67

Total assets

1,350

1,140

Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
<1 Year wholesale funding
>1 Year wholesale funding
Repurchase agreements,  
trading portfolio liabilities, cash collateral  
and settlement balances
Derivative financial instruments
Other liabilities
Equity
Total liabilities

Notes
a  Adjusted for liquidity pool debt securities reported at amortised costs of £8bn (December 2019: £4bn).
b  Other assets include fair value assets that are not part of reverse repurchase agreements or trading portfolio assets, and other asset categories.

Deposit funding (audited)

Funding of loans and advances 
As at 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Barclays Group

Loans and 
advances at 
amortised 
cost
£bn
214
123
6
343

2020

Deposits at 
amortised 
cost
£bn
240
241
 – 
481

2020
£bn
481
43
102

324
301
32
67
1,350

Loan: 
deposit
ratioa
%
89%
51%

2019
£bn
416
41
106

247
229
35
66
1,140

2019

Loan: 
deposit
ratio
%
96%
63%

71%

82%

Note
a  The loan: deposit ratio is calculated as loans and advances at amortised cost divided by deposits at amortised cost.

As at 31 December 2020, £209bn (2019: £181bn) of total customer deposits were insured through the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme 
(FSCS) and other similar schemes. In addition to these customer deposits £2bn (2019: £4bn) of other liabilities are insured by other governments.

Contractually current accounts are repayable on demand and savings accounts at short notice. In practice, their observed maturity is typically longer 
than their contractual maturity. Similarly, repayment profiles of certain types of assets e.g. mortgages, overdrafts and credit card lending, differ from their 
contractual profiles. The Group therefore assesses the behavioural maturity of both customer assets and liabilities to identify structural balance sheet 
funding gaps. In doing so, it applies quantitative modelling and qualitative assessments which take into account historical experience, current customer 
composition, and macroeconomic projections.

The Group’s broad base of customers, numerically and by depositor type, helps protect against unexpected fluctuations in balances and hence provides 
a stable funding base for the Group’s operations and liquidity needs.

Wholesale funding
Barclays Bank Group and Barclays Bank UK Group maintain access to a variety of sources of wholesale funds in major currencies, including those available 
from term investors across a variety of distribution channels and geographies, short-term funding markets and repo markets. 

Barclays Bank Group has direct access to US, European and Asian capital markets through its global investment banking operations and to long-term 
investors through its clients worldwide. Key sources of wholesale funding include money markets, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, medium-
term issuances (including structured notes) and securitisations.

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Key sources of wholesale funding for Barclays Bank UK Group include money markets, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, covered bonds and other 
securitisations.

The Group expects to continue issuing public wholesale debt from Barclays PLC (the Parent company), in order to maintain compliance with indicative 
MREL requirements and maintain a stable and diverse funding base by type, currency and market. During the year, the Group issued £7.9bn of MREL 
instruments from Barclays PLC (the Parent company) in a range of different currencies and tenors.

Barclays Bank PLC continued to issue in the shorter-term and medium-term notes markets including a $1.75bn two year senior bond issuance in May, 
and repurchased $1.5bn 7.625% Contingent Capital Notes in December. Barclays Bank UK PLC continued to issue in the shorter-term markets and 
maintains an active secured funding programme. This funding capacity enables the respective entities maintain their stable and diversified funding bases. 

As at 31 December 2020, the Group’s total wholesale funding outstanding (excluding repurchase agreements) was £145.0bn (2019: £147.1bn), of which 
£17.1bn (2019: £19.6bn) was secured funding and £127.9bn (2019: £127.5bn) unsecured funding. Unsecured funding includes £54.8bn (2019: £51.1bn) 
of privately placed senior unsecured notes issued through a variety of distribution channels including intermediaries and private banks.

Wholesale funding of £42.7bn (2019: £40.6bn matures in less than one year, representing 29% (December 2019: 28%) of total wholesale funding 
outstanding. This includes £20.3bn (2019: £16.3bn) related to term fundingb. Although not a requirement, the liquidity pool exceeded the wholesale 
funding maturing in less than one year by £223bn (2019: £170bn).

Barclays Bank Group and Barclays Bank UK Group also support various central bank monetary initiatives, such as the Bank of England’s Term Funding 
Scheme (TFS) and Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for SMEs (TFSME), and the European Central Bank’s Targeted Long-Term Refinancing 
Operations (TLTRO). These are reported under ‘repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing’ on the balance sheet.

In 2020, Barclays repaid £11.2bn of TFS drawings early, reducing the outstanding drawn balance under TFS to £1.4bn as at 31 December 2020. 
Additionally £6.6bn of TFSME and £2.2bn of TLTRO drawings during the year were outstanding at the year-end.

Maturity profile of wholesale fundinga,b

<1 
month
£bn

1-3 
months
£bn

3-6 
months
£bn

6-12 
months
£bn

Barclays PLC (the Parent company)
Senior unsecured (Public benchmark)
Senior unsecured (Privately placed)
Subordinated liabilities
Barclays Bank PLC  
(including subsidiaries)
Certificates of deposit and 
commercial paper
Asset backed commercial paper
Senior unsecured (Public benchmark)
Senior unsecured (Privately placed)c
Asset backed securities
Subordinated liabilities
Barclays Bank UK PLC  
(including subsidiaries)
Certificates of deposit and 
commercial paper
Senior unsecured (Public benchmark)
Covered bonds

Total as at 31 December 2020
Of which secured
Of which unsecured
Total as at 31 December 2019
Of which secured
Of which unsecured

1.1
0.1
–

–
1.4
–
0.8
–
1.4

–
–
0.9

5.7
2.3
3.4
4.5
1.6
2.9

1.1
–
–

5.4
5.0
0.5
2.3
–
0.2

0.9
–
–

15.4
5.0
10.4
11.6
5.3
6.3

–
–
–

3.1
0.7
0.1
2.2
–
3.2

0.2
–
–

9.5
0.7
8.8
9.4
2.3
7.1

1.2
0.1
–

5.6
–
0.1
4.2
0.5
0.3

0.1
–
–

12.1
0.5
11.6
15.1
0.5
14.6

<1 
year
£bn

3.4
0.2
–

14.1
7.1
0.7
9.5
0.5
5.1

1.2
–
0.9

42.7
8.5
34.2
40.6
9.7
30.9

1-2 
years
£bn

1.4
–
–

0.5
–
1.3
7.1
0.8
2.2

–
–
2.3

15.6
3.1
12.5
19.8
0.9
18.9

2-3 
years
£bn

7.7
0.2
–

0.1
–
0.1
6.4
0.4
–

–
–
1.8

16.7
2.2
14.5
12.1
2.5
9.6

3-4 
years
£bn

5.6
0.2
0.9

–
–
1.1
3.9
0.5
0.1

–
–
–

12.3
0.5
11.8
15.1
2.4
12.7

4-5 
years
£bn

5.1
–
–

–
–
–
4.9
0.2
–

–
–
–

10.2
0.2
10.0
11.6
0.9
10.7

>5 
years
£bn

13.5
0.7
6.8

–
–
0.9
21.7
1.4
1.2

–
0.1
1.2

47.5
2.6
44.9
47.9
3.2
44.7

Total
£bn

36.7
1.3
7.7

14.7
7.1
4.1
53.5
3.8
8.6

1.2
0.1
6.2

145.0
17.1
127.9
147.1
19.6
127.5

Notes
a  The composition of wholesale funds comprises the balance sheet reported financial liabilities at fair value, debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities. It does not include 

participation in the central bank facilities reported within repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing.

b  Term funding comprises public benchmark and privately placed senior unsecured notes, covered bonds, asset backed securities and subordinated debt where the original maturity 

of the instrument was more than one year.
Includes structured notes of £45.4bn, of which £8.7bn matures within one year.

c 

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Currency composition of wholesale debt
As at 31 December 2020, the proportion of wholesale funding by major currencies was as follows:

Currency composition of wholesale funding

Certificates of deposit and commercial paper
Asset backed commercial paper
Senior unsecured (Public benchmark)
Senior unsecured (Privately placed)
Covered bonds/Asset backed securities
Subordinated liabilities
Total as at 31 December 2020
Total as at 31 December 2019

USD
%
44
78
57
71
34
52
61
60

EUR
%
38
13
21
12
29
25
20
22

GBP
%
17
9
15
7
37
21
13
13

Other
%
1
–
7
10
–
2
6
5

To manage cross currency refinancing risk, the Group manages to currency mismatch, which limit risk at specific maturities. 

Credit ratings
In addition to monitoring and managing key metrics related to the financial strength of the Group, Barclays also solicits independent credit ratings from 
Standard & Poor’s Global (S&P), Moody’s, Fitch, and Rating and Investment Information (R&I). These ratings assess the creditworthiness of the Group, 
its subsidiaries and its branches, and are based on reviews of a broad range of business and financial attributes including capital strength, profitability, 
funding, liquidity, asset quality, strategy and governance.

Credit ratings
As at 31 December 2020
Barclays Bank PLC
Long term
Short term
Barclays Bank UK PLC
Long term
Short term
Barclays PLC
Long term
Short term

Note
a  Rating Watch Negative

Standard & Poor’s

Moody’s

Fitch

A / Negative
A-1

A1 / Stable
P-1

A+ / Negativea
F1

A / Negative
A-1

A1 / Negative A+ / Negative
P-1

F1

BBB / Negative Baa2 /Stable
A-2

P-2

A / Negative
F1

In January 2020 Moody’s upgraded the long-term ratings of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC by one notch to Baa2 and A1 respectively, due to their 
view that the earnings profile of the entities has improved. This followed the positive outlooks that had been placed on these entities in May 2019 and 
the outlooks reverted to stable in the most recent action.

In April 2020, Fitch revised the outlooks of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC to Rating Watch Negative (RWN) from stable, while the outlook for 
Barclays Bank UK PLC was revised to negative from stable, alongside UK peers, to reflect the downside risks to their credit profiles resulting from the 
economic and financial market implications of the COVID-19 outbreak. In October 2020, Fitch removed the RWNs on the ratings of Barclays PLC and 
Barclays Bank PLC and revised the outlook to Negative, whilst affirming the rating of Barclays Bank UK PLC. 

In April 2020, S&P affirmed all ratings for Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank UK PLC, whilst revising the outlooks for Barclays and its 
subsidiaries to negative from stable, alongside many European peers, to reflect economic and market stress triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barclays also solicits issuer ratings from R&I and the ratings of A- for Barclays PLC and A for Barclays Bank PLC were affirmed in November 2020 with 
stable outlooks.

A credit rating downgrade could result in outflows to meet collateral requirements on existing contracts. Outflows related to credit rating downgrades 
are included in the LRA stress scenarios and a portion of the liquidity pool is held against this risk. Credit ratings downgrades could also result in reduced 
funding capacity and increased funding costs.

The contractual collateral requirement following one- and two-notch long-term and associated short-term downgrades across all credit rating agencies, 
would result in outflows of £2bn and £4bn respectively, and are provided for in determining an appropriate liquidity pool size given the Group’s liquidity risk 
appetite. These numbers do not assume any management or restructuring actions that could be taken to reduce posting requirements. These outflows 
do not include the potential liquidity impact from loss of unsecured funding, such as from money market funds, or loss of secured funding capacity. 
However, unsecured and secured funding stresses are included in the LRA stress scenarios and a portion of the liquidity pool is held against these risks.

212

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities 
The table below provides detail on the contractual maturity of all financial instruments and other assets and liabilities. Derivatives (other than those 
designated in a hedging relationship) and trading portfolio assets and liabilities are included in the ‘on demand’ column at their fair value. Liquidity risk 
on these items is not managed on the basis of contractual maturity since they are not held for settlement according to such maturity and will frequently 
be settled before contractual maturity at fair value. Derivatives designated in a hedging relationship are included according to their contractual maturity.

Contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities (audited)

As at 
31 December 2020
Assets
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and 
settlement balances
Loans and advances at 
amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements  
and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through 
the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through 
other comprehensive income
Other financial assets
Total financial assets
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and 
settlement balances
Repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured borrowing
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated 
at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Other financial liabilities
Total financial liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Cumulative liquidity gap

On
demand
£m

Not more
than three
months
£m

Over three
months but
not more
than six
months
£m

Over six
months but
not more
than nine 
months
£m

Over nine
months but
not more
than one 
year
£m

Over one
year 
but not
more than
two years
£m

Over two
years but
not more
than three
years
£m

Over three
years but
not more
than five
years
£m

Over five
years but
not more
than ten
years
£m

Over ten
years
£m

Total
£m

190,347

182

598

1,177 100,190

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

191,127

101,367

14,098

11,970

8,388

4,956

5,234

25,392

22,133

36,286

47,944 166,231

342,632

150
127,950

8,698
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

183
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

9,031
127,950

17,377 123,044
23

301,880

7,548
–

6,960
–

4,151
–

4,911
70

1,346
55

2,431
310

2,345
87

5,038
21

175,151
302,446

–
357

9,655
451
653,336 254,213

3,517
19
20,070

1,393
22
13,331

948
–
10,333

6,469
1
36,843

5,566
–
29,283

17,552
–
56,579

24,450
–

9,138
–
74,826 180,428

78,688
850
1,329,242
20,272
1,349,514

410,894

41,468

15,886

5,073

3,082

2,264

625

601

764

379

481,036

1,900

83,523

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

85,423

4
–
–
47,405

3,276
16,344
1,589
–

–
4,048
3,209
–

–
5,100
294
–

299,795
101

15,555 172,153
1
2,915
775,654 321,269

8,677
49
49
31,918

5,067
–
46
15,580

–
1,937
–
–

2,938
–
45
8,002

1,400
5,780
2,192
–

8,594
79
738
21,047

2,329
10,402
14
–

6,939
67
156
20,532

7,073
13,608
989
–

8,580
185
273
31,309

–
12,721
6,915
–

8,344
196
436
29,376

92
5,856
1,139
–

12,918
403
210
20,997

(122,318) (189,374) (201,222) (203,471) (201,140) (185,344) (176,593) (151,323) (105,873) 53,558

14,174
75,796
16,341
47,405

249,765
300,775
4,969
1,275,684
6,948
1,282,632
66,882

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities (audited)

Contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities (audited)

As at 
31 December 2019
Assets
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and 
settlement balances
Loans and advances at 
amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements 
and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through 
the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through 
other comprehensive income
Other financial assets
Total financial assets
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and 
settlement balances
Repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured borrowing
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated 
at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Other financial liabilities
Total financial liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Cumulative liquidity gap

On
demand
£m

Not more
than three
months
£m

Over three
months but
not more
than six
months
£m

Over six
months but
not more
than nine 
months
£m

Over nine
months but
not more
than one 
year
£m

Over one
year 
but not
more than
two years
£m

Over two
years but
not more
than three
years
£m

Over three
years but
not more
than five
years
£m

Over five
years but
not more
than ten
years
£m

Over ten
years
£m

Total
£m

149,383

766

109

2,022

81,231

3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

150,258

83,256

14,824

10,944

13,108

7,738

7,031

21,771

22,478

37,408

40,702 163,111

339,115

13
114,195

3,097
–

–
–

–
–

14,279
229,063

89,355
30

13,979
–

3,443
–

–
895

6,694
441
524,674 192,558

3,241
25
30,465

1,164
–
12,345

–
–

1,317
–

1,159
14
9,521

77
–

1,664
7

190
–

512
24

–
–

–
–

2
–

3,379
114,195

953
9

2,302
79

5,282
24

133,086
229,236

7,711
–
31,230

6,521
–
29,725

11,896
–
50,266

21,195
–

6,169
–
64,278 174,588

65,750
1,375
1,119,650
20,579
1,140,229

348,337

42,357

10,671

3,861

4,067

3,935

930

530

545

554

415,787

3,053

64,275

13

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

67,341

7
–
–
36,916

2,755
12,795
207
–

228,617
251

13,952 127,939
1
2,361
631,133 252,690

10
6,560
78
–

10,890
–
55
28,277

–
4,147
75
–

6,519
8
52
14,662

–
3,123
832
–

3,798
–
50
11,870

10,007
8,387
4,979
–

6,981
36
1,110
35,435

1,201
3,325
3,266
–

6,235
42
138
15,137

470
18,189
1,075
–

7,706
42
242
28,254

–
14,342
5,979
–

7,127
88
351
28,432

67
5,501
1,665
–

13,179
370
409
21,745

(106,459) (166,591) (164,403) (166,720) (169,069) (173,274) (158,686) (136,674) (100,828)

52,015

14,517
76,369
18,156
36,916

204,326
229,204
5,019
1,067,635
6,934
1,074,569
65,660

Expected maturity date may differ from the contractual dates, to account for:
■■ trading portfolio assets and liabilities and derivative financial instruments, which may not be held to maturity as part of the Group’s trading strategies
■■ corporate and retail deposits, reported under deposits at amortised cost, are repayable on demand or at short notice on a contractual basis. 

In practice, their behavioural maturity is typically longer than their contractual maturity, and therefore these deposits provide stable funding for 
the Group’s operations and liquidity needs because of the broad base of customers, both numerically and by depositor type

■■ loans to corporate and retail customers, which are included within loans and advances at amortised cost and financial assets at fair value, may be 

repaid earlier in line with terms and conditions of the contract

■■ debt securities in issue, subordinated liabilities, and financial liabilities designated at fair value, may include early redemption features.

214

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Contractual maturity of financial liabilities on an undiscounted basis 
The table below presents the cash flows payable by the Group under financial liabilities by remaining contractual maturities at the balance sheet date. 
The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows of all financial liabilities (i.e. nominal values).

The balances in the below table do not agree directly to the balances in the consolidated balance sheet as the table incorporates all cash flows, 
on an undiscounted basis, related to both principal as well as those associated with all future coupon payments.

Derivative financial instruments held for trading and trading portfolio liabilities are included in the on demand column at their fair value.

Contractual maturity of financial liabilities – undiscounted (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and 
settlement balances
Repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured borrowing
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated 
at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Other financial liabilities
Total financial liabilities

As at 31 December 2019
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and settlement 
balances
Repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured borrowing
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated 
at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Other financial liabilities
Total financial liabilities

On
demand
£m

Not more
than three
months
£m

Over three
months but
not more
than six
months
£m

Over six
months but
not more
than one 
year
£m

Over one
year but 
not more 
than three 
years
£m

Over three
years but
not more
than five
years
£m

Over five
years but
not more
than ten
years
£m

Over ten
years
£m

Total
£m

410,894

41,468

15,886

8,156

2,893

599

768

385

481,049

1,900

83,523

–

–

–

–

–

–

85,423

4
–
–
47,405

15,555
299,795
101
775,654

3,276
16,368
1,597
–

172,186
1
2,929
321,348

–
4,058
3,328
–

8,683
49
62
32,066

–
7,061
311
–

8,007
–
116
23,651

3,729
16,684
2,498
–

15,604
147
981
42,536

7,089
14,715
1,152
–

8,586
187
338
32,666

–
14,882
8,578
–

8,369
204
557
33,358

154
9,852
1,587
–

14,245
83,620
19,051
47,405

20,835
443
248

257,825
300,826
5,332
33,504 1,294,776

348,337

42,369

10,682

7,946

4,869

532

554

595

415,884

3,053

64,297

13

–

–

–

–

–

67,363

7
–
–
36,916

13,952
228,617
251
631,133

2,758
12,850
207
–

128,064
2
2,372
252,919

10
6,589
78
–

11,020
–
65
28,457

–
7,305
950
–

10,609
8
126
26,944

11,300
12,330
9,822
–

13,507
80
1,337
53,245

485
19,132
1,286
–

8,054
45
351
29,885

–
16,657
7,192
–

7,519
99
565
32,586

149
9,398
3,025
–

14,709
84,261
22,560
36,916

19,392
378
448

212,117
229,229
5,515
33,385 1,088,554

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Maturity of off-balance sheet commitments received and given
The table below presents the maturity split of the Group’s off-balance sheet commitments received and given at the balance sheet date. The amounts 
disclosed in the table are the undiscounted cash flows (i.e. nominal values) on the basis of earliest opportunity at which they are available.

Maturity analysis of off-balance sheet commitments received (audited)

On 
demand
£m

Not more 
than three 
months
£m

Over three 
 months but 
not more 
than six 
months
£m

Over six 
 months but 
not more 
than nine 
months
£m

Over nine 
months but 
not more 
than one 
year
£m

Over one 
year but 
not more 
than two 
years
£m

Over two 
years but 
not more 
than three 
years
£m

Over three 
years but 
not more 
than five 
years
£m

Over five 
years but 
not more 
than ten 
years
£m

Over ten 
years
£m

Total
£m

As at 31 December 2020
Guarantees, letters of credit 
and credit insurance
Other commitments received
Total off-balance sheet 
commitments received

As at 31 December 2019
Guarantees, letters of credit 
and credit insurance
Other commitments received
Total off-balance sheet 
commitments received

26,368
92

26,460

13,091
91

13,182

86
–

86

106
–

106

37
–

37

22
–

22

68
–

68

81
–

81

8
–

8

–
–

–

18
–

18

11
–

11

14
–

14

12
–

12

47
–

47

21
–

21

40
–

40

12
–

12

25
–

26,711
92

25

26,803

34
–

13,390
91

34

13,481

Maturity analysis of off-balance sheet commitments given (audited)

On 
demand
£m

Not more 
than three 
months
£m

Over three 
months but 
not more 
than six 
months
£m

Over six 
months but 
not more 
than nine 
months
£m

Over nine 
months but 
not more 
than one 
year
£m

Over one 
year but 
not more 
than two 
years
£m

Over two 
years but 
not more 
than three 
years
£m

Over three 
years but 
not more 
than five 
years
£m

Over five 
years but 
not more 
than ten 
years
£m

Over ten 
years
£m

Total
£m

As at 31 December 2020
Contingent liabilities
Documentary credits and other 
short-term trade related transactions
Standby facilities, credit lines 
and other commitments
Total off-balance sheet 
commitments given

21,307

213

1,084

330,499

352,890

1

564

778

As at 31 December 2019
Contingent liabilities
Documentary credits and other 
short-term trade related transactions
Standby facilities, credit lines 
and other commitments
Total off-balance sheet 
commitments given

23,586

366

1,287

3

328,623

1,133

792

973

353,496

1,502

879

1,098

57

1

93

151

86

1

6

–

123

129

1

–

95

96

25

–

160

185

125

140

143

–

–

639

779

–

269

412

–

–

199

199

42

–

98

140

–

–

202

202

28

–

273

301

–

–

21

21

3

–

–

–

21,609

1,086

7 331,963

7 354,658

8

–

24,527

1,291

139

142

225 333,164

233 358,982

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Financial statements

Summary of performance 
in the period
The Group continues to be in excess of overall 
capital requirements, minimum leverage 
requirements and MREL requirements.

The CET1 ratio increased to 15.1% (December 
2019: 13.8%).

CET1 capital increased by £5.5bn to £46.3bn 
reflecting resilient capital generation through 
£7.9bn of profit before tax, excluding credit 
impairment charges of £4.8bn, and a £1.0bn 
increase due to the cancellation of the full year 
2019 dividend. These increases were partially 
offset by £0.9bn of AT1 coupons paid and the 
announced 1.0p full year 2020 dividend. The 
CET1 capital increase also reflects regulatory 
measures for IFRS 9 transitional relief, prudent 
valuation and qualifying software assets.

RWAs increased by £11.1bn to £306.2bn 
primarily due to higher market volatility, 
increased client activity and a reduction in 
credit quality within CIB, partially offset by 
lower consumer lending.

The average UK leverage ratio increased to 5.0% 
(December 2019: 4.5%) primarily driven by the 
increase in T1 capital. The average leverage 
exposure increased to £1,147bn (December 
2019: £1,143bn) primarily driven by an increase 
in Securities Financing Transactions (SFTs) and 
Trading Portfolio Assets (TPAs) largely driven by 
an increase in secured lending and client activity 
within CIB, partially offset by the PRA’s early 
adoption of CRR II settlement netting.

Minimum capital 
requirements
The Group’s Overall Capital Requirement 
for CET1 is 11.2% comprising a 4.5% Pillar 1 
minimum, a 2.5% Capital Conservation Buffer 
(CCB), a 1.5% Global Systemically Important 
Institution (G-SII) buffer, a 2.7% Pillar 2A 
requirement and a 0.0% Countercyclical Capital 
Buffer (CCyB).

The Group’s CCyB is based on the buffer rate 
applicable for each jurisdiction in which the 
Group has exposures. On 11 March 2020, the 
Financial Policy Committee (FPC) set the CCyB 
rate for UK exposures at 0% with immediate 
effect. The buffer rates set by other national 
authorities for non-UK exposures are not 
currently material. Overall, this results in a 0.0% 
CCyB for the Group. 

The Group’s Pillar 2A requirement as per the 
PRA’s Individual Capital Requirement is 4.8% 
of which at least 56.25% needs to be met with 
CET1 capital, equating to approximately 2.7% 
of RWAs. The Pillar 2A requirement is subject 
to at least annual review and has been set as 
a nominal capital amount. This is based on a 
point in time assessment and the requirement 
(when expressed as a proportion of RWAs) will 
change depending on the total RWAs at each 
reporting period. 

Capital risk
All disclosures in this section are 
unaudited unless otherwise stated.

Overview
The CET1 ratio, among other metrics, 
is a measure of the capital strength and 
resilience of Barclays. Maintenance of 
our capital resources is vital in order to 
meet the overall regulatory capital 
requirement, to withstand the impact 
of the risks that may arise under normal 
and stressed conditions, and to cover 
current and forecast business needs and 
associated risks to provide a viable and 
sustainable business offering.

This section provides an overview of 
the Group’s: (i) CET1 capital, leverage 
and own funds and eligible liabilities 
requirements; (ii) capital resources; 
(iii) risk weighted assets (RWAs); 
(iv) leverage ratios and exposures; 
and (v) own funds and eligible liabilities.

More details on monitoring and 
managing capital risk may be found 
in the risk management sections of 
the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 
(unaudited).

Key metrics
Common Equity Tier 1 ratio

15.1%

Average UK leverage ratio

5.0%

UK leverage ratio

5.3%

Own funds and eligible liabilities ratio 
as a percentage of CRR leverage 
exposuresa

8.2%

Own funds and eligible liabilities ratio 
as a percentage of RWAs

33.6%

Note
a  Fully loaded CRR leverage exposure is 

calculated without applying the transitional 
arrangements of the CRR as amended by 
CRR II.

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Significant regulatory 
updates in the period
Under the withdrawal agreement between the 
UK and the EU, the 11-month transition period 
expired at 11pm on 31 December 2020. Any 
references to CRR as amended by CRR II mean, 
unless otherwise specified, CRR as amended 
by CRR II, as it forms part of UK law pursuant to 
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and 
subject to the TTP available to UK regulators to 
delay or phase-in onshoring changes to UK 
regulatory requirements arising at the end of the 
transition period until 31 March 2022, as at the 
applicable reporting date. Throughout the TTP 
period, the BoE and PRA are expected to review 
the UK legislation framework and any disclosures 
made by the Group will be subject to any 
resulting guidance. 

The following regulatory updates formed part of 
CRR as amended by CRR II prior to 31 December 
2020 and subsequently form part of UK law as 
defined above.

On 22 April 2020, the regulatory technical 
standards on prudent valuation were amended 
to include an increase to diversification factors 
applied to certain additional valuation 
adjustments. The amendments temporarily 
reduced the additional value adjustment 
deduction (PVA) and were applied until 31 
December 2020 inclusive.

Minimum leverage 
requirements
The Group is subject to a leverage ratio 
requirement of 3.8% as at 31 December 2020. 
This comprises the 3.25% minimum 
requirement, a G-SII additional leverage ratio 
buffer (G-SII ALRB) of 0.53% and a 
countercyclical leverage ratio buffer of 0.0%. 
Although the leverage ratio is expressed in terms 
of T1 capital, 75% of the minimum requirement, 
equating to 2.4375%, needs to be met with 
CET1 capital. In addition, the G-SII ALRB must 
be covered solely with CET1 capital. The CET1 
capital held against the 0.53% G-SII ALRB 
was £6.0bn. 

Minimum requirements 
for own funds and eligible 
liabilities
The Group is required to meet the higher of: 
(i) the requirements set by the BoE based on 
RWAs and the higher of average and UK leverage 
exposures; and (ii) the requirements in CRR as 
amended by CRR II based on RWAs and CRR 
leverage exposures. The MREL requirements are 
subject to phased implementation and will be 
fully implemented by 1 January 2022. 

On 19 January 2021 the BoE published 
indicative MREL requirements that show the 
Group’s highest requirement in 2022 will be 
7.70% of CRR leverage exposure, based on 
30 September 2020 exposures. The BoE is 
currently reviewing the MREL calibration and 
intends to make any policy changes by the end 
of 2021. Separately, the FPC intends to review 
the UK leverage framework in 2021 and this, 
along with any MREL policy changes, may result 
in a different MREL requirement from 1 January 
2022 than that which is currently proposed. 
CET1 capital cannot be counted towards both 
MREL and the capital buffers, meaning that the 
buffers will effectively be applied above MREL 
requirements. 

On 27 June 2020, CRR as amended by CRR II, 
was further amended to accelerate specific 
CRR II measures and implement a new IFRS 9 
transitional relief calculation. Previously due to 
be implemented in June 2021, the accelerated 
measures primarily relate to non-deduction of 
prudently valued software assets from CET1 
capital, the CRR leverage calculation to include 
additional settlement netting and limited 
changes to the calculation of RWAs. For UK 
leverage calculations, the PRA early adopted the 
CRR II settlement netting measure in April 2020.

The IFRS 9 transitional arrangements have been 
extended by two years and a new modified 
calculation has been introduced. 100% relief will 
be applied to increases in stage 1 and stage 2 
provisions from 1 January 2020 throughout 
2020 and 2021; 75% in 2022; 50% in 2023; 25% 
in 2024 with no relief applied from 2025. The 
phasing out of transitional relief on the ‘day 1’ 
impact of IFRS 9 as well as increases in stage 1 
and stage 2 provisions between 1 January 2018 
and 31 December 2019 under the modified 
calculation remain unchanged and continue to 
be subject to 70% transitional relief throughout 
2020; 50% for 2021; 25% for 2022 and with no 
relief applied from 2023.

On 23 December 2020, a new regulatory 
technical standard on the prudential treatment 
of qualifying software assets was adopted into 
EU law replacing the CET1 capital deduction 
with prudential amortisation up to a 3-year 
period.  Intangible assets that are no longer 
deducted are subject to 100% risk weight 
instead.

Following its stated intention to consult, on 12 
February 2021 the PRA launched a consultation 
on certain items within the Basel standards that 
remain to be implemented in the UK as well as 
setting out proposed new PRA CRR rules.  The 
proposals include reverting to the previous 
treatment of 100% CET1 capital deduction for 
qualifying software assets by the end of 2021, 
meaning the benefit in the CET1 ratio is likely to 
be reversed in future periods.

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Capital resources
Capital ratiosa,b,c
As at 31 December
CET1
Tier 1 (T1)
Total regulatory capital

Capital resources (audited)

As at 31 December
Total equity excluding non-controlling interests per the balance sheet
Less: other equity instruments (recognised as AT1 capital)
Adjustment to retained earnings for foreseeable dividends and other equity coupons

Other regulatory adjustments and deductions
Additional value adjustments (PVA)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Deferred tax assets that rely on future profitability excluding temporary differences
Fair value reserves related to gains or losses on cash flow hedges
Gains or losses on liabilities at fair value resulting from own credit
Defined benefit pension fund assets
Direct and indirect holdings by an institution of own CET1 instruments
Adjustment under IFRS 9 transitional arrangements
Other regulatory adjustments
CET1 capital

AT1 capital 
Capital instruments and related share premium accounts
Qualifying AT1 capital (including minority interests) issued by subsidiaries 
Other regulatory adjustments and deductions
AT1 capital

T1 capital

T2 capital
Capital instruments and related share premium accounts
Qualifying T2 capital (including minority interests) issued by subsidiaries
Credit risk adjustments (excess of impairment over expected losses)
Other regulatory adjustments and deductions
Total regulatory capital

2020
15.1%
19.0%
22.1%

2019
13.8%
17.7%
21.6%

2020
£m
65,797
(11,172)
(204)

2019
£m
64,429
(10,871)
(1,096)

(1,146)
(6,914)
(595)
(1,575)
870
(1,326)
(50)
2,556
55
46,296

11,172
646
(80)
11,738

(1,746)
(8,109)
(479)
(1,002)
260
(1,594)
(50)
1,126
(55)
40,813

10,871
687
(130)
11,428

58,034

52,241

7,836
1,893
57
(160)
67,660

7,650
3,984
16
(250)
63,641

Notes
a  CET1, T1 and T2 capital, and RWAs are calculated applying the transitional arrangements of the CRR as amended by CRR II. This includes IFRS 9 transitional arrangements and the 

grandfathering of CRR and CRR II non-compliant capital instruments. 

b  The fully loaded CET1 ratio, as is relevant for assessing against the conversion trigger in Barclays PLC AT1 securities, was 14.3%, with £43.7bn of CET1 capital and £305.3bn of RWAs 

calculated without applying the transitional arrangements of the CRR as amended by CRR II.

c  The Group’s CET1 ratio, as is relevant for assessing against the conversion trigger in Barclays Bank PLC 7.625% Contingent Capital Notes, was 15.1%. For this calculation CET1 capital 

and RWAs are calculated applying the transitional arrangements under the CRR as amended by CRR II, including the IFRS 9 transitional arrangements. The benefit of the Financial Services 
Authority (FSA) October 2012 interpretation of the transitional provisions, relating to the implementation of CRD IV, expired in December 2017.

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Movement in CET1 capital

Opening balance as at 1 January

Profit for the period attributable to equity holders
Own credit relating to derivative liabilities
Dividends and other equity coupons paid and foreseen
Increase in retained regulatory capital generated from earnings

Net impact of share schemes
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve
Currency translation reserve
Other reserves
Decrease in other qualifying reserves

Pension remeasurements within reserves
Defined benefit pension fund asset deduction
Net impact of pensions

Additional value adjustments (PVA)
Goodwill and intangible assets
Deferred tax assets that rely on future profitability excluding those arising from temporary differences
Adjustment under IFRS 9 transitional arrangements
Other regulatory adjustments
Increase in regulatory capital due to adjustments and deductions
Closing balance as at 31 December

2020
£m
40,813

2,383
29
35
2,447

115
192
(473)
(48)
(214)

(111)
268
157

600
1,195
(116)
1,430
(16)
3,093
46,296

CET1 capital increased £5.5bn to £46.3bn (December 2019: £40.8bn).

£2.4bn of capital generated from profits, and a £1.0bn increase due to the cancellation of the full year 2019 dividend were partially offset by £0.9bn 
of AT1 coupons paid and £0.2bn dividends foreseen for the announced 2020 full year dividend. Other significant movements in the period were:
■■ a £0.5bn decrease in the currency translation reserve mainly driven by the depreciation of period end USD against GBP
■■ a £0.6bn increase due to a reduction in PVA which includes the temporary increase to diversification factors applied to certain additional valuation 

adjustments

■■ a £1.2bn increase due to a reduction in the goodwill and intangible assets deduction driven by a new regulatory technical standard replacing the 

deduction with prudential amortisation up to a 3-year period on qualifying software assets

■■ a £1.4bn increase in the IFRS 9 transitional relief after tax, following new impairment charges and the implementation of new regulatory measures 

which allow for 100% relief on increases in stage 1 and stage 2 impairment throughout 2020 and 2021.

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Risk weighted assets

Risk weighted assets (RWAs) by risk type and business

Credit risk

Counterparty credit risk

Market risk

Operational 
risk

Total RWAs

Std
£m
7,360

IRB
£m
54,340

Std
£m
394

IRB
£m
 – 

Settlement 
Risk
£m
 – 

CVA
£m
136

Std
£m
72

IMA
£m
 – 

£m
11,359

£m
73,661

24,660

73,792

12,047

20,280

246

2,351

13,123

22,363

23,343

192,205

As at 31 December 
2020
Barclays UK

Corporate and 
Investment Bank
Consumer, Cards 
and Payments
Barclays International
Head Office
Barclays Group

As at 31 December 
2019
Barclays UK

Corporate and 
Investment Bank
Consumer, Cards 
and Payments
Barclays International
Head Office
Barclays Group

19,754
44,414
4,153
55,927

3,041
76,833
6,869
138,042

177
12,224
 – 
12,618

45
20,325
 – 
20,325

5,189

57,455

235

–

25,749

62,177

12,051

16,875

27,209
52,958
5,104
63,251

2,706
64,883
5,754
128,092

92
12,143
–
12,378

37
16,912
–
16,912

 – 
246
 – 
246

–

276

–
276
–
276

Movement analysis of risk weighted assets

Risk weighted assets
As at 31 December 2019
Book size
Acquisitions and disposals
Book quality
Model updates
Methodology and policy
Foreign exchange movementa
Total RWA movements
As at 31 December 2020

31
2,382
 – 
2,518

 – 
13,123
 – 
13,195

71
22,434
 – 
22,434

6,996
30,339
(800)
40,898

30,115
222,320
10,222
306,203

23

178

–

11,821

74,901

2,470

12,854

17,626

21,475

171,553

11
2,481
–
2,504

–
12,854
–
13,032

Credit 
risk 
£m
191,343
(6,573)
(165)
9,081
2,796
(851)
(1,662)
2,626
193,969

Counterparty 
credit risk
£m
32,070
2,232
–
1,365
150
(110)
–
3,637
35,707

103
17,729
–
17,729

Market 
risk
£m
30,761
9,188
–
–
–
(4,320)
–
4,868
35,629

7,532
29,007
129
40,957

37,690
209,243
10,987
295,131

Operational 
risk
£m
40,957
(59)
–
–
–
–
–
(59)
40,898

Total 
RWAs
£m
295,131
4,788
(165)
10,446
2,946
(5,281)
(1,662)
11,072
306,203

Note
a  Foreign exchange movement does not include foreign exchange for counterparty credit risk or market risk.

Overall RWAs increased £11.1bn to £306.2bn (December 2019: £295.1bn). Significant movements in the period were:

Credit risk RWAs increased £2.6bn:
■■ a £6.6bn decrease in book size primarily due to lower consumer lending partially offset by growth in mortgages within BUK
■■ a £9.1bn increase in book quality due to a reduction in credit quality primarily within CIB
■■ a £2.8bn increase in model updates primarily due to modelled risk weight recalibrations
■■ a £0.9bn decrease in methodology and policy primarily due the application of revised SME discount factors under CRR II, partially offset by an increase 

due to the risk weighting of qualifying software assets that are no longer deducted from CET1 capital

■■ a £1.7bn decrease due to the depreciation of period end USD against GBP.

Counterparty credit risk RWAs increased £3.6bn: 
■■ a £2.2bn increase in book size primarily due to an increase in trading activities across SFTs and derivatives
■■ a £1.4bn increase in book quality primarily due to a reduction in credit quality within CIB.

Market risk RWAs increased £4.9bn:
■■ a £9.2bn increase in book size primarily due to an increase in trading activities and higher market volatility
■■ a £4.3bn decrease in methodology and policy primarily due to the removal of a Risk Not In VaR (RNIV) and a reduction in pre COVID-19 VaR 

backtesting exceptions.

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Risk performance continued

Leverage ratios and exposures
The Group is required to disclose an average UK leverage ratio which is based on capital on the last day of each month in the quarter and an exposure 
measure for each day in the quarter. The Group is also required to disclose a UK leverage ratio based on capital and exposure on the last day of the 
quarter. Both approaches exclude qualifying claims on central banks from the leverage exposures and include the PRA’s early adoption of CRR II 
settlement netting. The FPC intends to review the UK leverage framework in 2021.

Leverage ratiosa,b

As at 31 December
Average UK leverage ratio
Average T1 capitalc
Average UK leverage exposure

UK leverage ratio

CET1 capital
AT1 capital
T1 capitalc

UK leverage exposure

UK leverage exposure

As at 31 December
Accounting assets
Derivative financial instruments
Derivative cash collateral
Securities financing transactions (SFTs)
Loans and advances and other assets
Total IFRS assets

Regulatory consolidation adjustments

Derivatives adjustments
Derivatives netting
Adjustments to cash collateral
Net written credit protection
Potential future exposure (PFE) on derivatives
Total derivatives adjustments

SFTs adjustments

Regulatory deductions and other adjustments

Weighted off-balance sheet commitments

Qualifying central bank claims

Settlement netting

UK leverage exposure

2020
£m
5.0%
57,069

2019
£m
4.5%
51,823
1,146,919 1,142,819

5.3%

5.1%

46,296
11,092
57,388

40,813
10,741
51,554

1,090,907 1,007,721

2020
£m

2019
£m

302,446
64,798
164,034
818,236

229,236
56,589
111,307
743,097
1,349,514 1,140,229

(1,144)

(1,170)

(272,275)
(57,414)
14,986
117,010
(197,693)

(207,756)
(48,464)
13,784
119,118
(123,318)

21,114

18,339

(17,469)

(11,984)

113,704

105,289

(155,890)

(119,664)

(21,229)

–

1,090,907 1,007,721

Notes
a  Fully loaded average UK leverage ratio was 4.8%, with £54.6bn of T1 capital and £1,144bn of leverage exposure. Fully loaded UK leverage ratio was 5.0%, with £54.8bn of T1 capital 

and £1,088bn of leverage exposure. Fully loaded UK leverage ratios are calculated without applying the transitional arrangements of the CRR as amended by CRR II. 

b  Capital and leverage measures are calculated applying the transitional arrangements of the CRR as amended by CRR II.
c  The T1 capital is calculated in line with the PRA Handbook.

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The average UK leverage ratio increased to 5.0% (December 2019: 4.5%) primarily driven by the increase in T1 capital. The average leverage exposure 
increased to £1,147bn (December 2019: £1,143bn) primarily driven by an increase in SFTs and TPAs largely driven by an increase in secured lending 
and client activity within CIB, partially offset by the PRA’s early adoption of CRR II settlement netting.

The UK leverage ratio increased to 5.3% (December 2019: 5.1%) primarily driven by an increase of £5.8bn in Tier 1 capital partially offset by an increase 
in the UK leverage exposure of £83.2bn. 

The UK leverage exposure increase of £83.2bn was primarily driven by: 
■■ a £52.7bn increase in SFTs and £75.1bn of loans advances and other; partially offset by
■■ a £36.2bn decrease due to the exemption of qualifying central bank claims and
■■ a £21.2bn decrease due to the PRA’s adoption of CRR II settlement netting.
The Group also discloses a CRR leverage ratioa within its additional regulatory disclosures prepared in accordance with EBA guidelines on disclosure under 
Part Eight of the CRR (see Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020, due to be published on 18 February 2021 and which will be available at 
home.barclays/investor-relations/reports-and-events/latest-financial-results).

Note
a  CRR leverage ratio as amended by CRR II.

Minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities
Own funds and eligible liabilities ratiosa,b

As at 31 December
Total Barclays PLC (the Parent company) own funds and eligible liabilities
Total own funds and eligible liabilities, including eligible Barclays Bank PLC instrumentsc

Own funds and eligible liabilitiesa,b

CET1 capital
AT1 capital instruments and related share premium accountsd
T2 capital instruments and related share premium accountsd
Eligible liabilities
Total Barclays PLC (the Parent company) own funds and eligible liabilities
Qualifying AT1 capital (including minority interests) issued by subsidiaries
Qualifying T2 capital (including minority interests) issued by subsidiaries
Total own funds and eligible liabilities, including eligible Barclays Bank PLC instrumentsc

Total RWAs
Total CRR leverage exposuree

As a percentage of RWAs

2020
32.7%
33.6%

2019
31.2%
32.8%

As a percentage of CRR 
leverage exposure

2020
8.0%
8.2%

2020
£m
46,296
11,092
7,733
35,086
100,207
646
1,893
102,746

2019
8.2%
8.6%

2019
£m
40,813
10,741
7,416
33,025
91,995
687
3,984
96,666

306,203

295,131
1,254,157 1,126,259

Notes
a  CET1, T1 and T2 capital, and RWAs are calculated applying the transitional arrangements of the CRR as amended by CRR II. This includes IFRS 9 transitional arrangements and the 

grandfathering of CRR and CRR II non-compliant capital instruments.

b  The BoE has set external MREL based on the higher of RWAs and CRR or UK leverage exposures which could result in the binding measure changing in future periods. The 31 December 
2020 Barclays PLC (the Parent company) own funds and eligible liabilities ratio as a percentage of the UK leverage exposure was 9.2% and as a percentage of the average UK leverage 
exposure was 8.7%.

c  Own funds instruments issued by subsidiaries will not be counted towards MREL from 1 January 2022.
d 

Includes other AT1 capital regulatory adjustments and deductions of £80m (December 2019: £130m), and other T2 credit risk adjustments and deductions of £103m (December 2019: 
£234m).

e  Fully loaded CRR leverage exposure is calculated without applying the transitional arrangements of the CRR as amended by CRR II.

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Foreign exchange risk (audited)
The Group is exposed to two sources of foreign exchange risk.

a) Transactional foreign currency exposure
Transactional foreign currency exposures represent exposure on banking assets and liabilities, denominated in currencies other than the functional 
currency of the transacting entity.

The Group’s risk management policies are designed to prevent the holding of significant open positions in foreign currencies outside the trading portfolio 
managed by Barclays International which is monitored through VaR.

Banking book transactional foreign exchange risk outside of Barclays International is monitored on a daily basis by the market risk function and minimised 
by the businesses.

b) Translational foreign exchange exposure
The Group’s investments in overseas subsidiaries and branches create capital resources denominated in foreign currencies, principally USD and EUR. 
Changes in the GBP value of the net investments due to foreign currency movements are captured in the currency translation reserve, resulting in a 
movement in CET1 capital.

The Group’s strategy is to minimise the volatility of the capital ratios caused by foreign exchange movements, by matching the CET1 capital movements 
to the revaluation of the Group’s foreign currency RWA exposures.

Functional currency of operations (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
USD
EUR
JPY
Other currencies
Total

As at 31 December 2019
USD
EUR
JPY
Other currencies
Total

Foreign
 currency net 
investments
£m

Borrowings
 which hedge 
the net
 investments
£m

Derivatives
 which hedge
 the net
 investments
£m

Structural
 currency 
exposures
 pre-economic 
hedges
£m

24,204
5,275
582
2,020
32,081

25,607
3,068
533
2,001
31,209

(7,666)
(952)
–
(42)
(8,660)

(10,048)
(3)
–
–
(10,051)

(764)
(3)
–
(24)
(791)

(1,111)
–
–
(34)
(1,145)

15,774
4,320
582
1,954
22,630

14,448
3,065
533
1,967
20,013

Remaining
 structural
 currency
 exposures
£m

9,581
4,034
582
1,954
16,151

9,109
1,943
533
1,967
13,552

Economic 
hedges
£m

(6,193)
(286)
–
–
(6,479)

(5,339)
(1,122)
–
–
(6,461)

Economic hedges relate to exposures arising on foreign currency denominated preference share and AT1 instruments. These are accounted for 
at historical cost under IFRS and do not qualify as hedges for accounting purposes. The gain or loss arising from changes in the GBP value of these 
instruments is recognised on redemption in retained earnings.

During 2020, total structural currency exposure net of hedging instruments increased by £2.6bn to £16.2bn (2019: £13.6bn). Foreign currency net 
investments increased by £0.9bn to £32.1bn (2019: £31.2bn) driven predominantly by a £2.2bn increase in EUR, £0.1bn increase in other currencies 
offset by a £1.4bn decrease in USD. The hedges associated with these investments decreased by £1.7bn to £9.5bn (2019: £11.2bn).

Pension risk review
The UK Retirement Fund (UKRF) represents approximately 97% (2019: 97%) of the Group’s total retirement benefit obligations globally. As such this risk 
review section focuses exclusively on the UKRF. The UKRF is closed to new entrants and there is no new final salary benefit being accrued. Existing active 
members accrue a combination of a cash balance benefit and a defined contribution element. Pension risk arises as the market value of the pension fund 
assets may decline, investment returns may reduce or the estimated value of the pension liabilities may increase.

Refer to the Management of pension risk section in the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 (unaudited) for more information on how pension risk is managed.

Assets
The Trustee Board of the UKRF defines its overall long-term investment strategy with investments across a broad range of asset classes. This results in 
an appropriate mix of return seeking assets as well as liability matching assets to better match future pension obligations. The two largest market risks 
within the asset portfolio are interest rates and equities. The split of scheme assets is shown within Note 33. The fair value of the UKRF assets was 
£33.9bn as at 31 December 2020 (2019: £31.4bn).

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Financial statements

Liabilities
The UKRF retirement benefit obligations are a series of future cash flows with relatively long duration. On an IAS 19 basis these cash flows are sensitive 
to changes in the expected long-term price inflation rate (RPI) and the discount rate (GBP AA corporate bond yield):
■■ an increase in long-term expected inflation corresponds to an increase in liabilities
■■ a decrease in the discount rate corresponds to an increase in liabilities.

Pension risk is generated through the Group’s defined benefit schemes and this risk is set to reduce over time as the main defined benefit scheme is 
closed to new entrants. The chart below outlines the shape of the UKRF’s liability cash flow profile as at 31 December 2020 that takes account of the 
future inflation indexing of payments to beneficiaries. The majority of the cash flows (approximately 95%) fall between 0 and 40 years, peaking between 
11 and 20 years and reducing thereafter. The shape may vary depending on changes to inflation and longevity expectations and any members who elect 
to transfer out. Transfers out will bring forward the liability cash flows.

For more detail on the UKRF’s financial and demographic assumptions, see Note 33 to the financial statements.

Proportion of liability cash flows

Proportion of liability cash flows 
%

2020

27.5

31.1

23.9

12.2 4.7

0.7

0-10 years
11-20 years
21-30 years

31-40 years
41-50 years
51+ years

Net IAS 19 position 
£bn

UKRF surplus/de�cit (£bn)

5

4

3

2

1

0

£1.7bn

£2.1bn

£1.8bn

Dec 2018

Dec 2019

Dec 2020

The graph above shows the evolution of the UKRF’s net IAS 19 position over the last two years. During 2020 the reduction in the IAS 19 position was 
driven by the net effect of bank contributions and a structured transaction agreed between the Bank and the Trustee which deferred the regulatory 
capital impact of the contributions until 2023-2025. Credit spreads tightening during the year had a negative impact which was broadly offset by changes 
in other market levels, in particular equity prices and interest rates, and updates to the discount rate methodology and demographic assumptions.

Refer to Note 33 for the sensitivity of the UKRF to changes in key assumptions and further information on the structured transaction.

Risk measurement
In line with Barclays’ risk management framework the assets and liabilities of the UKRF are modelled within a VaR framework to show the volatility of 
the pension position at a total portfolio level. This enables the risks, diversification and liability matching characteristics of the UKRF obligations and 
investments to be adequately captured. VaR is measured and monitored on a monthly basis. Risks are reviewed and reported regularly at forums including 
the Board Risk Committee, the Group Risk Committee, the Pensions Management Group and the Pension Executive Board. The VaR model takes into 
account the valuation of the liabilities on an IAS 19 basis (see Note 33). The Trustee receives quarterly VaR measures on a funding basis.

The pension liability is also sensitive to post-retirement mortality assumptions which are reviewed regularly (See Note 33 for more details). To mitigate 
part of this risk the UKRF has entered into a longevity swap hedging approximately a quarter of current pensioner liabilities.

In addition, the impact of pension risk to the Group is taken into account as part of the stress testing process. Stress testing is performed internally 
on at least an annual basis. The UKRF exposure is also included as part of regulatory stress tests. 

Barclays defined benefit pension schemes affects capital in two ways:
■■ an IAS 19 deficit is treated as a liability on the Group’s balance sheet. Movement in a deficit due to remeasurements, including actuarial losses, are 
recognised immediately through Other Comprehensive Income and as such reduces shareholders’ equity and CET1 capital. An IAS 19 surplus is 
treated as an asset on the balance sheet and increases shareholders’ equity; however, it is deducted for the purposes of determining CET1 capital
■■ in the Group’s statutory balance sheet an IAS 19 surplus or deficit is partially offset by a deferred tax liability or asset respectively. These may or may 

not be recognised for calculating CET1 capital depending on the overall deferred tax position of the Group at the particular time.

Pension risk is taken into account in the Pillar 2A capital assessment undertaken by the PRA at least annually. The Pillar 2A requirement forms part of the 
Group’s Overall Capital Requirement for CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and total capital. More detail on minimum regulatory requirements can be found in the 
Overall capital requirements section.

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Risk review: Treasury and Capital risk 
Risk performance continued

Interest rate risk in the 
banking book
All disclosures in this section are 
unaudited unless otherwise stated.

Overview
The treasury and capital risk framework 
covers interest rate sensitive exposures 
held in the banking book, mostly relating 
to accrual accounted and FVOCI 
instruments. The potential volatility of 
net interest income is measured by an 
Annual Earnings at Risk (AEaR) metric 
which is monitored regularly and 
reported to senior management and the 
Barclays PLC Board Risk Committee as 
part of the limit monitoring framework.

For further detail on the interest rate 
risk in the banking book governance and 
framework refer to pages 199 to 200 of 
the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 
(unaudited).

Key metrics
AEaR

-£408m

AEaR across the Group from a negative 
25bps shock to forward interest rate 
curves.

Summary of performance 
in the period
NII sensitivity to a -25bp shock to rates has 
increased year on year due to additional margin 
compression exposure driven by central bank 
rate cuts and growth in customer deposit 
balances through the year. The increased margin 
compression exposure is partially mitigated by 
hedging and potential margin decompression 
benefit on variable rate loans. 

Net interest income 
sensitivity
The table below shows a sensitivity analysis on 
pre-tax net interest income for non-traded 

financial assets and liabilities, including the effect 
of any hedging. NII sensitivity uses the Annual 
Earnings at Risk (AEaR) metric as described on 
page 199 of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 
2020 (unaudited). Note that this metric assumes 
an instantaneous parallel change to forward 
interest rate curves. The model does not apply 
floors to shocked market rates, but does 
recognise contractual product specific interest 
rate floors where relevant. 

The main model assumptions are: (i) one-year 
ahead time horizon; (ii) balance sheet is held 
constant; (iii) balances are adjusted for assumed 
behavioural profiles (i.e. considers that 
customers may prepay the mortgages before 
the contractual maturity); and (iv) behavioural 
assumptions are kept unchanged in all rate 
scenarios.

Net interest income sensitivity (AEaR) by business unita (audited)

As at 31 December 2020
+25bps
-25bps

As at 31 December 2019
+25bps
-25bps

Barclays UK
£m

Barclays 
International
£m

Head Office
£m

10
(141)

86
(263)

16
(57)

25
(74)

4
(4)

4
(4)

Total
£m

100
(408)

45
(135)

Note
a  The Group’s customer banking book hedging activity is risk reducing from an NII sensitivity perspective. The hedges 
in place remove interest rate risk and smooth income over the medium term. The NII sensitivity for the Group at 
31 December 2020 without hedging in place for +/-25bp rate shocks would be £177m/£(485)m respectively.

NII sensitivity asymmetry arises due to the current low level of interest rates as some customer products have embedded floors. NII sensitivity to a -25bp 
shock to rates has increased year on year due to additional margin compression exposure driven by central bank rate cuts and growth in customer deposit 
balances through the year. NII Sensitivity to a +25bps shock has increased year on year primarily driven by the growth in customer deposit balances.

Net interest income sensitivity (AEaR) by currency (audited)

As at 31 December
GBP
USD
EUR
Other currencies
Total

2020

2019

+25 basis
points
£m
48
48
10
(6)
100

-25 basis
points
£m
(313)
(63)
(34)
2
(408)

+25 basis
points
£m
38
29
(10)
(12)
45

-25 basis
points
£m
(93)
(32)
(20)
10
(135)

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Analysis of equity sensitivity
Equity sensitivity measures the overall impact of a +/- 25bps movement in interest rates on retained earnings, fair value through other comprehensive 
income (FVOCI), cash flow hedge reserves and pensions. For non-NII items a DV01 metric is used, which is an indicator of the shift in value for a 1 basis 
point movement in the yield curve.

Analysis of equity sensitivity (audited)

As at 31 December
Net interest income
Taxation effects on the above
Effect on profit for the year
As percentage of net profit after tax

Effect on profit for the year (per above)
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve
Cash flow hedge reserve
Taxation effects on the above
Effect on equity
As percentage of equity

2020

2019

+25 basis
points
£m
100
(27)
73
3.0%

73
(437)
(570)
272
(662)
(1.0%)

-25 basis
points
£m
(408)
110
(298)
(12.1%)

(298)
453
570
(276)
449
0.7%

+25 basis
points
£m
45
(11)
34
1.0%

34
(321)
(534)
214
(608)
(0.9%)

-25 basis
points
£m
(135)
34
(101)
(3.0%)

(101)
329
534
(216)
546
0.8%

Movements in the FVOCI reserve impact CET1 capital. However, movements in the pensions remeasurement reserve recognised in FVOCI only affect 
CET1 capital if there is an IAS 19 pension deficit. Movements in the cash flow hedge reserve do not affect CET1 capital.

Volatility of the FVOCI portfolio in the liquidity pool 
Changes in value of FVOCI exposures flow directly through capital via the FVOCI reserve. The volatility of the value of the FVOCI investments in the 
liquidity pool is captured and managed through a value measure rather than an earning measure, i.e. non-traded market risk VaR.

Although the underlying methodology to calculate the non-traded VaR is identical to the one used in traded management VaR, the two measures are not 
directly comparable. The non-traded VaR represents the volatility to capital driven by the FVOCI exposures. These exposures are in the banking book and 
do not meet the criteria for trading book treatment.

Analysis of volatility of the FVOCI portfolio in the liquidity pool

For the year ended 31 December
Non-traded market value at risk (daily, 95%)

Average
£m
52

2020

High
£m
68

Low
£m
36

Average
£m
45

2019

High
£m
53

Low
£m
35

DVaR trended upwards in H1 2020 due to an increase in time series volatility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic stress. Risk in the liquidity pool was 
reduced at the start of Q3, which caused a downward trend in DVaR, and was stable in Q4.

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Risk review: Operational risk 
Risk performance continued

Summary of performance 
in the period
During 2020, total operational risk lossesa 
increased to £212m (2019: £184m) while the 
number of recorded events for 2020 (2,381) 
increased slightly from the level for 2019 (2,165). 
The total operational risk losses for the year 
were mainly driven by events falling within the 
Execution, Delivery & Process Management and 
External Fraud categories, which tend to be high 
volume but low impact events.

Operational risk profile
Within operational risk, there are a large number 
of smaller value risk events. In 2020, 79% (2019: 
83%) of the Group’s reportable operational risk 
events by volume had a value of less than 
£50,000 each. Cumulatively, events under this 
£50,000 threshold accounted for only 17% 
(2019: 18%) of the Group’s total net operational 
risk losses. A small proportion of operational risk 
events have a material impact on the financial 
results of the Group.

Operational risk
All disclosures in this section are unaudited 
unless otherwise stated.

Overview
Operational risks are inherent in the 
Group’s business activities and it is not cost 
effective or possible to attempt to eliminate 
all operational risks. The Operational Risk 
Framework is therefore focused on 
identifying operational risks, assessing 
them and managing them within the 
Group’s approved risk appetite. 

The Operational Risk principal risk 
comprises the following risks: Data 
Management Risk; Financial Reporting Risk; 
Fraud Risk; Information Security Risk, 
Operational Resilience Planning Risk, 
Payments Process Risk; People Risk; 
Physical Security Risk; Premises Risk; 
Supplier Risk; Tax Risk; Technology Risk 
and Transaction Operations Risk. The 
operational risk profile is also informed by 
a number of risk themes: Cyber, Data, and 
Resilience. These represent threats to the 
Group that extend across multiple risk 
types, and therefore require an integrated 
risk management approach.

For definitions of these risks refer to pages 
202 to 203 of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 
Report 2020. In order to provide complete 
coverage of the potential adverse impacts 
on the Group arising from operational risk, 
the operational risk taxonomy extends 
beyond the risks listed above to cover 
operational risks associated with other 
principal risks too.

This section provides an analysis of the 
Group’s operational risk profile, including 
events above the Group’s reportable 
threshold, which have had a financial impact 
in 2020. The Group’s operational risk profile 
is informed by bottom-up risk assessments 
undertaken by each business unit and 
top-down qualitative review by the 
Operational Risk specialists for each risk 
type. Fraud, Transaction Operations, 
Information Security and Technology 
continue to be highlighted as key 
operational risk exposures. 

For information on conduct risk events, 
see the conduct risk section.

Key metrics

79%

of the Group’s net reportable  
operational risk events had a  
loss value of £50,000 or less

72%

of events by number are  
due to External Fraud

68%

of losses are from events aligned 
to Execution, Delivery and 
Process Management

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■■ Execution, Delivery and Process 

Management impacts remain the highest 
contributor to total losses increasing to 
£144m (2019: £111m) and accounting for 
68% (2019: 60%) of total operational risk 
losses. The events in this category are typical 
of the banking industry as a whole where 
high volumes of transactions are processed 
on a daily basis, mapping mainly to Barclays 
Transaction Operations risk type. The overall 
frequency of events in this category 
remained broadly stable year-on-year at 
24% of total events by volume (2019: 27%).
■■ External Fraud remains the category with the 
highest frequency of events at 72% of total 
events in 2020 (2019: 68%). In this category, 
high volume, low value events are driven by 
transactional fraud often related to debit 
and credit card usage. Ratio of losses in this 
category remained stable at 26% of total 
2020 losses (2019: 30%). 

■■ Business Disruption and System Failures 
accounted for a reduced share of total 
impacts at 5% (2019: 9%), with actual losses 
down to £10m (2019: £17m) and volume 
of events fell down to 51 (2019: 93).

The analysis below presents the Group’s operational risk events by Basel event category:

Operational risk events by BASEL event categorya
% of total risk events by count

% of total risk events by value

Internal fraud

2020

0.2%

2019

0.2%

External fraud 

2020

2019

71.5%

67.8%

Internal fraud

2020

0.1%

2019

0.1%

External fraud 

2020

2019

25.7%

29.6%

Execution delivery 
and process management

Execution delivery 
and process management

2020

2019

24.4%

26.7%

2020

2019

68.2%

60.1%

Employment practices 
and workplace safety

Employment practices 
and workplace safety

2020

1.4%

2019

0.7%

2020

1.0%

2019

0.4%

Damage to physical assets

Damage to physical assets

2020

0.1%

2019

0.2%

2020

0.1%

2019

0.5%

Clients, products 
and business practices

Clients, products 
and business practices

2020

0.1%

2019

0.0%

Business disruption 
and system failures

2020

2.1%

2019

4.3%

2020

0.0%

2019

0.0%

Business disruption 
and system failures

2020

4.9%

2019

9.2%

Note
a  The data disclosed includes operational risk losses for reportable events having impact of > £10,000 and excludes 
events that are conduct or legal risk, aggregate and boundary events. A boundary event is an operational risk event 
that results in a credit risk impact. Due to the nature of risk events that keep evolving, prior year losses have been 
updated.

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Risk review: Operational risk 
Risk performance continued

Likewise, operational risk associated with 
cybersecurity remains a top focus for the Group. 
The sophistication of threat actors continues 
to grow as noted by multiple external risk 
events observed throughout the year. Multiple 
ransomware attacks across the global Barclays 
supplier base were observed and we worked 
closely with the affected suppliers to manage 
potential impacts to the Group and its clients 
and customers. The Group’s cybersecurity 
events were managed within its risk tolerances 
and there were limited to no loss events 
associated with cyber-security recorded 
within the event categories above. For 
additional information on the Bank’s 
cybersecurity risk exposure, see the 
operational risk management section.

For further information, refer to the 
operational risk management section.

Investment continues to be made in improving 
the control environment across the Group. 
Particular areas of focus include new and 
enhanced fraud prevention systems and tools 
to combat the increasing level of fraud attempts 
being made and to minimise any disruption to 
genuine transactions. Fraud remains an industry 
wide threat and the Group continues to work 
closely with external partners on various 
prevention initiatives. 

Operational Resilience is and has been a key 
area of focus for the Group. The COVID-19 
pandemic is the most severe global health 
emergency the World Health Organization 
(WHO) has ever declared. While overall, the 
Group proved to be resilient, the COVID-19 
pandemic has caused disruption to the Group’s 
customers, suppliers, and staff globally. The 
COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced our 
continued focus on resilience risk.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group 
experienced operational disruptions primarily 
during the Group’s and its suppliers’ transition 
to a Work-from-Home environment and in 
response to high market volatility. Further, the 
prolonged nature of the event identified the 
need to enhance our resilience planning 
programme to improve our response to similar 
events with an extreme and prolonged impact. 
Despite these issues, the early activation of our 
Crisis Leadership Team facilitated swift and 
decisive actions to limit and manage the impacts 
which resulted in normal risk exposures as 
reported above. For additional information 
on the risk exposure due to the COVID-19 
pandemic, see the operational risk 
management  section.

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Risk review: Model risk, Conduct risk, Reputation risk and Legal risk 

Model risk, Conduct risk, 
Reputation risk and 
Legal risk 
All disclosures in this section are 
unaudited unless otherwise stated.

Model risk 
Since the inception of model risk as a principal 
risk, key achievements to date include creating 
a firm-wide model inventory, design and roll out 
of a robust Model Risk Management (MRM) 
framework and the validation of high materiality 
models. In 2020, the framework and governance 
of model risk was further improved by:
■■ strengthening the model inventory 

management infrastructure by moving onto 
a new strategic technology platform, which 
will enable future enhancements and 
automation of controls

■■ progressing the validation of low materiality 
models to achieve 95% target for models 
under governance

■■ enhancing model risk management oversight 
with the establishment of dedicated MRM 
forums which bring together model 
developers, model owners and 
model validators.

In 2021, MRM will continue to focus on the 
validation of low materiality models, further 
embedding of validation and governance 
activities and on expanding the coverage of 
the MRM framework to new model types.

Conduct risk
Barclays is committed to continuing to drive 
the right culture throughout all levels of the 
organisation. The Group will continue to 
enhance effective management of conduct risk 
and appropriately consider the relevant tools, 
governance and management information in 
decision-making processes. Focus on 
management of Conduct Risk is ongoing and, 
alongside other relevant business and control 
management information, the Trading Entity 
Conduct Risk Dashboards are a key component 
of this.

The Group continues to review the role and 
impact of conduct risk events and issues in 
remuneration decisions at both the individual 
and business level.

During 2020, the coronavirus pandemic  
created new risks and heightened existing ones. 
To date, the Group has focused on managing 
the heightened inherent conduct risks 
and continues to monitor these as the 
pandemic continues.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Businesses have continued to assess the 
potential customer, client and market impacts of 
strategic change. As part of the 2020 medium-
term planning process, material conduct risks 
associated with strategic and financial plans 
were assessed.

Throughout 2020, conduct risks were raised by 
each business area for consideration by relevant 
Board level committees. These committees 
reviewed the risks raised and whether 
management’s proposed actions were 
appropriate to mitigate the risks effectively.

The Group continued to incur costs in relation to 
litigation and conduct matters, refer to Note 26 
Legal, competition and regulatory matters and 
Note 24 Provisions for further details. Costs 
include customer redress and remediation, 
as well as fines and settlements. Resolution of 
these matters remains a necessary and 
important part of delivering the Group’s strategy 
and an ongoing commitment to improve 
oversight of culture and conduct.

Trading Entity Conduct Risk Dashboards, setting 
out key indicators in relation to Conduct and 
Financial Crime, are provided to the respective 
Board Risk Committees and senior 
management. These continue to be evolved and 
enhanced to allow effective oversight and 
decision-making. Barclays has operated at the 
overall set tolerance for conduct risk throughout 
2020. The tolerance adherence is assessed by 
the business areas through key indicators, which 
are aggregated to provide an overall risk profile 
rating and reported to the relevant Trading Entity 
Board level Committees as part of the Conduct 
Risk Dashboard.

The Group remains focused on the continuous 
improvements being made to manage risk 
effectively with an emphasis on enhancing 
governance and management information to 
identify risk at earlier stages.

Reputation risk
Barclays is committed to identifying reputation 
risks and issues as early as possible and 
managing them appropriately. At a Group level 
throughout 2020, reputation risks and issues 
were overseen by the Board which reviews the 
processes and policies by which Barclays 
identifies and manages reputation risk. Within 
the Barclays Bank UK Group and the Barclays 
Bank Group reputation risks and issues were 
overseen by the respective risk and Board risk 
committees. The top live and emerging 
reputation risks and issues within the Barclays 
Bank UK Group and the Barclays Bank Group are 
included within an over-arching quarterly report 
at the respective Board level.

The Board reviewed risks escalated by the 
businesses and considered whether 
management’s proposed actions, for example 
attaching conditions to proposed client 
transactions or increased engagement with 
impacted stakeholders, were appropriate to 
mitigate the risks effectively. The Board also 
received regular updates with regard to key 
reputation risks and issues, including: Barclays’ 
response to the pandemic; Barclays’ association 
with sensitive sectors; access to banking; lending 
practices and the resilience of key Barclays 
systems and processes.

The Group continued to incur costs in relation to 
litigation and conduct matters, refer to Note 26 
Legal, competition and regulatory matters and 
Note 24 Provisions for further details. Costs 
include customer redress and remediation, as 
well as fines and settlements. Resolution of 
these matters remains an ongoing commitment 
to improve oversight of culture and conduct and 
management of reputation.

In 2020, Corporate Relations received 695 
referrals from across the businesses (498 
referrals in 2019) for consideration. These 
referrals covered a variety of potentially 
controversial sectors and topics including, but 
not limited to, environmental and social risks.

As part of Barclays 2020 Medium Term Planning 
process, material reputation risks associated 
with strategic and financial plans were 
also assessed.

Legal risk 
The Group remains committed to continuous 
improvements to manage legal risk effectively. 
A number of enhancements have been 
implemented during 2020, including a refresh 
of the Group-wide legal risk management 
framework and a review and update of the 
supporting legal risk policies, legal risk tolerances 
and risk appetite. Legal risk reporting has been 
enhanced both in terms of format and content. 
There has also been a re-write of the Group-
wide legal risk mandatory training, reinforced by 
ongoing engagement with and education of the 
Group’s businesses and functions by Legal 
Function colleagues. 

Throughout 2020, the Group has operated within 
set tolerances for legal risk. Tolerance adherence 
is assessed through key indicators, which are 
also used to evaluate the legal risk profile and 
are reviewed, at least annually, through the 
relevant risk and control committees. Minimum 
mandatory controls to manage legal risks are 
set out in the legal risk standards and are subject 
to ongoing monitoring. 

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Supervision and regulation 

Supervision of the Group 
The Group’s operations, including its overseas 
branches, subsidiaries and associates, 
are subject to a large number of rules and 
regulations that are a condition for authorisation 
to conduct banking and financial services 
business in each of the jurisdictions in which 
the Group operates. These apply to business 
operations, impact financial returns and include 
capital, leverage and liquidity requirements, 
authorisation, registration and reporting 
requirements, restrictions on certain activities, 
conduct of business regulations and 
many others. 

Regulatory developments impact the Group 
globally. We focus particularly on UK, US and 
EU regulation due to the location of the 
Group’s principal areas of business. Regulations 
elsewhere may also have a significant impact 
on the Group due to the location of its branches, 
subsidiaries and, in some cases, clients. 
For more information on the risks related to 
the supervision and regulation of the Group, 
including regulatory change, see the material 
existing and emerging risk entitled ‘Regulatory 
Change agenda and impact on Business Model’ 
in the Material existing and emerging 
risks section.

Supervision in the UK 
In the UK, day-to-day regulation and supervision 
of the Group is divided between the Prudential 
Regulation Authority (PRA) (a division of the 
Bank of England (BoE)) and the Financial 
Conduct Authority (FCA). In addition, the 
Financial Policy Committee (FPC) of the BoE has 
influence on the prudential requirements that 
may be imposed on the banking system through 
its powers of direction and recommendation.

Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank UK PLC 
are authorised credit institutions and subject to 
prudential supervision by the PRA and subject 
to conduct regulation and supervision by the 
FCA. The Group is also subject to prudential 
supervision by the PRA on a group consolidated 
basis. Barclays Capital Securities Limited is 
authorised and supervised by the PRA as a 
PRA-designated investment firm and subject 
to conduct regulation and supervision by the 
FCA. Barclays Execution Services Limited is an 
appointed representative of Barclays Bank PLC, 
Barclays Bank UK PLC and Clydesdale Financial 
Services Limited.

The Group is also subject to regulatory initiatives 
undertaken by the UK Payment Systems 
Regulator (PSR), as a participant in payment 
systems regulated by the PSR.

The PRA’s supervision of the Group is 
conducted through a variety of regulatory tools, 
including the collection of information by way 
of prudential returns or cross-firm reviews, 
reports obtained from skilled persons, regular 
supervisory visits to firms and regular meetings 
with management and Directors to discuss 
issues such as strategy, governance, financial 
resilience, operational resilience, risk 
management, and recovery and resolution.

Both the PRA and the FCA apply standards that 
either anticipate or go beyond requirements 
established by global or EU standards, whether 
in relation to capital, leverage and liquidity, 
resolvability and resolution or matters 
of conduct.

The FCA’s supervision of the UK firms in the 
Group is carried out through a combination of 
proactive engagement, regular thematic work 
and project work based on the FCA’s sector 
assessments, which analyse the different areas 
of the market and the risks that may lie ahead.

The FCA and the PRA also apply the Senior 
Managers and Certification Regime (the SMCR) 
which imposes a regulatory approval, individual 
accountability and fitness and propriety 
framework in respect of senior or key individuals 
within relevant firms.

FCA supervision has focused on conduct risk 
and customer/client outcomes, including 
product design, customer behaviour, market 
operations, LIBOR transition, fair pricing, 
affordability, access to cash, and fair treatment 
of vulnerable customers.

PRA supervision has focused on capital 
management, credit risk management, 
Board effectiveness, operational resilience 
and resolvability. 

Both the PRA and the FCA have assessed the 
impact of COVID-19 and Brexit on UK financial 
markets and customers. 

Supervision in the EU
The Group’s operations in Europe are authorised 
and regulated by a combination of its home 
regulators and host regulators in the European 
countries where the Group operates. 

Barclays Bank Ireland PLC is licensed as a credit 
institution by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) 
and is designated as a significant institution 
falling under direct supervision on a solo basis by 
the European Central Bank (ECB) for prudential 
purposes. Barclays Bank Ireland PLC’s EU 
branches are supervised by the ECB and are also 
subject to direct supervision for local conduct 
purposes by national supervisory authorities 
in the jurisdictions where they are established. 
Barclays Bank Ireland PLC is also subject to 
supervision by the CBI as home state or 
competent authority under various EU financial 
services directives and regulations. 

Brexit
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement 
(TCA), which provides a new economic and 
social partnership between the EU and UK, came 
into force provisionally on 1 January 2021. The 
TCA does not cover the provision of financial 
services into the EU and there is no agreement 
on passporting, equivalence or regulatory 
cooperation. Therefore, UK-based entities 
within the Group (such as Barclays Bank PLC and 
Barclays Bank UK PLC) are no longer able to rely 
on the EU passporting framework for the 
provision of financial services to EU clients. 
Accordingly, Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays 
Capital Securities Limited have put in place new 
arrangements in the provision of cross-border 
banking and investment services to customers 
and counterparties in the EEA, including by 
servicing EEA clients through the Group’s EEA 
hub (Barclays Bank Ireland PLC). As a ring-fenced 
bank, Barclays Bank UK Group products are 
designed for customers within the UK. In light of 
the UK leaving the EU, Barclays Bank UK Group 
has continued to review the services offered to 
customers in the EEA, taking into account a 
number of factors, including the regulatory 
landscape across the EEA and, where relevant, 
feedback from EEA regulators. As a result, it has 
made the decision to exit certain products and 
services offered to EEA customers and closure 
processes are ongoing. Barclays Bank UK Group 
continues to keep its strategy under review for 
its remaining EEA customers.

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The EU and the UK have agreed to establish 
structured regulatory cooperation on financial 
services, with the aim of establishing a durable 
and stable relationship, based on a shared 
commitment to preserve financial stability, 
market integrity, and the protection of investors 
and consumers. The EU and the UK have 
committed to agreeing a Memorandum of 
Understanding setting out a ‘framework’ for 
regulatory cooperation in financial services by 
March 2021. We anticipate that consideration 
will be given to equivalence determinations as 
part of the discussions. 

Mutual equivalence decisions between the UK 
and EU relating to market access would allow 
UK-based entities within the Group to offer a 
restricted number of financial products and 
services to customers and clients based in the 
EEA, including permanent access to EU trading 
venues as well as allowing EEA based clients 
to access some UK originated products and 
services, including permanent access to UK 
trading venues. However, the EU equivalence 
regime is very different to benefiting from 
passporting rights; the equivalence regimes that 
facilitate access to customers and clients based 
in the EEA under EU law differ significantly in 
their scope, operation and impact. Equivalence 
decisions do not cover services to retail 
customers, for example. Under the current 
framework, equivalence decisions can be 
revoked at any time. To date, the EU and UK have 
only agreed a temporary position on mutual 
equivalence in relation to clearing and 
settlement (CCPs). In addition, HM Treasury has 
made certain unilateral equivalence decisions, 
including under the Capital Requirements 
Regulation (CRR) and European Market 
Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). 

‘Onshoring’ was the process of amending EU 
legislation and regulatory requirements in the 
UK so that they work in a UK-only context, 
including directly applicable EU legislation such 
as EU regulations and decisions that form part 
of UK law by virtue of the European Union 
(Withdrawal) Act 2018, now that the Brexit 
transition period has ended.

The onshoring process means that there are 
some areas where the requirements on UK 
firms and other regulated persons have 
changed. To help UK firms adapt to their new 
requirements, HM Treasury gave UK financial 
regulators the power to make transitional 
provisions to financial services legislation for 
a temporary period. This is known as the 
Temporary Transitional Power (TTP).

The FCA has applied the TTP on a broad basis 
from the end of the transition period until 
31 March 2022. This means UK firms and other 
regulated persons do not generally need to 
adjust to the changes to their UK regulatory 
obligations brought about by onshoring 
straightaway, although there are some 
exceptions to this and obligations which have 
changed and which took effect from 1 January 
2021 include reporting obligations under various 
EU financial services directives and regulations, 
certain requirements under the Market Abuse 
Regulation, issuer rules, contractual recognition 
of bail-in, securitisation, use of credit ratings, 
mortgage lending after the transition period 
against land in the EEA, payments services and 
certain other matters.

On 31 December, the FCA published a 
statement on its use of the TTP to modify the 
UK’s derivatives trading obligation (the UK DTO). 
Without mutual equivalence, some firms and 
EEA clients will be caught by a conflict of law 
between the EU DTO and the UK DTO. The FCA 
is therefore using the TTP to modify the 
application of the UK DTO. Where firms that are 
subject to the UK DTO trade with, or on behalf 
of, EU clients that are subject to the EU DTO, 
they will be able to transact or execute those 
trades on EU venues providing that: (i) firms take 
reasonable steps to be satisfied the client does 
not have arrangements in place to execute the 
trade on a trading venue to which both the UK 
and EU have granted equivalence (for example, 
a US venue such as a swap execution facility); 
and (ii) the EU venue has the necessary 
regulatory status to do business in the UK 
(such venues include those that are a 
Recognised Overseas Investment Exchange, 
have been granted the relevant temporary 
permission, or are certain that they benefit 
from the Overseas Person Exclusion). This 
modification of the application of the UK DTO 
applies to UK firms, EU firms using the UK’s 
temporary permissions regime, and branches 
of overseas firms in the UK. Transactions 
concluded by an EEA UCITS fund or an EEA AIF 
are currently outside the scope of the UK DTO. 
The relief under the TTP does not apply to 
trades with non-EU clients, proprietary trading 
conducted, for example, to hedge a firm’s own 
risk exposure, and trades between UK branches 
of EU firms. These trades remain subject to 
the UK DTO and firms are required to take 
reasonable steps to ensure compliance during 
Q1 2021. The FCA will consider by 31 March 
2021 whether market or regulatory 
developments warrant a review of its approach.

On 28 December 2020, the PRA published a 
policy statement (PS30/20) on changes to its 
rules, as well as the use of temporary transitional 
directions. The PRA’s transitional direction and 
the majority of the provisions in the rulebook 
instrument came into force at the end of the 
transition period on 31 December 2020. The 
transitional direction delays onshoring changes 
that fall within the PRA’s remit. The PRA TTP will 
apply until 31 March 2022, unless otherwise 
stated in the direction or it is varied or revoked 
before then.

As a result of the onshoring of EU legislation in 
the UK and the exercise of the TTPs, UK firms in 
the Group are currently subject to substantially 
the same rules and regulations as before Brexit. 
The UK intends to recast onshored EU 
legislation into PRA and FCA rules and to 
complete UK implementation of the remaining 
Basel III reforms. The regulatory regimes for EU 
and UK financial services may change further, 
and temporary permissions and equivalence 
decisions may expire, and not be replaced, which 
would result in further adjustments to the UK 
regulatory landscape. 

Supervision in the US
Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC and its 
New York branch, and Barclays Bank PLC’s 
US subsidiaries are subject to a comprehensive 
regulatory framework involving numerous 
statutes, rules and regulations in the US. 
For example, the Group’s US activities and 
operations are subject to supervision and 
regulation by the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System (FRB), as well as 
additional supervision, requirements and 
restrictions imposed by other federal and state 
regulators and self-regulatory organisations 
(SROs). In some cases, US requirements may 
impose restrictions on the Group’s global 
activities, in addition to its activities in the US.

Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays US 
Holdings Limited (BUSHL), Barclays US LLC 
(BUSL), and Barclays Group US Inc. (BGUS) are 
regulated as bank holding companies (BHCs) by 
the FRB. BUSL is the Group’s top-tier US holding 
company that holds substantially all of the 
Group’s US subsidiaries (including Barclays Capital 
Inc. and Barclays Bank Delaware). BUSL is subject 
to requirements in respect of capital adequacy, 
capital planning and stress testing, risk 
management and governance, liquidity, leverage 
limits, large exposure limits, activities restrictions 
and financial regulatory reporting. Barclays Bank 
PLC’s New York branch is also subject to 
enhanced prudential standards relating to, among 
other things, liquidity and risk management.

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Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BUSHL and 
BUSL have elected to be treated as financial 
holding companies (FHCs) under the Bank 
Holding Company Act of 1956. FHC status 
allows these entities to engage in a variety of 
financial and related activities, directly or through 
subsidiaries, including underwriting, dealing and 
market making in securities. Failure to maintain 
FHC status could result in increasingly stringent 
penalties and, ultimately, in the closure or 
cessation of certain operations in the US.

In addition to oversight by the FRB, Barclays Bank 
PLC’s New York branch and many of the Group’s 
subsidiaries are regulated by additional 
authorities based on the location or activities 
of those entities. The New York branch of 
Barclays Bank PLC is subject to supervision and 
regulation by the New York State Department 
of Financial Services (NYSDFS). Barclays Bank 
Delaware, a Delaware chartered bank, is subject 
to supervision and regulation by the Delaware 
Office of the State Bank Commissioner, the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). 
The deposits of Barclays Bank Delaware are 
insured by the FDIC. Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank 
PLC, BUSHL, BUSL, and BGUS are required to 
act as a source of strength for Barclays Bank 
Delaware. This could, among other things, 
require these entities to inject capital into 
Barclays Bank Delaware if it fails to meet 
applicable regulatory capital requirements. 

The Group’s US securities broker/dealer and 
investment banking operations, are conducted 
primarily through Barclays Capital Inc., and are 
also subject to ongoing supervision and 
regulation by the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry 
Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and other 
government agencies and SROs under US 
federal and state securities laws. 

The Group’s US futures, options and swaps-
related activities, including client clearing 
operations are subject to ongoing supervision 
and regulation by the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission (CFTC), the National 
Futures Association and other SROs. Barclays 
Bank PLC is also a US registered swap dealer and 
is subject to the FRB swaps rules with respect 
to margin and capital requirements.

Supervision in Asia Pacific
The Group’s operations in Asia Pacific 
are supervised and regulated by a broad 
range of national banking and financial 
services regulators.

Prudential regulation
Certain Basel III standards were implemented 
in EU law through the Capital Requirements 
Regulation (CRR) and the Capital Requirements 
Directive IV (CRD IV), as amended by CRR II 
and CRD V. Under the terms of the EU-UK 
Withdrawal Agreement of 24 January 2020, the 
Group remained subject to the EU regulatory 
framework until the end of the transition period 
on 31 December 2020. Beyond the minimum 
standards required by CRR, the PRA has 
expected the Group, in common with other 
major UK banks and building societies, to meet 
a 7% Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 
the level of the consolidated group since 
1 January 2016.

Global systemically important banks (G-SIBs), 
such as the Group, are subject to a number of 
additional prudential requirements, including the 
requirement to hold additional loss-absorbing 
capacity and additional capital buffers above the 
level required by Basel III standards. The level of 
the G-SIB buffer is set by the Financial Stability 
Board (FSB) according to a bank’s systemic 
importance and can range from 1% to 3.5% of 
risk weighted assets (RWAs). The G-SIB buffer 
must be met with CET1. In November 2020, 
the FSB published an update to its list of G-SIBs, 
maintaining the 1.5% G-SIB buffer that applies 
to the Group.

The Group is also subject to a ‘combined buffer 
requirement’ consisting of (i) a capital 
conservation buffer, and (ii) a countercyclical 
capital buffer (CCyB). The CCyB is based on 
rates determined by the regulatory authorities 
in each jurisdiction in which the Group maintains 
exposures. In March 2020, the FPC cut the UK 
CCyB rate to 0% with immediate effect in order 
to support the supply of credit expected as a 
result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PRA requires UK firms to hold additional 
capital to cover risks which the PRA assesses 
are not fully captured by the Pillar 1 capital 
requirement. The PRA sets this additional capital 
requirement (Pillar 2A) at least annually, derived 
from each firm’s individual capital guidance. 
Under current PRA rules, the Pillar 2A must be 
met with at least 56% CET1 capital and no more 
than 25% Tier 2 capital. In addition, the capital 
that firms use to meet their minimum 
requirements (Pillar 1 and Pillar 2A) cannot 
be counted towards meeting the combined 
buffer requirement.

As part of its approach to ring fencing, the FPC 
established a framework to apply a firm-specific 
systemic risk buffer (SRB) which could be set 
between 0% and 3% of RWAs and which must 
be met solely with CET1 capital. The purpose 
of the SRB was to increase the capacity of 
ring-fenced bodies, such as Barclays Bank UK 
PLC, to absorb stress. The buffer rate applicable 
to the Group’s ring-fenced sub-group was set 
at 1% with effect from August 2019. In response 
to the economic shock from COVID-19, the 
PRA and FPC held firms’ SRB rates at their 
existing levels until December 2021. With the 
implementation of CRD V, the Other 
Systemically Important Institutions Buffer 
(O-SII buffer) replaced the SRB. As part of the 
implementation of CRD V, the PRA and FPC 
confirmed that the Barclays Bank UK PLC O-SII 
buffer would be held at the historic SRB rate 
of 1% until reassessment in December 2021, 
with any future adjustment to the O-SII buffer 
applicable from January 2023.

The PRA may also impose a ‘PRA buffer’ to cover 
risks over a forward-looking planning horizon, 
including with regard to firm-specific stresses 
or management and governance weaknesses. 
If the PRA buffer is imposed on a specific firm, 
it must be met separately to the combined 
buffer requirement, and must be met fully with 
CET1 capital.

In the US, in October 2019, the FRB and other 
US regulatory agencies released final rules to 
tailor the applicability of prudential requirements 
for large domestic US banking organisations, 
foreign banking organisations and their 
intermediate holding companies (IHCs), 
including BUSL. BUSL is a ‘Category III’ IHC. 
BUSL (and Barclays Bank Delaware) is therefore 
subject to reduced (calibrated at 85%) 
standardised liquidity requirements, including 
the liquidity coverage ratio, which has been 
implemented by the US regulatory agencies, 
and the NSFR, which will become effective on 
1 July 2021. 

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In addition, the BoE has the power to 
permanently write-down, or convert into equity, 
Tier 1 capital instruments, Tier 2 capital 
instruments and eligible liabilities at the point 
of non-viability of the bank. 

The BoE’s preferred approach for the resolution 
of the Group is a bail-in strategy with a single 
point of entry at Barclays PLC. Under such a 
strategy, Barclays PLC’s subsidiaries would 
remain operational while Barclays PLC’s capital 
instruments and eligible liabilities would be 
written down or converted to equity in order 
to recapitalise the Group and allow for the 
continued provision of services and operations 
throughout the resolution. The order in which 
the bail-in tool is applied reflects the hierarchy of 
capital instruments under CRD IV and otherwise 
respecting the hierarchy of claims in an ordinary 
insolvency. Accordingly, the more subordinated 
the claim, the more likely losses will be suffered 
by owners of the claim.

The PRA has made rules that require authorised 
firms to draw up recovery plans and resolution 
packs, as required by the BRRD. Recovery plans 
are designed to outline credible actions that 
authorised firms could implement in the event 
of severe stress in order to restore their 
business to a stable and sustainable condition. 
Removal of potential impediments to an orderly 
resolution of a banking group or one or more of 
its subsidiaries is considered as part of the BoE’s 
and PRA’s supervisory strategy for each firm, 
and the PRA can require firms to make 
significant changes in order to enhance 
resolvability. The Group currently provides the 
PRA with a recovery plan annually and with a 
resolution pack as requested.

In July 2019, the BoE and PRA published final 
policies on the Resolvability Assessment 
Framework (RAF), designed to increase 
transparency and accountability and clarify 
the responsibilities on firms with respect to 
resolution. Firms are required to develop 
capabilities by 1 January 2022 covering three 
resolvability outcomes: (i) adequate financial 
resources; (ii) being able to continue to do 
business through resolution and restructuring; 
and (iii) being able to communicate and 
co-ordinate within the firm and with authorities. 
The first self-assessment report on these 
capabilities is expected to be submitted to 
the PRA/BoE by October 2021 with public 
disclosures by both firms and the PRA/BoE 
in June 2022 (and every two years thereafter). 

While regulators in many jurisdictions have 
indicated a preference for single point of entry 
resolution for the Group, additional resolution 
or bankruptcy provisions may apply to certain 
Group entities or branches.

In June 2018 and October 2019, the FRB 
finalised rules regarding single counterparty 
credit limits (SCCL). The SCCL apply to the 
largest US BHCs and foreign banks’ (including 
the Group’s) US operations. The SCCL creates 
two separate limits for foreign banks, the first 
on combined US operations (CUSO) and the 
second on the US IHC (BUSL). The SCCL for US 
BHCs, including BUSL, requires that exposure to 
an unaffiliated counterparty of BUSL not exceed 
25% of BUSL’s Tier 1 capital. With respect to 
the CUSO, the SCCL rule allows certification 
to the FRB that a foreign bank complies with 
comparable home country regulation.

Barclays Bank PLC is not required to comply 
with the CUSO requirement until 1 July 2021. 

Stress testing
The Group and certain of its members are 
subject to supervisory stress testing exercises 
in a number of jurisdictions, designed to assess 
the resilience of banks to adverse economic or 
financial developments and ensure that they 
have robust, forward-looking capital planning 
processes that account for the risks associated 
with their business profile. Assessment by 
regulators is on both a quantitative and 
qualitative basis, the latter focusing on such 
elements as data provision, stress testing 
capability including model risk management and 
internal management processes and controls.

Recovery and Resolution
Stabilisation and resolution framework 
The UK framework for recovery and resolution 
was established by the Banking Act 2009, as 
amended. The EU framework was established 
by the 2014 Bank Recovery and Resolution 
Directive (BRRD), as amended by BRRD II. 

The BoE, as the UK resolution authority, has the 
power to resolve a UK financial institution that 
is failing or likely to fail by exercising several 
stabilisation options, including transferring such 
institution’s business or securities to a 
commercial purchaser or a ‘bridge bank’ owned 
by the BoE or transferring the institution into 
temporary public ownership. When exercising 
any of its stabilisation powers, the BoE must 
generally provide that shareholders bear first 
losses, followed by creditors in accordance with 
the priority of their claims in insolvency.

In order to enable the exercise of its stabilisation 
powers, the BoE may impose a temporary 
stay on the rights of creditors to terminate, 
accelerate or close out contracts, or override 
events of default or termination rights that 
might otherwise be invoked as a result of a 
resolution action and modify contractual 
arrangements in certain circumstances 
(including a variation of the terms of any 
securities). HM Treasury may also amend the 
law for the purpose of enabling it to use its 
powers under this regime effectively, potentially 
with retrospective effect. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

In the US, BUSL is subject to the Orderly 
Liquidation Authority established by Title II 
of the Dodd-Frank Act (DFA), a regime for the 
orderly liquidation of systemically important 
financial institutions by the FDIC, as an 
alternative to proceedings under the US 
Bankruptcy Code. In addition, the licensing 
authorities of Barclays Bank PLC New York 
branch and of Barclays Bank Delaware have 
the authority to take possession of the business 
and property of the applicable branch or entity 
they license and/or to revoke or suspend 
such licence. 

In the US, Title I of the DFA, as amended, and the 
implementing regulations issued by the FRB and 
the FDIC require each bank holding company 
with assets of $250bn or more, including those 
within the Group, to prepare and submit a plan 
for the orderly resolution of subsidiaries and 
operations in the event of future material 
financial distress or failure. The Group’s next 
submission of the US Resolution Plan in respect 
of its US operations will be a ‘targeted plan’ due 
on 17 December 2021.

Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, as a significant 
institution under the Single Resolution 
Mechanism Regulation (SRMR), is subject to the 
powers of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) as 
the Eurozone resolution authority. The CBI and 
the ECB require Barclays Bank Ireland PLC to 
submit a standalone BRRD-compliant recovery 
plan on an annual basis. The SRB has the power 
to require data submissions specific to Barclays 
Bank Ireland PLC under powers conferred upon 
it by the BRRD and the SRMR. The SRB will 
exercise these powers to determine the optimal 
resolution strategy for Barclays Bank Ireland PLC 
in the context of the BoE’s preferred resolution 
strategy of single point of entry with bail-in at 
Barclays PLC. The SRB also has the power under 
the BRRD and the SRMR to develop a resolution 
plan for Barclays Bank Ireland PLC.

TLAC and MREL
The Group is subject to a Minimum Requirement 
for own funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL), 
which includes a component reflecting the FSB’s 
standards on total loss absorbency capacity 
(TLAC). 

The MREL requirements will be fully 
implemented by 1 January 2022, at which time 
G-SIBs with resolution entities incorporated in 
the UK will be required to meet an MREL 
equivalent to the higher of: (i) two times the 
sum of their Pillar 1 and Pillar 2A requirements; 
or (ii) the higher of two times their leverage ratio 
or 6.75% of leverage exposures. Internal MREL 
for operating subsidiaries is subject to a scalar in 
the 75-90% range of the external requirement 
that would apply to the subsidiary if it were a 
resolution entity. The starting point for the 
scalar is 90% for ring-fenced bank sub-groups.

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Barclays Bank Ireland PLC is subject to the SRB’s 
MREL policy, as issued in May 2020, in respect of 
the internal MREL that it will be required to issue 
to the Group. The SRB’s current calibration of 
internal MREL for non-resolution entities is 
expressed as two ratios that have to be met in 
parallel: (a) two times the sum of: (i) the firm’s 
Pillar 1 requirement; (ii) its Pillar 2 requirement; 
and (b) two times the leverage ratio. The SRB’s 
policy does not envisage the application of any 
scalar in respect of the internal MREL 
requirement.

In the US, the FRB’s TLAC rule includes 
provisions that require BUSL to have: (i) a 
specified outstanding amount of eligible 
long-term debt; (ii) a specified outstanding 
amount of TLAC (consisting of common and 
preferred equity regulatory capital plus eligible 
long-term debt); and (iii) a specified common 
equity buffer. In addition, the FRB’s TLAC rule 
prohibits BUSL, for so long as the Group’s overall 
resolution plan treats BUSL as a non-resolution 
entity, from issuing TLAC to entities other than 
those within the Group.

Bank Levy and FSCS
The BRRD established a requirement for EU 
member states to set up a pre-funded 
resolution financing arrangement with funding 
equal to 1% of covered deposits by 
31 December 2024 to cover the costs of bank 
resolutions. The UK has implemented this 
requirement by way of a tax on the balance 
sheets of banks known as the ‘Bank Levy’. 

In addition, the UK has a statutory 
compensation fund called the Financial Services 
Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which is funded 
by way of annual levies on most authorised 
financial services firms.

Structural reform
In the UK, the Financial Services (Banking 
Reform) Act 2013 put in place a framework for 
ring-fencing certain operations of large banks. 
Ring-fencing requires, among other things, 
the separation of the retail and smaller 
deposit-taking business activities of UK banks 
into a legally distinct, operationally separate and 
economically independent entity, which is not 
permitted to undertake a range of activities.

US regulation places further substantive limits 
on the activities that may be conducted by 
banks and holding companies, including foreign 
banking organisations such as the Group. The 
‘Volcker Rule’, which was part of the DFA and 
which came into effect in the US in 2015, 
prohibits banking entities from undertaking 
certain proprietary trading activities and limits 
such entities’ ability to sponsor or invest in 
certain private equity funds and hedge funds 
(in each case broadly defined). As required by 
the rule, the Group has developed and 
implemented an extensive compliance and 
monitoring programme addressing proprietary 
trading and covered fund activities (both inside 
and outside of the US). 

Market infrastructure regulation
In recent years, regulators as well as global-
standard setting bodies such as the 
International Organisation of Securities 
Commissions (IOSCO) have focused on 
improving transparency and reducing risk in 
markets, particularly risks related to over the 
counter (OTC) transactions. This focus has 
resulted in a variety of new regulations across 
the G20 countries and beyond that require or 
encourage on-venue trading, clearing, posting 
of margin and disclosure of pre-trade and 
post-trade information. 

The European Market Infrastructure Regulation 
(EMIR) has introduced requirements designed 
to improve transparency and reduce the risks 
associated with the derivatives market. EMIR has 
potential operational and financial impacts on 
the Group, including by imposing new collateral 
requirements. Over the coming months 
alterations to the existing derivative margin rules 
are expected to be finalised. 

The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 
and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation 
(collectively referred to as MiFID II) have affected 
many of the markets in which the Group 
operates, the instruments in which it trades and 
the way it transacts with market counterparties 
and other customers. MiFID II is currently 
undergoing a review process, including as part 
of the EU’s ongoing focus on the development 
of a stronger Capital Markets Union.

The EU Regulation on Sustainability-Related 
Disclosures introduces disclosure obligations 
requiring financial institutions to explain how 
they integrate environmental, social and 
governance factors in their investment decisions 
for certain financial products. In addition, the 
EU Taxonomy Regulation provides for a general 
framework for the development of an EU-wide 
classification system for environmentally 
sustainable economic activities. Finally, the UK 
and EU regulators are consulting on, amongst 
other things, proposals for regulatory measures 
to enhance climate and environmental 
disclosures and climate risk assessments, 
which will have an impact on the Group’s existing 
practices in these areas.

The EU Benchmarks Regulation applies to the 
administration, contribution and use of 
benchmarks within the EU. Financial institutions 
within the EU are prohibited from using 
benchmarks unless their administrators are 
authorised, registered or otherwise recognised 
in the EU, subject to transitional provisions 
expiring on 1 January 2022 (or 31 December 
2022 under the UK onshored Benchmarks 
Regulation). Amendments to extend these 
provisions are underway for both the EU and UK 
Benchmarks Regulations. The FCA has stated 
that it does not intend to support LIBOR after 
the end of 2021. International initiatives in 
conjunction with global regulators are therefore 
underway to develop alternative benchmarks 
and risk-free rate fallback arrangements, 
including updates to existing, as well as new, 
applicable legislation.

US regulators have imposed similar rules as the 
EU with respect to the mandatory on-venue 
trading and clearing of certain derivatives, and 
post-trade transparency, as well as in relation to 
the margining of OTC derivatives. US regulators 
have finalised certain aspects of their rules with 
respect to their application on a cross-border 
basis, including with respect to their registration 
requirements in relation to non-US swap dealers 
and security-based swap dealers. The regulators 
may adopt further rules, or provide further 
guidance, regarding cross-border applicability. 
In December 2017, the CFTC and the European 
Commission recognised the trading venues of 
each other’s jurisdiction to allow market 
participants to comply with mandatory 
on-venue trading requirements while trading 
on certain venues recognised by the other 
jurisdiction. In November 2020, the CFTC 
extended temporary relief that would permit 
trading venues and market participants located 
in the UK to continue to rely on this mutual 
recognition framework following the withdrawal 
of the UK from the EU.

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Certain participants in US swap markets are 
required to register with the CFTC as ‘swap 
dealers’ or ‘major swap participants’ and/or, 
beginning in November 2021, with the SEC 
as ‘security-based swap dealers’ or ‘major 
security-based swap participants’. Such 
registrants are subject to CFTC, and will be 
subject to SEC, regulation and oversight. Entities 
required to register as swap dealers are subject 
to business conduct, record-keeping and 
reporting requirements under CFTC rules. 
Barclays Bank PLC is subject to regulation by 
the FRB, and has provisionally registered with 
the CFTC as a swap dealer.

Accordingly, Barclays Bank PLC is subject to 
CFTC rules on business conduct, record-
keeping and reporting and to FRB rules on 
capital and margin. The CFTC has approved 
certain comparability determinations that permit 
substituted compliance with non-US regulatory 
regimes for certain swap regulations. 
Substituted compliance is permitted for certain 
transaction-level requirements, where 
applicable, only with respect to transactions 
between a non-US swap dealer and a non-US 
counterparty, whereas entity-level 
determinations generally apply on an entity-
wide basis regardless of counterparty status. In 
November 2020, the CFTC extended temporary 
relief that would permit swap dealers located in 
the UK to continue to rely on existing CFTC 
substituted compliance determinations with 
respect to EU requirements in the event of a 
withdrawal of the UK from the EU. In addition, 
the CFTC has issued guidance that would 
require a non-US swap dealer to comply with 
certain CFTC rules in connection with 
transactions that are ‘arranged, negotiated or 
executed’ from the US. The CFTC has provided 
temporary no-action relief from application of 
the guidance. In July 2020 the CFTC adopted 
rules that, for certain CFTC requirements, codify 
on a permanent basis, the temporary no-action 
relief for transactions that are arranged, 
negotiated or executed in the US. The final rules 
also codify certain aspects of the CFTC’s current 
cross-border framework with respect to internal 
and external business conduct requirements, 
and it is expected that the CFTC will introduce 
additional rules addressing the application of the 
cross-border framework to mandatory clearing, 
trading and reporting requirements. In October 
2017, the CFTC issued an order permitting 
substituted compliance with EU margin rules for 
certain uncleared derivatives. However, as the 
Group is subject to the margin rules of the FRB, 
it will not benefit from the CFTC’s action unless 
the FRB takes a similar approach.

The SEC has finalised the rules governing 
security based swap dealer registration in 2015, 
and registration of security-based swap dealers, 
as well as compliance with applicable security 
based swap dealer requirements, is expected 
to begin in November 2021.

It is anticipated that Barclays Bank PLC and/or 
one or more of its affiliates will be required to 
register as a security-based swap dealer and 
will be required to comply with the SEC’s rules 
for security-based swap dealers. These rules 
may impose costs and other requirements or 
restrictions that could impact our business. 
As with similar CFTC rules, it is expected that 
substituted compliance will be available for 
certain security-based swap dealer 
requirements; however, the SEC is currently 
considering applications for substituted 
compliance but has only issued a final 
comparability determination for Germany, and 
the ultimate scope and applicability of other 
determinations, including in respect of the UK, 
remains unclear.

Other regulation
Culture
Our regulators have enhanced their focus on 
the promotion of cultural values as a key area 
for banks, although they generally view the 
responsibility for reforming culture as primarily 
sitting with the industry.

Data protection and PSD2
Most countries where the Group operates have 
comprehensive laws requiring openness and 
transparency about the collection and use of 
personal information, and protection against 
loss and unauthorised or improper access. The 
EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 
created a broadly harmonised privacy regime 
across EU member states, introducing 
mandatory breach notification, enhanced 
individual rights, a need to openly demonstrate 
compliance, and significant penalties for 
breaches. The extraterritorial effect of the GDPR 
means entities established outside the EU may 
fall within the Regulation’s ambit when offering 
goods or services to European based customers 
or clients. Following the UK’s withdrawal from 
the EU, the UK continues to apply the GDPR 
framework (as onshored into UK law and hence 
now referred to as the ‘UK GDPR’ – this sits 
alongside an amended version of the UK Data 
Protection Act 2018). Two years after its 
introduction the GDPR has become the global 
touchstone as countries around the world either 
usher in or contemplate similar data privacy laws, 
or align their existing legislation. During 2020 
new privacy laws have been passed in 
Switzerland, took effect in Brazil and Dubai, 
and were proposed in India and China. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

In the US, Barclays US Consumer Bank is subject 
to the US Federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act 
(GLBA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act 
of 2018, which came into effect on 1 January 
2020 (CCPA). The GLBA limits the use and 
disclosure of non-public personal information to 
non-affiliated third parties and requires financial 
institutions to provide written notice of their 
privacy policies and practices. Any violations of 
the GLBA could subject the US Consumer Bank 
to additional reporting requirements or regulatory 
investigation or audits by the financial regulators. 
The CCPA only applies to personal information 
that is not collected, processed, sold or 
disclosed pursuant to the GLBA, and it requires 
the US Consumer Bank to provide California 
consumers with additional disclosures regarding 
the collection, use and sharing of personal 
information, and grants California consumers 
access, deletion, and other rights with respect to 
their personal information. The CCPA subjects 
the US Consumer Bank to enforcement 
penalties by the Attorney General of the State 
of California, and grants a private right of action 
with respect to certain data breaches. 

From 14 September 2019, new rules apply under 
the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) 
that affect the way banks and other payment 
services providers check that the person 
requesting access to an account or trying to 
make a payment is permitted to do so. This is 
referred to as strong customer authentication 
(SCA). In April 2020, the FCA provided an 
additional six months (to 14 September 2021) for 
the industry to implement SCA for e-commerce.

Cyber security and  
operational resilience 
Regulators in the UK, the EU and the US 
continue to focus on cyber security risk 
management, organisational operational 
resilience and overall soundness across all 
financial services firms, with customer and 
market expectations of continuous access to 
financial services at an all-time high. 

This is evidenced by the publication of a number 
of proposed laws and changes to regulatory 
frameworks. For example, the UK regulators 
published for consultation a new framework 
for operational resilience that focuses on the 
identification of important business services, 
setting impact tolerances for them, and then 
testing against them. The European 
Commission has proposed legislation on cyber 
security and operational resilience for the 
financial services sector, including oversight of 
third party service providers. The regulatory 
focus has been further heightened by the 
COVID-19 pandemic. The existing and 
anticipated requirements for increased controls 
will serve to improve industry standardisation 
and resilience capabilities, enhancing our ability 
to deliver services during periods of potential 
disruption. However, such measures are likely to 
result in increased technology and compliance 
costs for the Group.

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Supervision and regulation continued

In the US, the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA 
PATRIOT Act 2001, the Anti-Money Laundering 
Act of 2020 and regulations thereunder contain 
numerous anti-money laundering and 
anti-terrorist financing requirements for 
financial institutions. In addition, the Group is 
subject to the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 
which prohibits, among other things, corrupt 
payments to foreign government officials. It is 
also subject to various economic sanctions laws, 
regulations and executive orders administered 
by the US government, which prohibit or restrict 
some or all business activities and other dealings 
with or involving certain individuals, entities, 
groups, countries and territories.

In some cases, US state and federal regulations 
addressing sanctions, money laundering and 
other financial crimes may impact entities, 
persons or activities located or undertaken 
outside the US, including Barclays PLC and its 
subsidiaries. US government authorities have 
aggressively enforced these laws against 
financial institutions in recent years. Failure of a 
financial institution to ensure compliance with 
such laws could have serious legal, financial and 
reputational consequences for the institution.

Sanctions and financial crime
The UK Bribery Act 2010 introduced a new form 
of corporate criminal liability focused broadly 
on a company’s failure to prevent bribery on its 
behalf. The Criminal Finances Act 2017 
introduced new corporate criminal offences 
of failing to prevent the facilitation of UK and 
overseas tax evasion. Both pieces of legislation 
have broad application and in certain 
circumstances may have extraterritorial impact 
on entities, persons or activities located outside 
the UK, including Barclays PLC’s subsidiaries 
outside the UK. The UK Bribery Act requires the 
Group to have adequate procedures to prevent 
bribery which, due to the extraterritorial nature 
of the Act, makes this both complex and costly. 
Additionally, the Criminal Finances Act requires 
the Group to have reasonable prevention 
procedures in place to prevent the criminal 
facilitation of tax evasion by persons acting for, 
or on behalf of, the Group. 

In May 2018, the Sanctions and Anti-Money 
Laundering Act became law in the UK. The Act 
allows for the adoption of an autonomous UK 
sanctions regime, as well as a more flexible 
licensing regime post-Brexit. On 6 July 2020, the 
UK Government announced the first sanctions 
that have been implemented independently by 
the UK outside the auspices of the UN and EU. 
The autonomous UK sanctions regime came 
into force on 1 January 2021. Those sanctions 
apply within the UK and in relation to the conduct 
of all UK persons wherever they are in the world; 
they also apply to overseas branches of 
UK companies.

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Financial review

A review of the Group’s performance, including the key 
performance indicators, and the contribution of each of 
our businesses to the overall performance of the Group.

Financial review

■■ Key performance indicators
■■ Consolidated summary income statement 
■■ Income statement commentary 
■■ Consolidated summary balance sheet
■■ Balance sheet commentary
■■ Analysis of results by business
■■ Non-IFRS performance measures

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Financial review 
Key performance indicators 

In assessing the financial performance 
of the Group, management uses a 
range of KPIs which focus on the 
Group’s financial strength, the delivery 
of sustainable returns and cost 
management. Barclays continues to 
target greater than 10% RoTE over 
time. However, given the COVID-19 
pandemic, a meaningful improvement 
in returns versus 2019 was not possible 
due to the challenging operating 
environment. Cost discipline remains a 
priority and management continues to 
target a cost: income ratio below 60% 
over time.

Non-IFRS performance measures
The Group’s management believes that the 
non-IFRS performance measures included in 
this document provide valuable information to 
the readers of the financial statements as they 
enable the reader to identify a more consistent 
basis for comparing the businesses’ 
performance between financial periods, and 
provide more detail concerning the elements 
of performance which the managers of these 
businesses are most directly able to influence 
or are relevant for an assessment of the Group. 

They also reflect an important aspect of the 
way in which operating targets are defined and 
performance is monitored by management. 
However, any non-IFRS performance measures 
in this document are not a substitute for IFRS 
measures and readers should consider the 
IFRS measures as well. Refer to the non-IFRS 
performance measures section for further 
information and calculations of non-IFRS 
performance measures included throughout 
this section and the most directly comparable 
IFRS measures.

Definition

Why is it important and how the Group performed

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio
Capital requirements are part of the regulatory 
framework governing how banks and 
depository institutions are supervised. Capital 
ratios express a bank’s capital as a percentage 
of its RWAs as defined by the PRA.

CET1 ratio is a measure of capital that is 
predominantly common equity defined by 
the CRR, as amended by CRR II.

CET1 ratio 

15.1%

2019: 13.8%
2018: 13.2%

The Group’s capital management objective is to maximise 
shareholder value by prudently managing the level and mix 
of its capital to: ensure the Group and all of its subsidiaries 
are appropriately capitalised relative to their regulatory 
minimum and stressed capital requirements, support the 
Group’s risk appetite, growth and strategic options, while 
seeking to maintain a robust credit proposition for the 
Group and its subsidiaries.

The CET1 ratio increased to 15.1% (2019: 13.8%), 
reflecting headroom of 3.9% above the MDA hurdle of 
11.2%. CET1 capital increased by £5.5bn to £46.3bn 
reflecting resilient capital generation through £7.9bn of 
profit before tax, excluding credit impairment charges of 
£4.8bn and a £1.0bn increase due to the cancellation of 
the full year 2019 dividend. These increases were partially 
offset by £0.9bn of AT1 coupons paid and the announced 
1.0p full year 2020 dividend. The CET1 capital increase also 
reflects regulatory measures for IFRS 9 transitional relief, 
prudent valuation and qualifying software assets. RWAs 
increased by £11.1bn to £306.2bn primarily due to higher 
market volatility, increased client activity and a reduction 
in credit quality within CIB, partially offset by lower 
consumer lending. 

Group target: a CET1 ratio in the range of 13-14%.

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Definition

Why is it important and how the Group performed

Operating expenses
Operating expenses excluding litigation 
and conduct. 

Cost: income ratio 
Operating expenses divided by total income.

Return on average tangible 
shareholders’ equity
RoTE is calculated as profit after tax 
attributable to ordinary shareholders, as a 
proportion of average shareholders’ equity 
excluding non-controlling interests and other 
equity instruments adjusted for the deduction 
of intangible assets and goodwill.

Barclays views operating expenses as a key strategic area 
for banks; those who actively manage costs and control 
them effectively will gain a strong competitive advantage.

Group operating expenses increased 1% to £13.7bn, 
including structural cost actions and additional COVID-19 
related costs, resulting in a cost: income ratio, excluding 
litigation and conduct, of 63% (2019: 63%). Excluding 
structural cost actions of £0.4bn (2019: £0.1bn) and £0.1bn 
spend to date of Barclays’ Community Aid Package, 
operating expenses would have been £13.3bn (2019: 
£13.4bn), reflecting disciplined cost management and 
efficiencies, resulting in a cost: income ratio of 61% 
(2019: 62%).

Group total operating expenses decreased 10% to 
£13.9bn. The reduction reflected the non-recurrence 
of a £1.4bn PPI provision in the prior year.

This is a measure management uses to assess the 
productivity of the business operations. Managing the cost 
base is a key execution priority for management and 
includes a review of all categories of discretionary spending 
and an analysis of how we can run the business to ensure 
that costs increase at a slower rate than income. 

The Group cost: income ratio, excluding litigation and 
conduct, was stable at 63% (2019: 63%), as favourable 
income was offset by £0.4bn of structural cost actions and 
additional COVID-19 related costs.

The Group cost: income ratio, including litigation and 
conduct, reduced to 64% (2019: 71%) due to favourable 
income and the prior year including a PPI provision 
of £1.4bn.

Group target: a cost: income ratio below 60% over time.

This measure indicates the return generated by the 
management of the business based on shareholders’ 
tangible equity. Achieving a target RoTE demonstrates 
the organisation’s ability to execute its strategy and align 
management’s interests with the shareholders’. RoTE lies at 
the heart of the Group’s capital allocation and performance 
management process. 

RoTE for the Group, excluding litigation and conduct, was 
3.4% (2019: 9.0%) due to lower profit before tax including 
materially higher credit impairment charges relating to 
the COVID-19 pandemic and higher operating expenses, 
partially offset by favourable income. 

RoTE for the Group was 3.2% (2019: 5.3%) due to 
attributable profit of £1.5bn (2019: £2.5bn). The prior year 
included a PPI provision of £1.4bn.

Group target: RoTE of greater than 10% over time. 

Operating expenses

£13.7bn

2019: £13.6bn
2018: £13.9bna

Total operating expenses

£13.9bn

2019: £15.4bn
2018: £16.2bn

Cost: income ratio excluding 
litigation and conduct

63%

2019: 63%
2018: 66%

Cost: income ratio

64%

2019: 71%
2018: 77%

Group RoTE excluding 
litigation and conduct

3.4%

2019: 9.0%
2018: 8.5%

Group RoTE

3.2%

2019: 5.3%
2018: 3.6%

Note
a  Group operating expenses, excluding litigation and conduct, and a GMP charge of £140m.

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Consolidated summary income statement 

For the year ended 31 December
Continuing operations
Interest income
Interest expense
Net interest income
Fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense
Net fee and commission income
Other income
Total income

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

2017
£m

2016
£m

11,892
(3,770)
8,122
8,641
(2,070)
6,571
7,073
21,766

15,456
(6,049)
9,407
9,122
(2,362)
6,760
5,465
21,632

14,541
(5,479)
9,062
8,893
(2,084)
6,809
5,265
21,136

13,631
(3,786)
9,845
8,751
(1,937)
6,814
4,417
21,076

14,541
(4,004)
10,537
8,570
(1,802)
6,768
4,146
21,451

Credit impairment charges

(4,838)

(1,912)

(1,468)

(2,336)

(2,373)

Operating costs
UK bank levy 
Operating expenses 
GMP charge 
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses

Other net income

Profit before tax
Tax charge
Profit after tax in respect of continuing operations
(Loss)/profit after tax in respect of discontinued operation
Non-controlling interests in respect of continuing operations
Non-controlling interests in respect of discontinued operation
Other equity instrument holders
Attributable profit/(loss)

Selected financial statistics
Basic earnings/(loss) per share
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share
Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Cost: income ratio

Performance measures excluding litigation and conducta
Profit before tax
Attributable profit/(loss)
Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Cost: income ratio

(13,434)
(299)
(13,733)
–
(153)
(13,886)

(13,359)
(226)
(13,585)
–
(1,849)
(15,434)

(13,627)
(269)
(13,896)
(140)
(2,207)
(16,243)

(13,884)
(365)
(14,249)
–
(1,207)
(15,456)

(14,565)
(410)
(14,975)
–
(1,363)
(16,338)

23

71

69

257

490

3,065
(604)
2,461
–
(78)
–
(857)
1,526

8.8p
8.6p
3.2%
64%

3,218
1,638
3.4%
63%

4,357
(1,003)
3,354
–
(80)
–
(813)
2,461

14.3p
14.1p
5.3%
71%

6,206
4,194
9.0%
63%

3,494
(911)
2,583
–
(234)
–
(752)
1,597

9.4p
9.2p
3.6%
77%

5,701
3,733
8.5%
66%

3,541
(2,066)
1,475
(2,195)
(249)
(140)
(639)
(1,748)

(10.3p)
(10.1p)
(3.6%)
73%

4,748
 (598)
(1.2%)
68%

3,230
(865)
2,365
591
(346)
(402)
(457)
1,751

10.4p
10.3p
3.6%
76%

4,593
3,036
6.2%
70%

Note
a  Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section for further information and calculations of performance measures excluding litigation and conduct.

The financial information above is extracted from the published accounts. This information should be read together with the information included in the 
accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

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Income statement commentary 

Operating expenses increased 1% to £13,733m, 
including structural cost actions and additional 
COVID-19 related costs, resulting in a cost: 
income ratio, excluding litigation and conduct, 
of 63% (2019: 63%). Excluding structural cost 
actions of £368m (2019: £150m) and £95m 
spend to date of Barclays’ COVID-19 
Community Aid Package, operating expenses 
would have been £13,270m (2019: £13,435m), 
reflecting disciplined cost management and 
efficiencies, resulting in a cost: income ratio of 
61% (2019: 62%).

Attributable profit was £1,526m (2019: 
£2,461m). Excluding litigation and conduct, 
attributable profit was £1,638m (2019: 
£4,194m), generating a RoTE of 3.4% (2019: 
9.0%) and EPS of 9.5p (2019: 24.4p).

2020 compared to 2019
Statutory RoTE was 3.2% (2019: 5.3%) and 
statutory EPS was 8.8p (2019: 14.3p).

Profit before tax was £3,065m (2019: £4,357m). 
Excluding litigation and conduct, profit before 
tax was £3,218m (2019: £6,206m).
Pre-provision profitsa were broadly stable at 
£8,056m despite the pandemic, benefiting from 
the Group’s diversified business model, which 
included a strong performance in CIB offset by 
headwinds in Barclays UK and CC&P.

Total income increased to £21,766m (2019: 
£21,632m). Barclays UK income decreased 14%. 
Barclays International income increased 8%, 
with CIB income up 22% and CC&P income 
down 22%.

Credit impairment charges increased to 
£4,838m (2019: £1,912m) due to the 
deterioration in economic outlook driven by the 
COVID-19 pandemic. The current year charge is 
broadly driven by £2,323m of non-default 
provision for expected future customer and 
client stress and £800m of single name 
wholesale loan charges. The expected credit 
loss (ECL) provision remains highly uncertain as 
the economic impact of the global pandemic 
continues to evolve.

Note
a  Excluding litigation and conduct.

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Consolidated summary balance sheet

As at 31 December
Assets
Cash and balances at central banks 
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial investments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Assets included in disposal groups classified as held for sale
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowings
Debt securities in issuea
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities 
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Liabilities included in disposal groups classified as held for sale
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Equity
Called up share capital and share premium
Other equity instruments
Other reserves
Retained earnings 
Total equity excluding non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

Net asset value per ordinary share
Tangible net asset value per share
Number of ordinary shares of Barclays PLC (in millions)

Year-end USD exchange rate
Year-end EUR exchange rate

Note
a   Debt securities in issue include covered bonds of £6.2bn (2019: £7.0bn). 

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

2017
£m

2016
£m

191,127
101,367
342,632
9,031
127,950
175,151
302,446
– 
78,688
– 
21,122

102,353
90,135
345,900
13,454
80,240
78,608
346,626
63,317
– 
71,454
21,039
1,349,514 1,140,229 1,133,283 1,133,248 1,213,126

150,258
83,256
339,115
3,379
114,195
133,086
229,236
– 
65,750
– 
21,954

171,082
77,168
324,048
12,546
113,760
116,281
237,669
58,915
– 
1,193
20,586

177,069
77,222
326,406
2,308
104,187
149,648
222,538
– 
52,816
– 
21,089

481,036
85,423
14,174
75,796
16,341
47,405
249,765
300,775
– 
11,917

390,744
80,648
19,760
75,932
23,383
34,687
96,031
340,487
65,292
14,797
1,282,632 1,074,569 1,069,504 1,067,232 1,141,761

415,787
67,341
14,517
76,369
18,156
36,916
204,326
229,204
– 
11,953

394,838
67,522
18,578
82,286
20,559
37,882
216,834
219,643
– 
11,362

398,701
68,143
40,338
73,314
23,826
37,351
173,718
238,345
– 
13,496

4,637
11,172
4,461
45,527
65,797
1,085
66,882

21,842
6,449
6,051
30,531
64,873
6,492
71,365
1,349,514 1,140,229 1,133,283 1,133,248 1,213,126

22,045
8,941
5,383
27,536
63,905
2,111
66,016

4,311
9,632
5,153
43,460
62,556
1,223
63,779

4,594
10,871
4,760
44,204
64,429
1,231
65,660

315p
269p
17,359

1.37
1.11

309p
262p
17,322

1.32
1.18

309p
262p
17,133

1.28
1.12

322p
276p
17,060

1.35
1.13

344p
290p
16,963

1.23
1.17

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Financial statements

Financial review 
Balance sheet commentary

Total shareholders’ equity
Total shareholders’ equity increased £1.4bn 
to £65.8bn. 

Other equity instruments increased £0.3bn to 
£11.2bn due to the issuance of a $1.5bn AT1 
instrument, partially offset by a redemption of 
a €1.0bn AT1 instrument. AT1 securities are 
perpetual subordinated contingent convertible 
securities structured to qualify as AT1 
instruments under prevailing capital rules 
applicable as at the relevant issue date. 

The cash flow hedging reserve increased £0.6bn 
to £1.6bn as a result of fair value movements on 
interest rate swaps held for hedging purposes 
due to a decrease in major interest rate curves.

The currency translation reserve decreased 
£0.4bn to £2.9bn due to strengthening of GBP 
against USD of 4%, when comparing year-end 
closing rates. 

The own credit reserve decreased £0.6bn to 
£1.0bn debit, principally reflecting Barclays’ 
lower cost of funding. 

Retained earnings increased £1.3bn to £45.5bn, 
mainly due to profits of £1.5bn. 

Tangible net asset value per share increased 7p 
to 269p as 9p earnings per share were offset by 
net negative reserve movements of 2p. 

Total assets
Total assets increased £210bn to £1,350bn. 

Cash and balances at central banks increased 
by £41bn to £191bn and financial assets at fair 
value through other comprehensive income 
increased £13bn to £79bn, due to an increase 
in the liquidity pool predominantly driven by an 
increase in customer deposits. 

Derivative financial instrument assets increased 
£73bn to £302bn, driven by a decrease in major 
interest rate curves and increased client activity. 
Cash collateral and settlement balances 
increased by £18bn to £101bn, predominantly 
due to increased activity. 

Loans and advances at amortised cost 
increased £4bn to £343bn, which reflected 
£12bn of lending under the government-backed 
loan schemes and £5bn of mortgage growth, 
partially offset by lower unsecured lending 
balances.

Trading portfolio assets increased £14bn to 
£128bn due to increased client activity and 
financial assets at fair value through the income 
statement increased £42bn to £175bn due to 
reverse repurchase agreements and similar 
secured lending. 

Total liabilities
Total liabilities increased £208bn to £1,283bn. 

Deposits at amortised cost increased £65bn to 
£481bn primarily due to CIB clients increasing 
liquidity, and lower consumer spending levels.

Derivative financial instruments liabilities 
increased £72bn to £301bn, driven by a 
decrease in major interest rate curves and 
increased client activity. This is consistent with 
the movement in derivative financial instrument 
assets. Cash collateral and settlement balances 
increased by £18bn to £85bn predominantly due 
to increased activity.

Trading portfolio liabilities increased £10bn due 
to increased client activity to £47bn and financial 
liabilities designated at fair value increased by 
£45bn due to repurchase agreements and 
similar secured borrowing.

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Financial review 
Analysis of results by business 

Barclays UK

Income statement information
Net interest income
Net fee, commission and other income
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Net operating income
Operating costs 
UK bank levy
Operating expenses
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net income
Profit before tax
Attributable profit

Balance sheet information
Loans and advances to customers at amortised cost
Total assets
Customer deposits at amortised cost
Loan: deposit ratio
Risk weighted assets
Period end allocated tangible equity

Key facts
Average LTV of mortgage portfolioa
Average LTV of new mortgage lendinga
Number of branches
Mobile banking active customers
30-day arrears rate – Barclaycard Consumer UK
Number of employees (full time equivalent)

Performance measures
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio
Loan loss rate (bps)
Net interest margin 

Performance measures excluding litigation and conductb
Profit before tax
Attributable profit
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

5,234
1,113
6,347
(1,467)
4,880
(4,270)
(50)
(4,320)
(32)
(4,352)
18
546
325

5,888
1,465
7,353
(712)
6,641
(3,996)
(41)
(4,037)
(1,582)
(5,619)
–
1,022
281

6,028
1,355
7,383
(826)
6,557
(4,075)
(46)
(4,121)
(483)
(4,604)
3
1,956
1,198

£205.4bn
£289.1bn
£240.5bn
89%
£73.7bn
£9.7bn

£193.7bn
£257.8bn
£205.5bn
96%
£74.9bn
£10.3bn

£187.6bn
£249.7bn
£197.3bn
96%
£75.2bn
£10.2bn

51%
68%
859
9.2m
1.7%
21,300

51%
68%
963
8.4m
1.7%
21,400

49%
65%
1,058
7.3m
1.8%
22,600

3.2%
£10.1bn
69%
68
2.61%

2.7%
£10.3bn
76%
36
3.09%

11.9%
£10.0bn
62%
43
3.23%

578
343
3.4%
68%

2,604
1,813
17.5%
55%

2,439
1,670
16.7%
56%

Notes
a   Average Loan to Value of mortgages is balance weighted and reflects both residential and BTL mortgage portfolios within the Home Loans portfolio.
b   Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section for further information and calculations of performance measures excluding litigation and conduct.

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Analysis of Barclays UK 

Analysis of total income
Personal Banking
Barclaycard Consumer UK
Business Banking
Total income

Analysis of credit impairment charges
Personal Banking
Barclaycard Consumer UK
Business Banking
Total credit impairment charges

Analysis of loans and advances to customers at amortised cost
Personal Banking
Barclaycard Consumer UK
Business Banking
Total loans and advances to customers at amortised cost

Analysis of customer deposits at amortised cost
Personal Banking
Barclaycard Consumer UK
Business Banking
Total customer deposits at amortised cost

2020
£m

3,522
1,519
1,306
6,347

(380)
(881)
(206)
(1,467)

2019
£m

4,009
1,992
1,352
7,353

(195)
(472)
(45)
(712)

2018
£m

4,006
2,104
1,273
7,383

(173)
(590)
(63)
(826)

£157.3bn
£9.9bn
£38.2bn
£205.4bn

£151.9bn
£14.7bn
£27.1bn
£193.7bn

£146.0bn
£15.3bn
£26.3bn
£187.6bn

£179.7bn
£0.1bn
£60.7bn
£240.5bn

£159.2bn
–
£46.3bn
£205.5bn

£154.0bn
–
£43.3bn
£197.3bn

2020 compared to 2019
Profit before tax, excluding litigation and 
conduct, decreased 78% to £578m. RoTE was 
3.4% (2019: 17.5%) reflecting a challenging 
operating environment and materially higher 
credit impairment charges.

Total income decreased 14% to £6,347m. 
Net interest income reduced 11% to £5,234m 
with a net interest margin of 2.61% (2019: 
3.09%). Net fee, commission and other income 
decreased 24% to £1,113m.

Personal Banking income decreased 12% to 
£3,522m, reflecting deposit margin 
compression from lower interest rates, lower 
unsecured lending balances, and COVID-19 
customer support actions, partially offset by 
balance growth in deposits and mortgages, as 
well as the transfer of Barclays Partner Finance 
(BPF) from Barclays International in Q220.

Barclaycard Consumer UK income decreased 
24% to £1,519m as reduced borrowing and 
spend levels by customers resulted in a lower 
level of interest earning lending (IEL) balances, 
as well as lower debt sales.

Business Banking income decreased 3% to 
£1,306m due to deposit margin compression 
from lower interest rates, lower transactional fee 
volumes as a result of COVID-19 and related 
customer support actions, partially offset by 
lending and deposit balance growth from 
continued support for SMEs through £11.0bn 
of BBLS and CBILS loans.

Credit impairment charges increased to 
£1,467m (2019: £712m) due to the deterioration 
in economic outlook driven by the COVID-19 
pandemic. The current year charge is broadly 
driven by £847m of non-default provision for 
expected future customer and client stress. 
As at 31 December 2020, 30- and 90-day 
arrears rates in UK cards were 1.7% (Q419: 
1.7%) and 0.8% (Q419: 0.8%) respectively.

Operating expenses increased 7% to £4,320m, 
reflecting investment spend including structural 
cost actions, higher servicing and financial 
assistance costs, and the transfer of BPF, 
partially offset by efficiency savings.

Loans and advances to customers at amortised 
cost increased 6% to £205.4bn, predominantly 
from continued support for SMEs through 
£11.0bn of BBLS and CBILS lending, £5.1bn 
of mortgage growth following a strong flow of 
new applications as well as strong customer 
retention and the £2.4bn transfer of BPF, 
partially offset by £6.6bn lower unsecured 
lending balances.

Customer deposits at amortised cost increased 
17% to £240.5bn, reflecting an increase of 
£20.5bn and £14.4bn in Personal Banking and 
Business Banking respectively, further 
strengthening the liquidity position and 
contributing to a loan: deposit ratio of 89% 
(2019: 96%).

RWAs decreased to £73.7bn (December 2019: 
£74.9bn) driven by lower unsecured lending 
balances, partially offset by growth in mortgages 
and the transfer of BPF.

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Financial review 
Analysis of results by business continued

Barclays International

Income statement information
Net interest income
Net trading income
Net fee, commission and other income
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Net operating income
Operating costs
UK bank levy 
Operating expenses
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net income
Profit before tax
Attributable profit

Balance sheet information
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Trading portfolio assets
Derivative financial instrument assets 
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Other assets
Total assets
Deposits at amortised cost
Derivative financial instrument liabilities
Loan: deposit ratio
Risk weighted assets
Period end allocated tangible equity

Key facts
Number of employees (full time equivalent)

Performance measures
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio
Loan loss rate (bps)
Net interest margin

Performance measures excluding litigation and conducta
Profit before tax
Attributable profit
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

3,282
6,920
5,719
15,921
(3,280)
12,641
(8,765)
(240)
(9,005)
(48)
(9,053)
28
3,616
2,220

3,941
4,199
6,535
14,675
(1,173)
13,502
(9,163)
(174)
(9,337)
(116)
(9,453)
69
4,118
2,816

3,815
4,450
5,761
14,026
(658)
13,368
(9,324)
(210)
(9,534)
(127)
(9,661)
68
3,775
2,599

£122.7bn
£127.7bn
£301.8bn
£170.7bn
£97.5bn
£221.4bn
£1,041.8bn
£240.5bn
£300.4bn
51%
£222.3bn
£30.2bn

£132.8bn
£113.3bn
£228.9bn
£128.4bn
£79.4bn
£178.6bn
£861.4bn
£210.0bn
£228.9bn
63%
£209.2bn
£29.6bn

£127.2bn
£104.0bn
£222.1bn
£144.7bn
£74.3bn
£189.8bn
£862.1bn
£197.2bn
£219.6bn
65%
£210.7bn
£29.9bn

10,800

11,200

12,400

7.1%
£31.5bn
57%
257
3.64%

9.0%
£31.2bn
64%
86
4.07%

8.4%
£31.0bn
69%
50
4.11%

3,664
2,258
7.2%
57%

4,234
2,906
9.3%
64%

3,902
2,705
8.7%
68%

Note
a   Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section for further information and calculations of performance measures excluding litigation and conduct.

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Financial statements

Analysis of Barclays International 

Corporate and Investment Bank
Income statement information
FICC
Equities
Markets
Advisory
Equity capital markets
Debt capital markets
Banking fees
Corporate lending
Transaction banking
Corporate
Othera
Total income
Credit impairment (charges)/releases
Net operating income
Operating costs
UK bank levy
Operating expenses
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses 
Other net income
Profit before tax
Attributable profit

Balance sheet information
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Trading portfolio assets
Derivative financial instrument assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Other assets
Total assets
Deposits at amortised cost
Derivative financial instrument liabilities
Risk weighted assets

Performance measures
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio

Performance measures excluding litigation and conductb
Profit before tax
Attributable profit
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

5,138
2,471
7,609
561
473
1,697
2,731
590
1,546
2,136
–
12,476
(1,559)
10,917
(6,689)
(226)
(6,915)
(4)
(6,919)
6
4,004
2,554

3,364
1,887
5,251
776
329
1,430
2,535
765
1,680
2,445
–
10,231
(157)
10,074
(6,882)
(156)
(7,038)
(109)
(7,147)
28
2,955
1,980

2,863
2,037
4,900
708
300
1,523
2,531
878
1,627
2,505
(171)
9,765
150
9,915
(7,093)
(188)
(7,281)
(68)
(7,349)
27
2,593
1,781

£92.4bn
£127.5bn
£301.7bn
£170.4bn
£96.7bn
£194.9bn
£983.6bn
£175.2bn
£300.3bn
£192.2bn

£92.0bn
£113.3bn
£228.8bn
£127.7bn
£78.5bn
£155.3bn
£795.6bn
£146.2bn
£228.9bn
£171.5bn

£86.4bn
£104.0bn
£222.1bn
£144.2bn
£73.4bn
£160.4bn
£790.5bn
£136.3bn
£219.6bn
£170.9bn

9.5%
£27.0bn
55%

7.6%
£25.9bn
70%

6.9%
£26.0bn
75%

4,008
2,556
9.5%
55%

3,064
2,064
8.0%
69%

2,661
1,843
7.1%
75%

Notes
a   From 2019, treasury items previously included in Other have been allocated to businesses.
b   Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section for further information and calculations of performance measures excluding litigation and conduct.

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Financial review 
Analysis of results by business continued

Analysis of Barclays International continued 

Consumer, Cards and Payments
Income statement information
Net interest income
Net fee, commission, trading and other income 
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Net operating income
Operating costs
UK bank levy
Operating expenses
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net income
(Loss)/profit before tax
Attributable (loss)/profit

Balance sheet information
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Total assets
Deposits at amortised cost
Risk weighted assets

Key facts
30-day arrears rates – Barclaycard US
US cards customer FICO score distribution
<660
>660
Total number of Barclaycard payments clients
Value of payments processeda

Performance measures
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio
Loan loss rate (bps)

Performance measures excluding litigation and conductb
(Loss)/profit before tax
Attributable (loss)/profit
Return on average allocated tangible equity
Cost: income ratio

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

2,198
1,247
3,445
(1,721)
1,724
(2,076)
(14)
(2,090)
(44)
(2,134)
22
(388)
(334)

2,822
1,622
4,444
(1,016)
3,428
(2,281)
(18)
(2,299)
(7)
(2,306)
41
1,163
836

2,731
1,530
4,261
(808)
3,453
(2,231)
(22)
(2,253)
(59)
(2,312)
41
1,182
818

£30.3bn
£58.2bn
£65.3bn
£30.1bn

£40.8bn
£65.8bn
£63.8bn
£37.7bn

£40.8bn
£71.6bn
£60.9bn
£39.8bn

2.5%

2.7%

2.7%

13%
87%
c.365,000
£274bn

14%
86%
c.376,000
£354bn

14%
86%
c.374,000
£344bn

(7.5%)
£4.5bn
62%
517

(344)
(298)
(6.7%)
61%

15.8%
£5.3bn
52%
234

1,170
842
15.9%
52%

16.5%
£5.0bn
54%
185

1,241
862
17.3%
53%

Notes
a 
b  Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section for further information and calculations of performance measures excluding litigation and conduct.

Includes £268bn (2019: £272bn; 2018: £268bn) of merchant acquiring payments.

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Financial review

Financial statements

2020 compared to 2019
Profit before tax, excluding litigation and 
conduct, decreased 13% to £3,664m with a 
RoTE of 7.2% (2019: 9.3%), reflecting a RoTE 
of 9.5% (2019: 8.0%) in CIB and (6.7)% (2019: 
15.9%) in CC&P.

Total income increased to £15,921m (2019: 
£14,675m).

CIB income increased 22% to £12,476m, driven 
by Markets and Banking which both had their 
best ever year on a comparable basisa.

Markets income increased 45% to £7,609m 
reflecting gains in market share as well as an 
increase in market sizeb. FICC income increased 
53% to £5,138m driven by strong performances 
in macro and credit, mainly reflecting wider 
spreads. Equities income increased 31% to 
£2,471m driven by derivatives and cash due to 
higher levels of client activity and volatility.

Banking fees income increased 8% to £2,731m 
as a strong performance in equity and debt 
capital markets, driven by market size, was offset 
by lower fee income in advisory, which was 
impacted by a reduced fee poolc.

Within Corporate, Transaction banking income 
decreased 8% to £1,546m as deposit balance 
growth was more than offset by margin 
compression. Corporate lending income 
decreased by 23% to £590m, reflecting 
c.£210m of losses on the mark to market of 
lending and related hedge positions, and the 
carry costs of those hedges.

CC&P income decreased 22% to £3,445m 
reflecting lower cards balances, margin 
compression and reduced payments activity, 
which were impacted by the COVID-19 
pandemic, and the transfer of BPF to Barclays 
UK in Q220. Q220 included a c.£100m valuation 
loss on Barclays’ preference shares in Visa Inc. 
resulting from the impact of the Supreme Court 
ruling concerning charges paid by merchants.

Credit impairment charges increased to 
£3,280m (2019: £1,173m). CIB credit 
impairment charges increased to £1,559m 
(2019: £157m) due to the deterioration in 
economic outlook driven by the COVID-19 
pandemic. The current year charge is broadly 
driven by £711m of non-default provision for 
future expected customer and client stress and 
c.£800m of single name wholesale loan charges. 
CC&P credit impairment charges increased to 
£1,721m (2019: £1,016m) due to the 
deterioration in economic outlook driven by the 
COVID-19 pandemic. The current year charge is 
broadly driven by £752m of non-default 
provisions for future expected customer and 
client stress. As at 31 December 2020, 30 and 
90-day arrears in US cards were 2.5% (Q419: 
2.7%) and 1.4% (Q419: 1.4%) respectively.

Operating expenses decreased 4% to £9,005m. 
CIB operating expenses decreased 2% to 
£6,915m due to cost efficiencies and discipline 
in the current environment, partially offset by a 
higher bank levy charge mainly due to the 
non-recurrence of prior year adjustments. CC&P 
operating expenses decreased 9% to £2,090m 
reflecting cost efficiencies, lower marketing 
spend due to the impacts of the COVID-19 
pandemic and the transfer of BPF.

Loans and advances at amortised cost 
decreased £10.1bn to £122.7bn due to lower 
unsecured lending balances in CC&P.

Trading portfolio assets increased £14.4bn 
to £127.7bn due to increased client activity.

Derivative financial instruments assets 
increased £72.9bn and liabilities increased 
£71.5bn to £301.8bn and £300.4bn respectively, 
driven by a decrease in major interest rate 
curves and increased client activity.

Financial assets at fair value through the income 
statement increased £42.3bn to £170.7bn, 
driven by reverse repurchase agreements and 
similar secured lending.

Cash collateral and settlements increased 
£18.1bn to £97.5bn, predominantly due to 
increased activity.

Other assets increased £42.8bn to £221.4bn 
due to an increase in cash at central banks and 
securities within the liquidity pool.

Deposits at amortised cost increased £30.5bn 
to £240.5bn due to CIB clients increasing 
liquidity.

RWAs increased to £222.3bn (December 2019: 
£209.2bn) primarily due to increased market 
volatility, client activity and a reduction in credit 
quality within CIB, partially offset by lower 
CC&P balances.

Notes
a   Period covering Q114 – Q420. Pre-2014 financials were not restated following re-segmentation in Q116.
b   Data source: Coalition Greenwich, Preliminary FY20 Competitor Analysis. Market share represents Barclays share of the Global Industry Revenue Pool. Analysis is based on Barclays 

internal business structure and internal revenues.

c   Data source: Dealogic for the period covering 1 January to 31 December 2020.

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Financial review 
Analysis of results by business continued

Head Office

Income statement information
Net interest income
Net fee, commission and other income
Total income 
Credit impairment (charges)/releases
Net operating expenses
Operating costs
UK bank levy
Operating expenses
GMP charge 
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net (expenses)/income
Loss before tax 
Attributable loss

Balance sheet information
Total assets
Risk weighted assets
Period end allocated tangible equity

Key facts
Number of employees (full time equivalent)

Performance measures
Average allocated tangible equity

Performance measures excluding litigation and conducta
Loss before tax
Attributable loss

2020
£m

(393)
(109)
(502)
(91)
(593)
(399)
(9)
(408)
–
(73)
(481)
(23)
(1,097)
(1,019)

2019
£m

(422)
26
(396)
(27)
(423)
(200)
(11)
(211)
–
(151)
(362)
2
(783)
(636)

2018
£m

(781)
508
(273)
16
(257)
(228)
(13)
(241)
(140)
(1,597)
(1,978)
(2)
(2,237)
(2,200)

£18.6bn
£10.2bn
£6.8bn

£21.0bn
£11.0bn
£5.6bn

£21.5bn
£26.0bn
£4.9bn

50,900

48,200

48,500

£6.7bn

£5.1bn

£3.1bn

(1,024)
(963)

(632)
(525)

(640)
(642)

Note
a   Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures section for further information and calculations of performance measures excluding litigation and conduct.

Operating expenses were £408m (2019: 
£211m), which included c.£150m of cost 
actions, principally related to the discontinued 
use of certain software assets and £95m of 
charitable donations from Barclays’ COVID-19 
Community Aid Package.

Other net expenses were £23m (2019: income 
of £2m), which included a fair value loss on an 
investment in an associate.

RWAs decreased to £10.2bn (December 2019: 
£11.0bn) driven by the reduction in value of 
Barclays’ stake in Absa Group Limited.

2020 compared to 2019
Loss before tax, excluding litigation and conduct, 
was £1,024m (2019: £632m).

Total income was an expense of £502m (2019: 
£396m), which reflected treasury items and 
hedge accounting, mark to market losses on 
legacy investments and funding costs on legacy 
capital instruments, including £85m from 
repurchases of some of the Barclays Bank PLC 
7.625% Contingent Capital Notes. This was 
partially offset by the recognition of dividends 
on Barclays’ stake in Absa Group Limited.

Credit impairment increased to £91m (2019: 
£27m) due to the deterioration in economic 
outlook driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The current year charge is broadly driven by 
provision for future expected customer stress 
in the Italian home loan portfolio.

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Financial review 
Non-IFRS performance measures

The Group’s management believes that the 
non-IFRS performance measures included in 
this document provide valuable information to 
the readers of the financial statements as they 
enable the reader to identify a more consistent 
basis for comparing the businesses’ 

performance between financial periods, and 
provide more detail concerning the elements 
of performance which the managers of these 
businesses are most directly able to influence 
or are relevant for an assessment of the Group. 
They also reflect an important aspect of the way 

in which operating targets are defined and 
performance is monitored by management.

However, any non-IFRS performance measures 
in this document are not a substitute for IFRS 
measures and readers should consider the IFRS 
measures as well.

Non-IFRS performance measures glossary
Measure

Definition

Loan: deposit ratio

Loans and advances at amortised cost divided by deposits at amortised cost. The components 
of the calculation have been included on page 210.

Period end allocated tangible equity

Allocated tangible equity is calculated as 13.0% (2019: 13.0%) of RWAs for each business, 
adjusted for capital deductions, excluding goodwill and intangible assets, reflecting the 
assumptions the Group uses for capital planning purposes. Head Office allocated tangible equity 
represents the difference between the Group’s tangible shareholders’ equity and the amounts 
allocated to businesses.

Average tangible shareholders’ equity

Calculated as the average of the previous month’s period end tangible equity and the current 
month’s period end tangible equity. The average tangible shareholders’ equity for the period is the 
average of the monthly averages within that period.

Average allocated tangible equity

Calculated as the average of the previous month’s period end allocated tangible equity and the 
current month’s period end allocated tangible equity. The average allocated tangible equity for 
the period is the average of the monthly averages within that period.

Return on average tangible  
shareholders’ equity

Statutory profit after tax attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent, as a proportion of 
average shareholders’ equity excluding non-controlling interests and other equity instruments 
adjusted for the deduction of intangible assets and goodwill. The components of the calculation 
have been included on pages 255.

Return on average allocated  
tangible equity

Statutory profit after tax attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent, as a proportion of 
average allocated tangible equity. The components of the calculation have been included on 
page 255.

Cost: income ratio

Loan loss rate

Net interest margin

Tangible net asset value 
per share

Total operating expenses divided by total income.

Quoted in basis points and represents total impairment charges divided by gross loans and 
advances held at amortised cost at the balance sheet date. The components of the calculation 
have been included on page 171.

Net interest income divided by the sum of average customer assets. The components of the 
calculation have been included on page 254.

Calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity, excluding non-controlling interests and other equity 
instruments, less goodwill and intangible assets, by the number of issued ordinary shares. The 
components of the calculation have been included on page 258.

Performance measures excluding 
litigation and conduct

Calculated by excluding litigation and conduct charges from performance measures. 
The components of the calculations have been included on pages 256 to 258.

Pre-provision profits

Calculated by excluding credit impairment charges from profit before tax. The components of the 
calculation have been included on pages 256 to 258.

Pre-provision profits excluding  
litigation and conduct

Calculated by excluding credit impairment charges, and litigation and conduct charges from profit 
before tax. The components of the calculation have been included on pages 256 to 258.

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Financial review 
Non-IFRS performance measures continued

Margins analysis

For the year ended 31 December
Barclays UK
Barclays Internationala,b
Total Barclays UK and Barclays International
Otherc
Total Barclays Group

2020
Average
 customer 
assets
£m
200,317
92,909
293,226

Net interest 
margin
%
2.61
3.64
2.94

Net interest 
income
£m
5,888
4,021
9,909
(502)
9,407

Net interest
 income
£m
5,234
3,382
8,616
(494)
8,122

2019
Average
 customer 
assets
£m
190,849
98,824
289,673

Net interest 
margin
%
3.09
4.07
3.42

Notes
a  Barclays International margins include IEL balances within the investment banking business.
b  Barclays has amended the presentation of the premium paid for purchased financial guarantees which are embedded in notes it issues directly to the market. From Q420 onwards,  

the full note coupon is presented as interest expense within net interest income. The financial guarantee element of the coupon, for these notes, had previously been recognised in net 
investment income. The reclassification of £99m in 2020 has caused a reduction in the 2020 Barclays International and Total Barclays UK and Barclays International net interest margins 
of 0.11% and 0.03% respectively. Had the equivalent 2019 expenses been recognised in net interest income, the Barclays International and Total Barclays UK and Barclays International 
net interest margins would have been 4.04% and 3.41% respectively.

c  Other includes Head Office and non-lending related investment banking businesses not included in Barclays International margins.

The Group net interest margin decreased 48bps to 2.94%. Barclays UK net interest margin decreased 48bps to 2.61%, reflecting the impact of lower UK 
interest rates, COVID-19 customer support actions, as well as the mix impact of strong mortgage growth and lower unsecured lending balances. Barclays 
International net interest margin decreased 43bps to 3.64%, mainly reflecting lower cards balances. 

The Group combined product and equity structural hedge notional as at 31 December 2020 was £188bn, with an average duration of 2.5 to 3 years. 
Group net interest income includes gross structural hedge contributions of £1.7bn (2019: £1.8bn) and net structural hedge contributions of £1.2bn 
(2019: £0.5bn). Gross structural hedge contributions represent the absolute level of interest earned from the fixed receipts on the basket of swaps in the 
structural hedge, while the net structural hedge contributions represent the net interest earned on the difference between the structural hedge rate and 
prevailing floating rates.

254

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Returns
Return on average tangible equity is calculated as profit for the period attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent as a proportion of average 
tangible equity for the period, excluding non-controlling and other equity interests for businesses. Allocated tangible equity has been calculated as 13.0% 
(2019: 13.0%) of RWAs for each business, adjusted for capital deductions, excluding goodwill and intangible assets, reflecting the assumptions the Group 
uses for capital planning purposes. Head Office average allocated tangible equity represents the difference between the Group’s average tangible 
shareholders’ equity and the amounts allocated to businesses.

For the year ended 31 December 2020
Barclays UK
  Corporate and Investment Bank
   Consumer, Cards and Payments
Barclays International
Head Office
Barclays Group

For the year ended 31 December 2019
Barclays UK
  Corporate and Investment Bank
  Consumer, Cards and Payments
Barclays International
Head Office
Barclays Group

For the year ended 31 December 2018
Barclays UK
  Corporate and Investment Bank
  Consumer, Cards and Payments
Barclays International
Head Office
Barclays Group

Profit/(loss) 
attributable to 
ordinary 
equity holders 
of the parent
£m

Average
 tangible
 equity
£bn

Return on
 average
 tangible 
 equity
%

325
2,554
(334)
2,220
(1,019)
1,526

281
1,980
836
2,816
(636)
2,461

1,198
1,781
818
2,599
(2,200)
1,597

10.1
27.0
4.5
31.5
6.7
48.3

10.3
25.9
5.3
31.2
5.1
46.6

10.0
26.0
5.0
31.0
3.1
44.1

3.2
9.5
(7.5)
7.1
n/m
3.2

2.7
7.6
15.8
9.0
n/m
5.3

11.9
6.9
16.5
8.4
n/m
3.6

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Financial review 
Non-IFRS performance measures continued

Performance measures excluding litigation and conduct

Cost: income ratio
Total operating expenses
Impact of litigation and conduct
Operating expenses

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Corporate and 
Investment
 Bank
£m
(6,919)
4
(6,915)

Barclays UK
£m
(4,352)
32
(4,320)

Consumer,
 Cards and
 Payments
£m
(2,134)
44
(2,090)

Barclays
 International
£m
(9,053)
48
(9,005)

Head Office
£m
(481)
73
(408)

Barclays Group
£m
(13,886)
153
(13,733)

Total income

6,347

12,476

3,445

15,921

(502)

21,766

Cost: income ratio excluding litigation and conduct

68%

55%

61%

57%

n/m

63%

Profit before tax
Profit/(loss) before tax
Impact of litigation and conduct
Profit/(loss) before tax excluding litigation and conduct

Profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent
Attributable profit/(loss)
Post-tax impact of litigation and conduct
Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 
excluding litigation and conduct

Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Average shareholders’ equity
Average goodwill and intangibles
Average tangible shareholders’ equity 

546
32
578

325
18

343

4,004
4
4,008

2,554
2

(388)
44
(344)

3,616
48
3,664

(1,097)
73
(1,024)

3,065
153
3,218

(334)
36

2,220
38

(1,019)
56

1,526
112

2,556

(298)

2,258

(963)

1,638

£13.7bn
(£3.6bn)
£10.1bn

£27.0bn
–
£27.0bn

£5.1bn
(£0.6bn)
£4.5bn

£32.1bn
(£0.6bn)
£31.5bn

£10.6bn
(£3.9bn)
£6.7bn

£56.4bn
(£8.1bn)
£48.3bn

Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity excluding litigation  
and conduct

3.4%

9.5%

(6.7%)

7.2%

n/m

3.4%

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Basic weighted average number of shares

Basic earnings per ordinary share excluding litigation and conduct

Pre-provision profits
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges and litigation and conduct
Profit before tax
Impact of credit impairment charges
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges
Impact of litigation and conduct
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges and litigation and conduct

17,300m

9.5p

£m
3,065
4,838
7,903
153
8,056

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Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Cost: income ratio
Total operating expenses
Impact of litigation and conduct
Operating expenses 

For the year ended 31 December 2019

Corporate and 
Investment 
Bank
£m
(7,147)
109
(7,038)

Barclays UK
£m
(5,619)
1,582
(4,037)

Consumer, 
Cards and
 Payments
£m
(2,306)
7
(2,299)

Barclays 
International
£m
(9,453)
116
(9,337)

Head Office
£m
(362)
151
(211)

Barclays Group
£m
(15,434)
1,849
(13,585)

Total income

7,353

10,231

4,444

14,675

(396)

21,632

Cost: income ratio excluding litigation and conduct

55%

69%

52%

64%

 n/m 

63%

Profit before tax
Profit/(loss) before tax
Impact of litigation and conduct
Profit/(loss) before tax excluding litigation and conduct

Profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent
Attributable profit/(loss)
Post-tax impact of litigation and conduct
Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 
excluding litigation and conduct

Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Average shareholders’ equity
Average goodwill and intangibles
Average tangible shareholders’ equity 

1,022
1,582
2,604

2,955
109
3,064

1,163
7
1,170

281
1,532

1,980
84

1,813

2,064

836
6

842

4,118
116
4,234

2,816
90

(783)
151
(632)

4,357
1,849
6,206

(636)
111

2,461
1,733

2,906

(525)

4,194

£13.9bn
(£3.6bn)
£10.3bn

£25.9bn
–
£25.9bn

£6.3bn
(£1.0bn)
£5.3bn

£32.2bn
(£1.0bn)
£31.2bn

£8.5bn
(£3.4bn)
£5.1bn

£54.6bn
(£8.0bn)
£46.6bn

Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity excluding litigation  
and conduct

17.5%

8.0%

15.9%

9.3%

n/m

9.0%

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Basic weighted average number of shares 

Basic earnings per ordinary share excluding litigation and conduct

Pre-provision profits 
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges and litigation and conduct
Profit before tax
Impact of credit impairment charges
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges
Impact of litigation and conduct
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges and litigation and conduct

17,200m

24.4p

£m
4,357
1,912 
6,269 
1,849 
8,118

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Financial review 
Non-IFRS performance measures continued

Cost: income ratio
Total operating expenses
Impact of litigation and conduct
Operating expenses 

For the year ended 31 December 2018

Corporate and 
Investment 
Bank
£m
(7,349)
68
(7,281)

Barclays UK
£m
(4,604)
483
(4,121)

Consumer, 
Cards and
 Payments
£m
(2,312)
59
(2,253)

Barclays 
International
£m
(9,661)
127
(9,534)

Head Office
£m
(1,978)
1,597
(381)

Barclays Group
£m
(16,243)
2,207
(14,036)

Total income

7,383

9,765

4,261

14,026

(273)

21,136

Cost: income ratio excluding litigation and conduct

56%

75%

53%

68%

n/m

66%

Profit before tax
Profit/(loss) before tax
Impact of litigation and conduct
Profit/(loss) before tax excluding litigation and conduct

Profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent
Attributable profit/(loss)
Post-tax impact of litigation and conduct
Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 
excluding litigation and conduct

Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity
Average shareholders’ equity
Average goodwill and intangibles
Average tangible shareholders’ equity 

1,956
483
2,439

2,593
68
2,661

1,182
59
1,241

3,775
127
3,902

(2,237)
1,597
(640)

3,494
2,207
5,701

1,198
472

1,781
62

1,670

1,843

818
44

862

2,599
106

(2,200)
1,558

1,597
2,136

2,705

(642)

3,733

£13.6bn
(£3.6bn)
£10.0bn

£26.2bn
(£0.2bn)
£26.0bn

£6.1bn
(£1.1bn)
£5.0bn

£32.3bn
(£1.3bn)
£31.0bn

£6.2bn
(£3.1bn)
£3.1bn

£52.1bn
(£8.0bn)
£44.1bn

Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity excluding litigation  
and conduct

16.7%

7.1%

17.3%

8.7%

n/m

8.5%

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Basic weighted average number of shares 

Basic earnings per ordinary share excluding litigation and conduct

Pre-provision profits 
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges and litigation and conduct
Profit before tax
Impact of credit impairment charges
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges
Impact of litigation and conduct
Profit before tax excluding credit impairment charges and litigation and conduct

Tangible net asset value per share 

Total equity excluding non-controlling interests
Other equity instruments
Goodwill and intangibles
Tangible shareholders’ equity attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent

Shares in issue

Tangible net asset value per share

258

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17,075m

21.9p

£m
3,494
1,468
4,962
2,207
7,169

2020
£m
65,797
(11,172)
(7,948)
46,677

2019
£m
64,429
(10,871)
(8,119)
45,439

2018
£m
62,556
(9,632)
(7,973)
44,951

17,359m 17,322m 17,133m

269p

262p

262p

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Financial statements

Detailed analysis of our statutory accounts, independently audited and 
providing in-depth disclosure on the financial performance of the Group.
Barclays has adopted the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) Code for Financial Reporting Disclosure as adopted by UK Finance in 2017 and has 
prepared the 2020 Annual Report in compliance with the BBA Code. Barclays is committed to continuously reflect the objectives of reporting set out 
in the BBA Code.

Page

Note

Consolidated financial statements

Notes to the financial statements 

Financial performance and returns

Assets and liabilities held at fair value

Assets at amortised cost and other
investments

Accruals, provisions, contingent
liabilities and legal proceedings

Capital instruments, equity and
reserves

Employee benefits

Scope of consolidation

Other disclosure matters

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

■■ Independent Auditor’s Report
■■ Consolidated income statement
■■ Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
■■ Consolidated balance sheet
■■ Consolidated statement of changes in equity
■■ Consolidated cash flow statement
■■ Parent company accounts

■■ Significant accounting policies

■■ Segmental reporting
■■ Net interest income
■■ Net fee and commission income
■■ Net trading income
■■ Net investment income
■■ Credit impairment charges
■■ Operating expenses
■■ Tax
■■ Earnings per share
■■ Dividends on ordinary shares
■■ Trading portfolio
■■ Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
■■ Derivative financial instruments
■■ Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
■■ Financial liabilities designated at fair value
■■ Fair value of financial instruments
■■ Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities
■■ Loans and advances and deposits at amortised cost
■■ Property, plant and equipment
■■ Leases
■■ Goodwill and intangible assets
■■ Other liabilities
■■ Provisions
■■ Contingent liabilities and commitments
■■ Legal, competition and regulatory matters
■■ Subordinated liabilities
■■ Ordinary shares, share premium and other equity
■■ Reserves
■■ Non-controlling interests
■■ Staff costs
■■ Share-based payments
■■ Pensions and post-retirement benefits
■■ Principal subsidiaries
■■ Structured entities
■■ Investments in associates and joint ventures
■■ Securitisations
■■ Assets pledged, collateral received and assets transferred
■■ Related party transactions and Directors’ remuneration
■■ Auditor’s remuneration
■■ Interest rate benchmark reform
■■ Barclays PLC (the Parent company)
■■ Related undertakings

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281
282
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290
292
293
295
295
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300
304
304

305
305
306
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314
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326

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327
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336
336
337
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345
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350
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361
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n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

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259

 
  
Independent auditor’s report
Independent auditor’s report
to the members of Barclays PLC

2. Overview of our audit
Factors driving our view of risks
Following our FY19 audit and considering the 
developments affecting the Barclays PLC Group 
since then, we have updated our risk 
assessment. Our assessment of the risks that 
are of most significance to our audit has 
changed since our FY19 audit. 

In 2020 the Group’s performance has been 
affected by COVID-19 which has driven a 
significant increase in expected credit loss 
(“ECL”) provisions compared to 2019 and 
impacted income due to COVID-19 customer 
support actions and changing customer 
behaviour. Income in the markets business has 
grown versus the prior year due to wider spreads 
and market share gains but the low interest rate 
environment has continued to impact interest 
margins in BBUK. 

We have considered the impact of COVID-19, 
(including the FRC guidance for auditors) in our 
risk assessment and have adjusted our audit 
procedures accordingly. This has included 
increased focus on future economic 
assumptions used by the Group in estimates 
such as the carrying value of goodwill and 
intangibles (for which we have identified a new 
Key Audit Matter) and ECL. 

We have increased our focus on the post model 
adjustments used in the determination of the 
ECL provisions, increased the level of testing we 
perform over many of the ECL models and 
brought a greater number of ECL models into 
our audit scope. 

We have introduced a Key Audit Matter relating 
to the UK Pension scheme which considers both 
the assumptions used to value the liability and 
the valuation of certain of the level 3 assets of 
the scheme. 

We have assessed whether COVID-19 has 
led to changes in financial reporting controls 
(either through the introduction of new controls 
or changes to the design and operating 
effectiveness of existing controls). Where this 
is the case, we have adapted our audit testing. 

1. Our opinion is unmodified
In our opinion:
■■ the financial statements of Barclays PLC give 
a true and fair view of the Group’s and of the 
Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 
2020, and of the Group’s profit for the year 
then ended;

■■ the Group and Parent Company financial 

statements have been properly prepared in 
accordance with International accounting 
standards in conformity with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards 
the Group financial statements, International 
Financial Reporting Standards adopted 
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 
as it applies in the European Union (“IFRSs 
as adopted by the EU”);

■■ the Group and Parent Company financial 

statements have been prepared in 
accordance with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the 
Group financial statements, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation to the extent applicable.

What our opinion covers
We have audited the Group and Parent Company 
financial statements of Barclays PLC for the year 
ended 31 December 2020 (FY20) included in the 
Annual Report and Accounts, which comprise: 

Group (Barclays PLC and its subsidiaries)
■■ Consolidated income statement
■■ Consolidated statement of comprehensive 

income

■■ Consolidated balance sheet
■■ Consolidated statement of changes in equity
■■ Consolidated cash flow statement
■■ Notes 1 to 43 of the Consolidated Financial 
Statements, including the summary of 
significant accounting policies
Parent Company (Barclays PLC)
■■ Statement of comprehensive income
■■ Balance sheet 
■■ Statement of changes in equity 
■■ Cash flow statement
■■ Note 42 to the Financial Statements, 
including the summary of significant 
accounting policies

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with 
International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs 
(UK)”) and applicable law. Our responsibilities 
are described below. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and 
appropriate basis for our opinion. Our audit 
opinion and matters included in this report are 
consistent with those discussed and included 
in our reports to the Board Audit Committee.

We have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities 
under, and we remain independent of the Group 
in accordance with, UK ethical requirements 
including the FRC Ethical Standard as applied 
to listed public interest entities. 
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Key Audit Matters

Item

Impairment allowance on 
loans and advance at 
amortised cost

Valuation of financial 
instruments held at fair 
value

→ 4.1

↔ 4.2

Impairment of goodwill and 
intangible assets

NEW 4.3

UK Pension scheme 
valuation

NEW 4.4

User access management ↔ 4.5

→ 4.6

Recoverability of Parent 
Company’s investment in 
subsidiaries 

Newly identified risk 
Similar risk to FY19 
Decreased risk since FY19 
Increased risk since FY19 

NEW
↔
→
→

Our use of specialists and innovation
Using the work of specialists: We used KPMG 
specialists to assist us in various aspects of our 
audit. This includes, for example::
■■ Credit risk modelling specialists for our 

testing of the ECL models.

■■ Economics specialists for our work related to 
the macro economic variables and scenarios 
used in the determination of the ECL 
provisions

■■ Valuation specialists for our independent 

repricing of samples of financial instruments 

■■ Corporate finance valuation specialists for 

our work over the methodology 
underpinning and certain of the assumptions 
used in the impairment assessment of 
goodwill and intangibles

■■ Actuarial pensions specialists for our work 
on the valuation of the defined benefit 
obligation.

Incorporating unpredictability into our audit: 
A requirement of the auditing standards is that 
we undertake procedures which are deliberately 
unexpected and could not have reasonably been 
predicted by Barclays’ management. 

As an example, we extended our testing of IFRS 
9 models to include expanded testing on a 
number of lower risk models. We also increased 
the population of Level 3 financial instruments 
which we perform independent re-pricing over. 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Measures of independence

Total audit fee

Other audit related fees 

Other services

Date first appointed

Uninterrupted audit tenure

£47m

£10m

£2m

31 March 2017

4 years

Next financial period which require a tender

31 December 2027

Tenure of Group lead engagement partner

Average tenure of key audit partners

3 years

3 years

Materiality 
(Item 6)
The scope of our work is influenced by our view 
of materiality and our assessed risk of material 
misstatement. 

We have determined overall materiality for the 
Barclays PLC Group to be £230m (FY19: 
£250m). The reduction in materiality is due to 
the reduction in the Group’s normalised profit 
before tax which is the benchmark upon which 
materiality is based.

A key judgment in determining materiality 
(and performance materiality) is the appropriate 
benchmark to select, based on our perception 
of the needs of shareholders. We considered 
which benchmarks and key performance 
indicators have the greatest bearing on 
shareholder decisions. 

Consistent with FY19, we determined that 
normalised profit before tax from continuing 
operations remains the key benchmark for 
the Barclays PLC Group. For FY20 we have 
normalised this benchmark by £2.1bn to adjust 

for the impact of the post model adjustments 
made to the ECL allowance by the Group, to 
reflect COVID-19 related economic uncertainty, 
as disclosed on page 180. For FY19 we 
normalised this benchmark by £1.4bn to exclude 
charges related to certain conduct matters. 

As such, for FY20 we based our materiality on 
normalised profit before tax, of which it 
represents 4.4% (FY19: 4.3%).

We have determined overall materiality for the 
Parent Company to be £225m (FY19: £245m). 
Materiality for the Parent Company financial 
statements was determined with reference to a 
benchmark of net assets of which it represents 
0.4% (FY19: 0.4%). 

Our procedures on individual account balances 
and disclosures were performed to performance 
materiality, so as to reduce to an acceptable level 
the risk that individually immaterial 
misstatements in individual account balances 
add up to a material amount across the financial 
statements as a whole.

Normalised profit before tax from continuing operations £5,132m
(2019: £5,757m)

Innovation in the audit: Our audit is committed 
to driving innovation and the increased use of 
technology. In 2020 we have continued to deploy 
a large number of data and analytics tools across 
our audit. We used our Clara IT control analytics 
to perform some of our IT audit procedures over 
complete populations.

Board audit Committee 
(“BAC”) interaction
During the year, the BAC met 10 times. KPMG 
are invited to attend all BAC meetings and are 
provided an opportunity to meet with the BAC in 
private sessions without the Executive Directors 
being present. For each Key Audit Matter, we 
have set out communications with the BAC in 
section 4 and have highlighted those matters 
that required particular judgement. 

In addition, our audit team includes a senior 
partner who has specific responsibility for 
ensuring audit quality (our “Audit Quality 
partner”). The Board Audit Committee met with 
the Audit Quality Partner, without the audit team 
present, to receive a report on his assessment 
of audit quality. 

The matters included in the BAC Chair’s report 
on page 72 are consistent with our observations 
of those meetings. 

Our independence
We have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities 
under, and we remain independent of the Group 
in accordance with, UK ethical requirements 
including the FRC Ethical Standard as applied 
to listed public interest entities.

We have not performed any non-audit services 
during FY20 or subsequently, which are 
prohibited by the FRC Ethical Standard. 

We were first appointed as auditor by the 
shareholders for the year ended 31 December 
2017. The period of total uninterrupted 
engagement is for the four financial years ended 
31 December 2020. 

The Group lead engagement partner rotates 
every five years. As these are the third set of 
Barclays PLC financial statements signed by 
Michelle Hinchliffe, she will be required to rotate 
after the FY22 audit. 

The average tenure of key audit partners who 
are responsible for component audits as set out 
in section 7 below is three years, with the 
shortest being their second year of involvement 
and longest being four years.

Our procedures on individual account balances and 
disclosures were performed to performance materiality, 
so as to reduce to an acceptable level the risk that 
individually immaterial misstatements in individual 
account balances add up to a material amount across 
the financial statements as a whole.

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496A  £230mWhole �nancial statements materiality(2019: £250m)B  £170mBiggest component materialityRange of materiality for the three components(£75m–£170m)(2019: £100m to £135m)C  £11mMisstatements reported to the Board Audit Committee(2018: £12m)ABCPro�t before tax fromcontinuing operationsGroup materiality  
 
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Coverage of Group financial statements

Group total income 92%
(2019: 93%)

Group total assets 94%
(2019: 93%)

Group scope 
(Item 7)
We have performed top down risk assessment 
and planning to determine the Group’s 
components that require involvement from 
component auditors around the world for the 
purpose of our opinion on the consolidated 
financial statements. 

We have also considered the extent to which the 
Group has established central hubs in shared 
service centre structures in India. The outputs 
from these hubs are included in the financial 
information of the reporting components and 
so the India operations are not considered to 
be a separate component. 

We have performed audit procedures centrally 
across the Group, set out in more detail in 
Section 7. In addition, we have performed Group 
level analysis on the remaining components to 
determine whether further risks of material 
misstatement exist in those components.

Due to the travel restrictions imposed by 
COVID-19 the Group audit team did not visit the 
overseas components. A virtual communication 
and oversight strategy was implemented 
between the Group audit team and the 
components and certain other participating 
locations. Further details are set out in section 7. 

We consider the scope of our audit, as agreed 
with the Board Audit Committee, to be an 
appropriate basis for our audit opinion.

The impact of climate change 
on our audit
In planning our audit, we have considered the 
potential impact of climate change on the 
Group’s business and its financial statements. 

The Group has set out its commitments under 
the Paris Accord to be a net zero bank by 2050. 
Further information is provided in the Group’s 
Environment, Social and Governance report, 
the link to which is on page 41. 

Climate change risk could have a significant 
impact on the Group’s business as the 
operations and strategy of the Group are 
adapted to address the potential financial 
risks which could arise from both the physical 
and transition risks associated with climate 
change. Climate change initiatives and 
commitments impact the Group in a variety of 
ways including credit risk and market risk and 
greater narrative and disclosure of the impact 
of climate change risk is also incorporated into 
the annual report. 

As a part of our audit we have made enquiries 
of management to understand the extent of the 
potential impact of climate change risk on the 
Group’s financial statements and the Group’s 
preparedness for this. We have performed a risk 
assessment of how the impact of commitments 
made by Barclays in respect of climate change 
(including those considered during the 2020 
AGM) may affect the financial statements and 
our audit. There was no impact of this on our key 
audit matters. 

We have assessed how the Group considers the 
impact of climate change risk on the credit rating 
of certain counterparties and the valuation of 
loan collateral. We have also incorporated a 
consideration of the climate change impact on 
the valuation of certain hard to price financial 
instruments in elevated risk sectors. 

We have not been engaged to provide assurance 
over the accuracy of the climate risk disclosures 
set out on pages 39 – 41 in the Annual Report. 
We have been engaged to provide assurance 
over the accuracy of certain disclosures in the 
separate Environment, Social and Governance 
report which is referred to on page 41 of the 
Annual Report. 

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9293872019 Full scope audit2020 Full scope audit9493672019 Full scope audit2020 Full scope audit 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

■■ the Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

disclosures describing these risks and 
explaining how they are being managed 
and mitigated; and 

■■ the Directors’ explanation in the viability 

statement of how they have assessed the 
prospects of the Group, over what period 
they have done so and why they considered 
that period to be appropriate, and their 
statement as to whether they have a 
reasonable expectation that the Group will 
be able to continue in operation and meet 
its liabilities as they fall due over the period 
of their assessment, including any related 
disclosures drawing attention to any 
necessary qualifications or assumptions. 

Under the Listing Rules we are also required to 
review the Viability Statement. Based on the 
above procedures, we have concluded that the 
above disclosures are materially consistent with 
the financial statements and our audit 
knowledge. 

Our work is limited to assessing these matters 
in the context of only the knowledge acquired 
during our financial statements audit. As we 
cannot predict all future events or conditions 
and as subsequent events may result in 
outcomes that are inconsistent with judgments 
that were reasonable at the time they were 
made, the absence of anything to report on 
these statements is not a guarantee as to the 
Group’s and Parent Company’s longer-term 
viability. For example, the longer-term impact of 
COVID-19 on the markets in which the Group 
operates, its customers and the wider economy 
is unclear. 

Our reporting 
■■ We have nothing material to add or draw 

attention to in relation to these disclosures.
■■ We have concluded that these disclosures 
are materially consistent with the financial 
statements and our audit knowledge.

3. Going concern, viability 
and principal risks and 
uncertainties
The Directors have prepared the financial 
statements on the going concern basis as they 
do not intend to liquidate the Parent Company 
or the Group or to cease their operations, and as 
they have concluded that the Parent Company’s 
and the Group’s financial position means that 
this is realistic. They have also concluded that 
there are no material uncertainties that could 
have cast significant doubt over their ability to 
continue as a going concern for at least a year 
from the date of approval of the financial 
statements (“the going concern period”).

Going concern 
We used our knowledge of the Group and Parent 
Company, the financial services industry, and 
the general economic environment to identify 
the inherent risks to the business model and 
analysed how those risks might affect the 
Group’s and Parent Company’s financial 
resources or ability to continue operations 
over the going concern period. The risks that 
management considered most likely to 
adversely affect the Group’s and Parent 
Company’s available financial resources, 
and we challenged on over this period were:
■■ the availability of funding and liquidity in the 
event of a market wide stress scenario 
including the impact in which the global 
COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold 
and the manner in which the UK continues 
its withdrawal from the European Union; and

■■ the impact on regulatory capital 

requirements in the event of an economic 
slowdown or recession. 

We considered whether these risks could 
plausibly affect the availability of financial 
resources in the going concern period by 
comparing severe, but plausible downside 
scenarios that could arise from these risks 
individually and collectively against the level of 
available financial resources indicated by the 
Group’s financial forecasts. 

Our procedures also included an assessment of 
whether the going concern disclosure in note 1 
to the financial statements gives a complete 
and accurate description of the Directors’ 
assessment of going concern. 

Accordingly, we found the use of the going 
concern basis of preparation without any 
material uncertainty for the Group and Parent 
Company to be acceptable. However, as we 
cannot predict all future events or conditions 
and as subsequent events may result in 
outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements 
that were reasonable at the time they were 
made, the above conclusions are not a 
guarantee that the Group or the Parent 
Company will continue in operation.
Our conclusions 
■■ We consider that the Directors’ use of the 
going concern basis of accounting in the 
preparation of the Group’s and Parent 
Company’s financial statements is 
appropriate

■■ We have not identified, and concur with the 
Directors’ assessment that there is not, a 
material uncertainty related to events or 
conditions that, individually or collectively, 
may cast significant doubt on the Group’s 
or Parent Company’s ability to continue as a 
going concern for the going concern period

■■ We have nothing material to add or draw 
attention to in relation to the Directors’ 
statement in Note 1 to the financial 
statements on the use of the going concern 
basis of accounting with no material 
uncertainties that may cast significant doubt 
over the Group and Parent Company’s use of 
that basis for the going concern period, and 
we found the going concern disclosure in 
note 1 to be acceptable

■■ The related statement under the Listing 
Rules set out on page 102 is materially 
consistent with the financial statements 
and our audit knowledge.

Disclosures of emerging and principal 
risks and longer-term viability  
Our responsibility 
We are required to perform procedures to 
identify whether there is a material 
inconsistency between the directors’ disclosures 
in respect of emerging and principal risks and 
the viability statement, and the financial 
statements and our audit knowledge.

Based on the knowledge we acquired during our 
financial statements audit, we have nothing 
further to add or draw attention to in relation to: 
■■ the Directors’ confirmation within the viability 

statement that they have carried out a 
robust assessment of the emerging and 
principal risks facing the Group, including 
those that would threaten its business 
model, future performance, solvency 
and liquidity; 

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4. Key audit matters
What we mean
Key Audit Matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements and include the 
most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by us, including those which had the greatest effect on: 
■■ the overall audit strategy; 
■■ the allocation of resources in the audit; 
■■ and directing the efforts of the engagement team.

We include below the Key Audit Matters in decreasing order of audit significance together with our key audit procedures to address those matters and our 
results from those procedures. These matters were addressed, and our results are based on procedures undertaken for the purpose of our audit of the 
financial statements as a whole. We do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

We continue to perform procedures over the provision for conduct redress costs (PPI) and the provisions for legal, competition and regulatory related 
matters. However, following the resolution of certain matters, and developments in those still open, the level of judgement and estimation uncertainty 
relating to these matters has reduced since the previous year, we have not assessed either of these as being one of the most significant risks in our 
current year audit and, therefore, it is not separately identified in our report this year. 

4.1 Impairment allowances on loans and advances at amortised cost, including off-balance sheet elements

Financial statement elements

Impairment allowances on loans and advances 
at amortised cost, including off-balance sheet 
elements 

FY20

FY19

£9.4bn

£6.6bn

Our assessment of risk vs FY19
→

   Our assessment is the risk increased since FY19. 
This is due to the increased uncertainty around credit 
risk and global economic environments brought about 
by COVID-19

Our results

FY20: 
Acceptable

FY19: Acceptable

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

Subjective estimate 
The estimation of expected credit losses (“ECL”) 
on financial instruments, involves significant 
judgement and estimates.  The key areas where we 
identified greater levels of management judgement 
and therefore increased levels of audit focus in the 
Group’s estimation of ECLs are:
■■ Model estimations – Inherently judgemental 
modelling is used to estimate ECL which 
involves determining Probabilities of Default 
(“PD”), Probabilities of Survival (“PS”), Loss Given 
Default (“LGD”), and Exposures at Default 
(“EAD”). The PD and revolving PS models are the 
key drivers of complexity in the ECL and also 
impact the staging of assets and as a result are 
considered the most significant judgemental 
aspect of the Group’s ECL modelling approach.
■■ Economic scenarios – IFRS 9 requires the Group 

to measure ECLs on an unbiased forward-
looking basis reflecting a range of future 
economic conditions. Significant management 
judgement is applied in determining the 
economic scenarios used and the probability 
weightings applied to them especially when 
considering the current uncertain economic 
environment as a result of COVID-19.

Our procedures to address the risk included:
Controls testing: We performed end to end process walkthroughs to identify the key systems, 
applications and controls used in the ECL processes. We tested the relevant manual, general 
IT and application controls over key systems used in the ECL process.

Key aspects of our controls testing involved the following:
■■ Testing the design and operating effectiveness of the key controls over the completeness 
and accuracy of the key inputs, data and assumptions into the IFRS 9 impairment models;
■■ Testing the design and operating effectiveness of the key controls over the application of 

the staging criteria;

■■ Evaluating controls over validation, implementation and model monitoring;
■■ Evaluating controls over authorisation and calculation of post model adjustments and 

management overlays; and

■■ Testing key controls relating to selection and implementation of material macro-economic 

variables and the controls over the scenario selection and probabilities.

Our financial risk modelling expertise: We involved our own financial risk modelling 
specialists in the following:
■■ Evaluating the appropriateness of the Group’s IFRS 9 impairment methodologies 

(including the staging criteria used);

■■ Reperforming and inspecting model code for the calculation of certain components  

of the ECL model (including the staging criteria);

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

■■ Qualitative adjustments – Adjustments to the 

■■ For a sample of models which were changed or updated during the year, evaluating 

model-driven ECL results are raised by 
management to address known impairment 
model limitations or emerging trends as well as 
risks not captured by models. They represent 
approximately 14.8% net of the ECL. These 
adjustments are inherently uncertain and 
significant management judgement is involved 
in estimating these amounts especially in 
relation to economic uncertainty as a result 
of COVID-19.

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our 
risk assessment, we determined that the 
impairment of loans and advances to customers 
including off balance sheet elements has a high 
degree of estimation uncertainty, with a potential 
range of reasonable outcomes greater than our 
materiality for the financial statements as a whole, 
and possibly many times that amount. The credit 
risk sections of the financial statements (pages 
181-189) disclose the sensitivities estimated by 
the Group. 

Disclosure quality
The disclosures regarding the Group’s application 
of IFRS 9 are key to explaining the key judgements 
and material inputs to the IFRS 9 ECL results.

whether the changes (including the updated model code) were appropriate by assessing 
the updated model methodology;

■■ For a sample of models evaluating the model output by inspecting the corresponding 

model functionality and independently implementing the model by rebuilding the model 
code; and 

■■ For a sample of material models, assessing the reasonableness of the model predictions 

by comparing them against actual results and evaluating the resulting differences. 

Our economic scenario expertise: We involved our own economic specialists to assist us 
in assessing:
■■ The appropriateness of the Group’s methodology for determining the economic scenarios 

used and the probability weightings applied to them;

■■ The key economic variables which included agreeing samples of economic variables to 

external sources;

■■ The overall reasonableness of the economic forecasts by comparing the Group’s forecasts 

to our own modelled forecasts; and

■■ The reasonableness of the Group’s considerations of the ECL impact of the current 

economic environment due to COVID-19.

Test of details: Key aspects of our testing in addition to those set out above involved:
■■ Sample testing over key inputs, data and assumptions impacting ECL calculations to 
assess the reasonableness of economic forecasts, weights, and model assumptions 
applied; and

■■ Selecting a sample of post model adjustments, considering the size and complexity of 

management overlays with a focus on COVID-19 related overlays, in order to assess the 
reasonableness of the adjustments by challenging key assumptions, inspecting the 
calculation methodology and tracing a sample of the data used back to source data.

Assessing transparency: We assessed whether the disclosures appropriately disclose and 
address the uncertainty which exists when determining the ECL. As part of this, we assessed 
the sensitivity analysis that is disclosed. In addition, we assessed whether the disclosure of the 
key judgements and assumptions made was sufficiently clear. 

Communications with the Barclays PLC 
Board Audit Committee
We discussed with and reported to the Board 
Audit Committee:
■■ Our approach to the audit of the ECL 

provisions including details of the way we 
responded through our audit to the impact 
of COVID-19 on the ECL calculation. 
This included details of our controls and 
substantive procedures.

■■ Our conclusions on the appropriateness 
of Barclays’ ECL methodology, models, 
qualitative adjustments and macro-
economic assumptions (Including associated 
probability weightings) and related 
disclosures. 

Areas of particular auditor judgement
We identified the following as the areas of 
particular auditor judgement:
■■ The appropriateness of the model 

estimations and adjustments recorded to 
the modelled driven ECL calculations to 
reflect the current uncertain economic 
environment as a result of COVID-19. This 
included the appropriateness of macro-
economic forecasts and selection of 
probability weights used in the ECL 
calculations.

Based on the risk identified and our procedures 
performed we considered the ECL charge, 
provision recognised and the related disclosures 
to be acceptable (2019 result: acceptable).

Further information in the Annual Report and 
Accounts: See the Board Audit Committee 
Report on page 72 for details on how the Board 
Audit Committee considered impairment as an 
area of focus, page 296 for the accounting policy 
on accounting for the impairment of financial 
assets under IFRS 9, page 167 for the credit risk 
disclosures, and page 296 for the financial 
disclosure note 7; Credit Impairment charges 
and other provisions.

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4.2 Valuation of financial instruments held at fair value

Financial statement elements

FY20

FY19

Our assessment of risk vs FY19

Level 2 assets at fair value* 
(note 17)

Level 2 liabilities at fair value* 
(note 17)

Level 3 assets at fair value  
(note 17)

£575.1bn £432.9bn

£558.0bn £439.7bn

£15.0bn £14.4bn

↔ Our assessment is that the risk is similar to FY19.

Our results

FY20:  
Acceptable

FY19:  
Acceptable

Level 3 liabilities at fair value 
(note 17)
*  The key audit matter identified relates to one derivatives portfolio 
within this balance which we considered to be harder-to-value.

£6.6bn

£4.4bn

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

Subjective valuation
The fair value of the Group’s financial instruments 
is determined through the application of valuation 
techniques which can involve the exercise of 
significant judgement by the Group in relation to 
the choice of the valuation models, pricing inputs 
and post-model pricing adjustments, including fair 
value adjustments (FVAs) and credit and funding 
adjustments (together referred to as XVAs).

Where significant pricing inputs are unobservable, 
management has limited reliable, relevant market 
data available in determining the fair value and 
hence estimation uncertainty can be high. These 
financial instruments are classified as Level 3, with 
management having controls in place over the 
boundary between Level 2 and 3 positions. Our 
significant audit risk is therefore primarily over 
significant Level 3 portfolios. 

In addition, there may also be valuation complexity 
associated with Level 2 portfolios, specifically where 
valuation modelling techniques result in significant 
limitations or where there is greater uncertainty 
around the choice of an appropriate pricing 
methodology, and consequently more than one 
valuation methodology could be used for that 
product across the market. 

We identified one derivatives portfolio that we 
considered to be harder to value Level 2 due to an 
element of modelling complexity associated with 
the product.

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our 
risk assessment, we determined that the subjective 
estimates in fair value measurement of certain 
portfolios, as detailed above, have a high degree of 
estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of 
reasonable outcomes greater than our materiality 
for the financial statements as a whole, and possibly 
many times that amount. The financial statements 
(note 17) disclose the sensitivity estimated by 
the Group.

Disclosure quality
The disclosures are key to explaining the valuation 
techniques, key judgements, assumptions and 
material inputs.

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Our procedures to address the risk included:
Risk assessment: We performed risk assessment procedures over the entirety of Level 1, 2 
and Level 3 balances within the Group’s financial statements (i.e. all of the fair value financial 
instruments held by the Group). As part of these risk assessment procedures we identified 
which portfolios have a risk of material misstatement including those arising from significant 
judgements over valuation either due to unobservable inputs or complex models, see left for 
more explanation.

Control testing: We performed end to end process walk-throughs to identify the key systems, 
applications and controls used in the valuations processes We tested the design and operating 
effectiveness of key controls relating specifically to these portfolios. These included controls over:
■■ Independent price verification (IPV), performed by a control function, of key market pricing 

inputs, including completeness of positions and valuation inputs subject to the IPV 
process;

■■ FVAs, including exit adjustments (to mark the portfolio to bid or offer prices), model 

shortcoming reserves to address model limitations and XVAs;

■■ The validation, completeness, implementation and usage of valuation models. This 
included controls over assessment of model limitations and assumptions; and
■■ The assessment of the observability of a product and their unobservable inputs.

Our valuations expertise: We involved our own valuations specialists in the following:
■■ Independently re-pricing a selection of trades and challenging management on the 

valuations where they were outside our tolerance; and

■■ Challenging the appropriateness of significant models and methodologies used in 

calculating fair values, risk exposures and in calculating FVAs, including comparison to 
industry practice.

Comparing valuations: For a selection of material collateral disputes identified through 
management’s control we challenged management’s valuation where significant fair value 
differences were observable with the market participant on the other side of the trade.

Methodology choice: For a subset of portfolios that are subject to collateralisation, we 
assessed the valuation methodology, and independently re-priced a selection of trades that 
are subject to material collateral disputes where significant fair value differences were 
identified with the market counterparty through independent, external datasets.

Inspection of movements: We inspected trading revenue arising on level 3 positions to 
assess whether material gains or losses generated were in line with the accounting standards.

Historical comparison: We performed a retrospective review by inspecting significant gains 
and losses on a selection of new trades, trade exits, novations and restructurings and 
evaluated whether these data points indicated elements of fair value not incorporated in the 
current valuation methodologies. We also inspected movements in unobservable inputs 
throughout the period to challenge whether any gain or loss generated was appropriate.

Assessing transparency: We assessed the adequacy of the Group’s financial statements 
disclosures in the context of the relevant accounting standards.

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Based on the risk identified and our procedures 
performed, we consider the fair value of Level 3 
and harder-to-value Level 2 financial instrument 
assets and liabilities recognised to be acceptable 
(2019 result: acceptable).

Further information in the Annual Report and 
Accounts: See the Board Audit Committee 
Report on page 72 for details on how the Board 
Audit Committee considered Valuations as an 
area of focus, page 315 for the accounting policy 
on financial assets and liabilities, and page 315 
for the financial disclosure note 17; Fair value of 
financial instruments.

Communications with the Barclays PLC 
Board Audit Committee
We discussed with and reported to the Board 
Audit Committee:
■■ Our approach to the audit of the fair value of 
Level 3 and harder-to-value Level 2 financial 
instrument assets and liabilities. This 
included details of our controls and 
substantive procedures.

■■ Our conclusions on the appropriateness 

of Barclays’ fair value methodology, models, 
pricing inputs, and fair value adjustments. 

Areas of particular auditor judgement
We identified the following as the areas of 
particular auditor judgement:
■■ The appropriateness of the valuation of 

harder to value level 2 and level 3 financial 
instruments, and particularly the selection 
of market data inputs and valuation models.

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4.3 Recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets

Financial statement elements

FY20

FY19

Our assessment of risk vs FY19

Goodwill and intangible assets 
(note 22)

Impairment of goodwill and 
intangible assets (note 22)

£7.9bn

£0bn

£0bn

£8.1bn NEW  This is the first year we have considered the risk to be a Key 
Audit Matter. This is due to the impact of COVID-19 and the 
low interest rate environment on the current and projected 
performance of the respective businesses within the Group 
which increases the judgement involved in the recoverability 
assessment.

Our results

FY20:  
Acceptable

FY19:  
Acceptable

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

Subjective assessment
Goodwill and intangible assets may be misstated 
if the carrying values of these assets in the balance 
sheet are not supported by the estimated 
discounted future cash flows of the underlying 
businesses (the value in use). The preparation of 
the estimate of the carrying value and value in use 
(‘VIU’) involves subjective judgement and 
uncertainties.

The methodology for the determination of the 
tangible equity of the individual cash generating 
units’ (‘CGUs’) utilises a capital allocation rate that 
reflects the relative risk profile of the CGU. The 
CGU-specific goodwill and intangible assets are 
subsequently added to the CGU-specific tangible 
equity to arrive at the carrying value subject to the 
impairment test. The group applies judgement in 
allocating carrying values to specific CGUs for 
impairment testing purposes. In particular, the 
determination of an appropriate allocation rate is 
subjective and can significantly affect the outcome 
of the impairment test.

The calculation of VIU is dependent on certain key 
assumptions around the future cash flows which 
have been forecasted using the Group’s Medium 
Term Plan (‘MTP’), adjustments from those MTP 
cash flows to reflect developments in macro-
economic conditions and business developments, 
the discount rates and the terminal growth rates. 
These assumptions, which are judgemental, are 
derived from a combination of management 
estimates, market data and other information 
obtained from external sources.

Our work focused on CGUs which have low or 
significantly reduced headroom and a high 
sensitivity to the key assumptions including:
■■ Personal banking
■■ Business banking
The effect of these matters is that, as part of our risk 
assessment, we determined that the recoverability 
of goodwill and intangible assets has a high degree 
of estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of 
reasonable outcomes greater than our materiality 
for the financial statements as a whole.

Disclosure quality
The disclosures are key to explaining the sensitivity 
of the outcome of the impairment assessment to 
changes in key assumptions. 

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Our procedures to address the risk included:
Control testing: We performed end to end process walkthroughs to identify the key systems, 
applications and controls used in the process of estimating value in use and allocating carrying 
values to specific CGUs for impairment testing purposes. We tested the design and operating 
effectiveness of key controls relating to the process. These included controls over application 
of the impairment methodology, preparation of the estimated future cash flows and review of 
the key assumptions in determining the value in use. 

Methodology assessment: We assessed (relative to the requirements of the accounting 
standard) the appropriateness of Group’s impairment methodology, including the allocation of 
carrying values utilising the tangible equity of the individual CGU and the capital allocation rate.

Sensitivity analysis: We performed breakeven analysis on the discount rate, terminal growth 
rate and the future cash flows to understand which CGUs were most sensitive to changes in 
the key assumptions.

Benchmarking assumptions: We compared key assumptions including those underlying 
certain estimated future cash flows, the discount rate and the terminal growth rate to externally 
derived data including analyst broker reports, peer bank data and projected economic growth.

Our valuations expertise: We involved our own valuations specialists in the following:
■■ Evaluating the appropriateness of the discount rate used by independently developing 

discount rate ranges using external data sources and peer bank data; and

■■ Assessing whether the methodology over the determination of the carrying value of 

each CGU on the basis of capital allocation as well as management’s calculation of the VIU 
are compliant with the requirements of the accounting standard.

Our business understanding: We used our business understanding to evaluate the 
reasonableness of certain key assumptions and considerations made when (1) determining 
the capital allocation rate to reflect the relative risk profile of the CGU, (2) developing the 
Group’s MTP estimated future cash flows and (3) adjusting from these forecasts for 
supportable circumstances that did not exist when the MTP was developed.

Historical comparison: We performed a retrospective review by comparing the MTP from 
previous years to actual results to assess the Group’s ability to accurately prepare cash flow 
forecasts at the individual CGU level.

Consistency comparison: We assessed the consistency of pre-adjusted forecasted future 
cash flows used within management’s impairment assessment to the Board approved MTP.

Assessing transparency: We assessed whether the group’s disclosures about the sensitivity 
of the outcome of the impairment assessment to changes in key assumptions reflected the 
risks inherent in the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets as well as the resulting impact 
on headroom of the adjustments made to the Group’s MTP for purposes of the impairment 
assessment.

As set out in the disclosures on page 335, the available headroom for Personal Banking CGU 
has been adversely impacted by changes in the operating environment, resulting in a material 
reduction compared to the prior year. This has significantly increased the sensitivity of the 
impairment assessment to certain key assumptions such that a small movement in the key 
assumptions could have a material impact on the carrying value of the Personal Banking CGU. 
We therefore exercised judgement, based on our assessment of reasonably possible 
assumptions, as to whether it is acceptable or not to record an impairment, and we exercised 
judgement to determine the appropriateness of disclosures of the risk that a reasonable 
change in assumptions could lead to an impairment. 

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Based on our procedures performed, we 
consider the goodwill and intangible assets 
balance and the related disclosures to be 
acceptable (2019 result: acceptable).

Further information in the Annual Report and 
Accounts: See the Board Audit Committee 
Report on page 72 for details on how the Board 
Audit Committee considered the impairment of 
non-financial assets as an area of focus, page 
332 for the accounting policy on the impairment 
of goodwill and intangibles, and page 332 for 
the financial disclosure note 22; Goodwill 
and intangibles.

Communications with the Barclays PLC 
Board Audit Committee
We discussed with and reported to the Board 
Audit Committee:
■■ The identification of a new Key Audit Matter 
relating to the recoverability of goodwill and 
intangible assets and the rationale for 
identifying this;

■■ Our audit response to the Key Audit Matter 
which included the use of specialists to 
challenge key aspects of management’s 
impairment assessment;

■■ Our analysis of management’s impairment 

methodology and certain adjustments made 
by management from the Group’s MTP 
cash flows while performing the impairment 
assessment, including the resulting impact 
on the VIU of the Personal Banking and 
Business Banking CGUs and our audit 
response to these adjustments; and
■■ The identified CGUs are highly sensitive 
to certain key assumptions, including the 
allocation of carrying values to specific CGUs 
for impairment testing purposes, the 
CGU-specific discount rate, the interest rate 
environment and management’s projected 
forecasts. Changes in these assumptions, 
including management not meeting the 
estimated future cash flows estimated in the 
Group MTP, may result in impairment.

Areas of particular auditor judgement
We identified the allocation of carrying values to 
specific CGUs for impairment testing purposes, 
together with the reasonableness of the 
assumptions underlying the estimated future 
cash flows and appropriateness of the discount 
rate and terminal growth rate, each of which 
were used in the impairment assessment, 
and the appropriateness of not recording 
an impairment in the Personal Banking CGU, 
as the areas of particular judgement.

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4.4 Valuation of the defined benefit pension obligation and certain difficult-to-value pension assets in respect  
of The UK Retirement Fund (‘UKRF’)

Financial statement elements

FY20

FY19

Our assessment of risk vs FY19

Benefit obligation related to UKRF 
(note 33)

Fair value of unquoted scheme 
private equities related to UKRF 
(note 33)

£32.1bn £29.3bn NEW  This is the first year we have considered the risk to be a Key 

£2.2bn

£2.1bn

Audit Matter. This reflects the expansion of our significant risk 
in this area to include the valuation of level 3 assets held by the 
pension scheme and the level and nature of the involvement of 
specialists in our audit 

Our results

FY20:  
Acceptable

FY19:  
Acceptable

Fair value of unquoted scheme 
property related to UKRF*  
(note 33)
*  The key audit matter identified relates to certain difficult-to-value 

£1.4bn

£1.6bn

level 3 property within this balance.

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

Subjective valuation
The valuation of the defined benefit obligation in 
respect of the UKRF is dependent on key actuarial 
assumptions, including the discount rates, mortality 
assumptions and the impact of volatility in the retail 
price index (‘RPI’) on pension increases, as well as 
the methodology used by the Group to determine 
these assumptions. Small changes have a 
significant impact on the measurement of the 
defined benefit pension obligation. 

In addition, the valuation of certain difficult-to-value 
level 3 pension plan assets, specifically property and 
private equity investments, is determined through 
the application of valuation techniques which often 
involve the exercise of significant judgement by 
management due to the subjective nature of 
judgements required and the measurement 
uncertainty associated with the use of lagged prices.

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our 
risk assessment, we determined that the defined 
benefit pension obligation and certain difficult-to-
value level 3 pension assets had a high degree of 
estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of 
reasonable outcomes greater than our materiality 
for the financial statements as a whole, and possibly 
many times that amount. 

At 31 December 2020, the Group reported a 
pension asset surplus of £1.8bn relating to UKRF.

Disclosure quality
The defined benefit plan disclosures are key 
to explaining the sensitivity of the outcome of 
the impairment assessment to changes in 
key assumptions. 

Our procedures to address the risk included:
Control testing: We performed end to end process walk-throughs to identify the key systems, 
applications and controls used in the defined benefit obligation process. We tested the design 
and operating effectiveness of key controls relating to the process. These included:
■■ Controls over management’s review of IAS19 assumptions including discount rate, 

mortality assumptions and the RPI volatility impact on pension increases as well as the 
methodology used;

■■ Reconciliation controls of the IAS19 disclosures to underlying data;
■■ Investment reconciliation controls including property valuation; and
■■ Private equity retrospective review controls.

Our actuarial expertise: we involved our own actuarial specialists in the audit of the obligation 
in the following:
■■ Assessing the appropriateness of the methodology used by the Group for determining 

the assumptions; 

■■ Evaluating the reasonableness of selected assumptions against publicly available 

benchmark information.

Our property valuation expertise: We involved our own property specialists in evaluating 
the fair value of the property portfolio by analysing the year on year movement assessing the 
property valuation on the basis of equivalent yields and challenging the returns per the 
Company’s expert for a sample of specific properties within the portfolio.

Independent reperformance: We performed an independent assessment to assess the 
reasonableness of the Group’s best estimate of the fair value of its private equity interests. 
We challenged management’s assessment of indicators of movement to the fair value with 
reference to their specific portfolio and their associated market exposure.

Assessing transparency: We assessed the adequacy of the Group’s financial statements 
disclosures in the context of the relevant accounting standards

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Communications with the Barclays PLC 
Board Audit Committee
We discussed with and reported to the Board 
Audit Committee:
■■ The identification of a new Key Audit Matter 

relating to the valuation of the defined 
benefit pension obligation and certain 
difficult to value pension assets and the 
rationale for identifying this.

■■ We also discussed our audit response to the 
key audit matter which included the use of 
specialists to challenge key aspects of 
management’s actuarial valuation. 

Areas of particular auditor judgement
■■ Subjective and complex auditor judgement 
was required in evaluating the key actuarial 
assumptions used by the Group (including the 
discount rate, pension increases and mortality 
assumptions), as well as the methodology 
used by Group to determine them.

■■ In addition, specialist skills and knowledge 
were required in assessing the valuation of 
certain difficult-to-value pension plan assets 
due to the subjective nature of judgements 
required of management to determine key 
actuarial assumptions and the measurement 
uncertainty associated with the use of 
lagged prices. 

Based on the risk identified and our procedures 
performed we consider the valuation of the 
defined benefit pension obligation and certain 
difficult-to-value pension assets in respect of 
UKRF to be acceptable (2019 result: acceptable).

Further information in the Annual Report and 
Accounts: See page 352 for the accounting 
policy on defined benefit schemes, and page 
352 for the financial disclosure note 33; 
Pensions and post-retirement benefits.

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4.5 User Access Management

Financial statement elements

User access management has a potential impact 
throughout the financial statements.

Our assessment of risk vs FY19

Our results

↔ Our assessment is the risk is similar to FY19.

FY20 and FY19: 
Our testing did not 
identify unauthorised 
user activities in the 
systems relevant to 
financial reporting 
which would have 
required us to 
significantly expand 
the extent of our 
planned detailed 
testing.

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

Our procedures to address the risk included:
Control testing: We tested the design and operating effectiveness of the relevant controls 
over user access management including: 
■■ Authorising access rights for new joiners;
■■ Timely removal of user access rights;
■■ Logging and monitoring of user activities;
■■ Privileged user and developer access to production systems, the procedures to assess 

granting, potential use, and the removal of these access rights;

■■ Segregation of duties including access to multiple systems that could circumvent 

segregation controls; 

■■ Re-certification of user access rights.

We tested the implementation and operating effectiveness of management’s remediated 
Access Management controls and found them to be effective in 2020.

Control re-performance: To assess whether additional detective compensating controls 
adequately address the risk of unauthorised access, we re-performed on a sample basis 
management’s assessment of potential unauthorised access by privileged accounts and users 
that were not managed by the strategic access management tools, or whose database level 
activities were not logged and monitored.

Control Performance
The Group’s accounting and reporting processes 
are dependent on automated controls enabled by 
IT systems. User access management controls are 
an important component of the General IT Control 
environment assuring that unauthorised access to 
systems does not impact the effective operation of 
the automated controls in the financial reporting 
processes. 

Some user access management controls continue 
to be reported as not consistently implemented 
and effectively operated across the Group. 
Ineffective controls included privileged access 
management and monitoring of privileged 
database activities on certain technology types.

A series of remediation programmes were in 
place during the year to address previously 
identified control deficiencies. The Group has 
also enhanced compensating controls to address 
the issues raised, most of them relating to user 
access management.

If the above controls for user access management 
are deficient and not remediated or adequately 
mitigated, the pervasive nature of these controls 
may undermine our ability to place reliance on 
automated and IT dependent controls in our audit.

Communications with the Barclays PLC 
Board Audit Committee
We discussed with and reported to the Board 
Audit Committee:
■■ Our response to the Key Audit Matter which 
included the use of IT specialists to perform 
the testing. 

Areas of particular auditor judgement
■■ The Key Audit Matter relates to determining 
whether user access management controls 
were designed and implemented and 
operated effectively. Limited auditor 
judgement was required relative to the other 
Key Audit Matters which have been identified. 

Based on the risk identified and our procedures 
performed, we did not identify unauthorised 
user activities in the systems relevant to financial 
reporting which would have required us to 
significantly expand the extent of our planned 
detailed testing (2019: Our testing did not 
identify unauthorised user activities in the 
systems relevant to financial reporting which 
would have required us to significantly expand 
the extent of our planned detailed testing).

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4.6 Recoverability of Parent Company’s investment in subsidiaries

Financial statement elements

FY20

FY19

Investment in subsidiaries (Parent 
company accounts and note 42)

£58.9bn £59.5bn

Impairment of investment in 
BBUK PLC (note 42)

£2.6bn

£0bn

Our assessment of risk vs FY19
→

   Our assessment is the risk increased since FY19. This is due to 
the impact of COVID-19 and the low interest rate environment 
on the current and projected performance of the retail bank 
which increases the judgement involved in the recoverability 
assessment.

Our results

FY20:  
Acceptable

FY19: Acceptable

Description of the key audit matter

Our response to the risk

Subjective assessment
The Company’s investment in subsidiaries may be 
misstated if the carrying value of the investment in the 
balance sheet is not supported by the future cash flows 
of the underlying business (the value in use). 

The calculation of VIU is dependent on certain key 
assumptions around the future cash flows which have been 
forecasted using the Group’s Medium Term Plan (‘MTP’), 
adjustments from those MTP cash flows to reflect 
developments in macro-economic conditions and business 
developments, the discount rates and the terminal growth 
rates. These assumptions, which are judgemental, are 
derived from a combination of management estimates, 
market data and other information obtained from 
external sources.

In 2020 an impairment of £2.6bn was recognised against 
the Parent Company’s investment in BBUK PLC. This was 
due to the impact of COVID-19 on the macro-economic 
environment which led to a reduction in the forecast 
cashflows used in the value in use calculation. 

Our work focused on the Parent Company’s investment in 
BBUK PLC as the quantum of the impairment recognised 
has a high sensitivity to the key assumptions.

We have also continued to consider the Group’s current 
market capitalisation. While any impairment of the carrying 
value of subsidiaries does not affect the consolidated 
results of the Group, it does impact distributable reserves.

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our risk 
assessment, we determined that the recoverability of the 
Parent Company’s investment in subsidiaries had a high 
degree of estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of 
reasonable outcomes greater than our materiality for the 
financial statements as a whole. 
Disclosure quality
The disclosures are key to explaining the sensitivity 
of the outcome of the impairment assessment to 
changes in key assumptions.

Our procedures to address the risk included:
Control testing: We performed end to end process walkthroughs to identify the key 
systems, applications and controls used in the process of estimating value in use. We 
tested the design and operating effectiveness of key controls relating to the process. 
These included controls over application of the impairment methodology, preparation 
of the estimated future cash flows and review of the key assumptions in determining 
the value in use. 
■■ Methodology assessment: We assessed (relative to the requirements of the 

accounting standard) the appropriateness of Group’s impairment methodology for 
the determination of the VIU.

Benchmarking assumptions: We compared key assumptions including those 
underlying certain estimated future cash flows, the discount rate and the terminal 
growth rate to externally derived data including analyst broker reports, peer bank data 
and projected economic growth.

Our valuations expertise: We involved our own valuations specialists in the following:
■■ Evaluating the appropriateness of the discount rate used by independently 

developing discount rate ranges using external data sources and peer bank data; 
and

■■ Assessing whether the methodology over management’s calculation of the VIU is 

compliant with the requirements of the accounting standard.

Our business understanding: We used our business understanding to evaluate 
the reasonableness of certain key assumptions and considerations made when 
(1) developing the Group’s MTP estimated future cash flows and (2) adjusting from 
these forecasts for supportable circumstances that did not exist when the MTP 
was developed.

Historical comparison: We performed a retrospective review by comparing the MTP 
from previous years to actual results to assess the Group’s ability to accurately 
prepare cash flow forecasts at the individual subsidiary level.

Consistency comparison: We assessed the consistency of pre-adjusted forecasted 
future cash flows used within management’s impairment assessment to the Board 
approved MTP.

Assessing transparency: We assessed whether the group’s disclosures about the 
sensitivity of the outcome of the impairment assessment to changes in key 
assumptions reflected the risks inherent in the assessment of recoverable amount of 
the Parent Company’s investment in subsidiaries.

Communications with the Barclays PLC 
Board Audit Committee
We discussed with and reported to the Board 
Audit Committee:
■■ The rationale for increasing the level of risk 

associated with this Key Audit Matter for the 
previous period, specifically with regards to 
the retail bank;

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

■■ Our audit response to the Key Audit Matter 
which included the use of specialists to 
challenge key aspects of management’s 
impairment assessment;

■■ Our analysis of management’s impairment 

methodology and certain adjustments made 
by management from the Group’s MTP cash 
flows while performing the impairment 
assessment, including the resulting impact on 
the VIU of the investment in BBUK PLC and 
our audit response to these adjustments;

Areas of particular auditor judgement
We identified the reasonableness of the 
assumptions underlying the estimated future 
cash flows and appropriateness of the discount 
rate and terminal growth rate, each of which 
were used in the impairment assessment, as the 
areas of particular judgement.

Based on our procedures performed, we 
consider the Parent Company’s investment in 
subsidiaries balance and the related disclosures 
to be acceptable (2019 result: acceptable).

.

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Fraud risk communication
We communicated identified fraud risks 
throughout the audit team and remained alert to 
any indications of fraud throughout the audit. 
This included communication from the Group to 
component audit teams of relevant fraud risks 
identified at the Group level.

Fraud risks and our procedures 
to address them
We have identified six fraud risks which were 
communicated to specific component audit 
teams. The nature of these fraud risks is 
substantially unchanged from the prior year 
but the allocation of certain fraud risks to 
components has been updated. The fraud 
risks we identified are set out below:

1) Judgemental qualitative adjustments made 

to the ECL provision

2) The recognition and measurement of ECL 
impairment of individually assessed loans

3) The valuation of unobservable pricing inputs 

used in used to price level 3 fair value 
instruments

4) Cut-off of the recognition of revenue from 

investment banking advisory fees

5) Existence and accuracy of unconfirmed 

over-the-counter bilateral trades

6) The risk of management override of controls, 

common with all audits under ISAs (UK). 

As required by auditing standards and taking into 
account our overall knowledge of the control 
environment, we perform procedures to address 
the above risks and the risk that Group and 
component management may be in a position 
to make inappropriate accounting entries and 
the risk of bias in accounting estimates and 
judgements.

Our audit procedures included evaluating the 
design and implementation and operating 
effectiveness of relevant internal controls, 
assessing significant accounting estimates for 
bias, as well as substantive procedures to 
address the fraud risks.

These procedures also included identifying 
journal entries to test based on risk criteria and 
comparing the identified entries to supporting 
documentation. 

Incorporating unpredictability into our audit: 
A requirement of the auditing standards is that 
we undertake procedures which are deliberately 
unexpected and could not have reasonably been 
predicted by Barclays’ management. 

As an example, we extended our testing of IFRS 
9 models to include expanded testing on a 
number of lower risk models. We also increased 
the population of Level 3 financial instruments 
which we perform independent re-pricing over.

Link to key audit matters
Further detail in respect of the testing we 
perform over the fraud risks we have identified 
for ECL and fair value of financial instruments is 
included in the respective key audit matters 
sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this report, as the 
procedures relating to those estimates also 
address the risk of fraud. 

Laws and regulations – Identifying and 
responding to risks of material 
misstatement due to non-compliance 
with laws and regulations
Risk assessment 
We identified areas of laws and regulations that 
could reasonably be expected to have a material 
effect on the financial statements. For this risk 
assessment, matters considered included the 
following:
■■ our general commercial and sector 

experience;

■■ discussion with the directors and other 
management (as required by auditing 
standards);

■■ inspection of the Group’s regulatory and 

legal correspondence;

■■ inspection of the policies and procedures 

regarding compliance with laws and 
regulations;

■■ relevant discussions with the Group’s 

external legal counsel; and 

■■ relevant discussions with the Group’s key 
regulatory supervisors including the 
Prudential Regulation Authority, Financial 
Conduct Authority, Federal Reserve Board, 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and 
the Joint Supervisory Team.

5. Our ability to detect 
irregularities, and our 
response 
Fraud – identifying and responding 
to risks of material misstatement 
due to fraud
Fraud risk assessment 
To identify risks of material misstatement due 
to fraud (“fraud risks”) we assessed events or 
conditions that could indicate an incentive or 
pressure to commit fraud or provide an 
opportunity to commit fraud. In this risk 
assessment we considered the following:
■■ Our meetings throughout the year with the 

Group Head of Risk, Group Head of 
Compliance and Group Head of Legal and 
reviews of Barclays’ internal ethics and 
compliance reporting summaries, including 
those concerning investigations;

■■ Enquiries of operational managers, internal 
audit, and the Board Audit Committee, 
including obtaining and reviewing supporting 
documentation, concerning the Group’s 
policies and procedures relating to:

–  detecting and responding to the risks of 
fraud and whether they have knowledge 
of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; 
and

– 

the internal controls established to 
mitigate risks related to fraud, including 
the appropriateness and impact of 
changes made to these controls in 
response to COVID-19;

■■ The Group’s remuneration policies, key 

drivers for remuneration and bonus levels; 
■■ Discussions among the engagement team 
regarding how and where fraud might occur 
in the financial statements and any potential 
indicators of fraud. The engagement team 
includes audit partners and staff who have 
extensive experience of working with banks, 
and this experience was relevant to the 
discussion about where fraud risks may arise. 
The discussions also involved our own 
forensic specialists to assist us in identifying 
fraud risks based on discussions of the 
circumstances of the Group and Company, 
including consideration of fraudulent 
schemes that had arisen in similar sectors 
and industries. The forensic specialists 
participated in the initial fraud risk 
assessment discussions and were consulted 
throughout the audit where further guidance 
was deemed necessary.

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In respect of regulatory matters relating to 
conduct risk our procedures included inspection 
of regulatory correspondence, independent 
enquiry of the Group’s main regulators and 
performing audit procedures to respond to 
risks of material misstatement identified in 
recognised conduct provisions.

Context of the ability of the audit 
to detect fraud or breaches of law 
or regulation
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit 
there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have 
detected some material misstatements in the 
financial statements, even though we have 
properly planned and performed our audit in 
accordance with auditing standards. For 
example, the further removed non-compliance 
with laws and regulations is from the events and 
transactions reflected in the financial 
statements, the less likely the inherently 
limited procedures required by auditing 
standards would identify it. 

In addition, as with any audit, there remained a 
higher risk of non-detection of fraud, as these 
may involve collusion, forgery, intentional 
omissions, misrepresentations, or the override 
of internal controls. Our audit procedures are 
designed to detect material misstatement. 
We are not responsible for preventing 
non-compliance or fraud and cannot be 
expected to detect non-compliance with 
all laws and regulations.

As the Group operates in a highly regulated 
environment, our assessment of risks of 
material misstatement also considered the 
control environment, including the entity’s 
higher-level procedures for complying with 
regulatory requirements. Our assessment 
included inspection of key frameworks, policies 
and standards in place, understanding and 
evaluating the role of the compliance function in 
establishing these and monitoring compliance 
and testing of related controls around 
whistleblowing and complaints.

Risk communication
Our communication of identified laws and 
regulations risks was made throughout our team 
and we remained alert to any indications of 
non-compliance throughout the audit. This 
included communication from the Group to 
component audit teams of relevant laws and 
regulations identified at Group level.

Direct laws context and link to audit
The potential effect of these laws and 
regulations on the financial statements varies 
considerably.

Firstly, the Group is subject to laws and 
regulations that directly impact the financial 
statements including:
■■ financial reporting legislation (including 

related companies’ legislation);
■■ distributable profits legislation; and
■■ taxation legislation (direct and indirect). 

We assessed the extent of compliance with 
these laws and regulations as part of our 
procedures on the related financial 
statement items. 

Most significant indirect 
law/regulation areas
Secondly, the Group is subject to many other 
laws and regulations where the consequences of 
non-compliance could have a material effect on 
amounts or disclosures in the financial 
statements, for instance through the imposition 
of fines or litigation or the loss of the Group’s 
permission to operate in countries where the 
non-adherence to laws could prevent trading in 
such countries. 

We identified the following areas as those most 
likely to have such an effect:
■■ Specific aspects of regulatory capital and 

liquidity

■■ Customer conduct rules
■■ Money laundering
■■ Sanctions list and financial crime
■■ Market abuse regulations
■■ Certain aspects of company legislation 
recognising the financial and regulated 
nature of the Group’s activities. 

Auditing standards limit the required audit 
procedures to identify non-compliance with 
these laws and regulations to enquiry of the 
directors and other management and inspection 
of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. 
If a breach of operational regulations is not 
disclosed to us or evident from relevant 
correspondence, an audit will not detect 
that breach. 

Audit response
In relation to the legal, competition and 
regulatory matters disclosed in note 26 we 
performed audit procedures which included 
making enquiries of Barclays internal counsel 
and inspection of minutes of meetings and 
regulatory correspondence. For a subset of 
these matters which we deem to be more 
significant we also made enquiries of external 
counsel and obtained legal confirmations from 
Barclays’ external counsel.

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Independent auditor’s report
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Barclays PLC continued

6. Our determination 
of materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our 
application of materiality. We set quantitative 
thresholds and overlay qualitative considerations 
to help us determine the scope of our audit and 
the nature, timing and extent of our procedures, 
and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, 
both individually and in the aggregate, on the 
financial statements as a whole. 

Materiality for the financial 
statements as a whole 
2020: £230m 2019: £250m

What we mean 
This is the amount representing the total 
magnitude of misstatements that we expect to 
influence the economic decisions of the users of 
these financial statements. 

Basis for determining materiality 
and judgements applied
Consistent with FY19, we determined that profit 
before tax from continuing operations, 
normalised using our professional judgement, 
remains the key benchmark for the Barclays PLC 
Group to use in setting auditor’s materiality. For 
FY20 we have normalised profit before tax from 
continuing operations by £2.1bn to adjust for the 
impact of COVID-19 on the ECL charge. For FY 
19 we normalised this benchmark by £1.4bn to 
exclude charges related to conduct. 

We normalise profit before tax by excluding 
certain items which significantly distort results in 
any one particular year. In our view, the use of a 
normalised profit before tax in which, for 2020, 
we have excluded the identified impact of 
COVID-19 on the ECL charge, provides a more 
appropriate amount to use as a benchmark for 
setting our materiality level. In FY 19 we excluded 
material charges related to PPI provisions which 
was recognised in response to a significant 
increase in complaints ahead of the time-bar for 
new complaints which was implemented in 
August 2019. 

In determining the materiality benchmark, we 
had regard to investor commentary on the 
group, and the process followed by investors 
who also typically remove charges of this nature 
as they seek to derive a profit before tax amount 
to use as the basis for investment appraisal. 

Our materiality of £230m was determined by 
applying a percentage to the normalised Profit 
Before Tax. When using a profit-related measure 
to determine overall materiality, KPMG’s 
approach is to apply a percentage between 
3–5% to the pre-tax measure. In setting overall 
materiality, we applied a rate of 4.4% (2019: 
4.3%) which is lower than the top end of the 
allowable percentage range. Our materiality of 
£230m was lower than the prior year reflecting 
the increased risks arising from COVID-19.

Materiality for the Parent Company financial 
statements was set at £225m (2019: £245m), 
determined with reference to a benchmark 
of Parent Company net assets (of which it 
represents 0.3% (2019: 0.4%)).

Performance materiality
2020: £170m 2019: £185m

What we mean
Our procedures on individual account balances 
and disclosures were performed to performance 
materiality, so as to reduce to an acceptable level 
the risk that individually immaterial misstatements 
in individual account balances add up to a material 
amount across the financial statements as 
a whole.

Basis for determining performance 
materiality and judgements applied
We have considered performance materiality at 
a level of 74% (2019: 74%) of materiality for 
Barclays PLC Group’s financial statements as a 
whole to be appropriate. We applied this 
percentage in our determination of performance 
materiality because we did not identify any 
factors indicating an elevated level of risk.

The company performance materiality was set 
at £160m (2019: £184m).

Audit misstatement posting threshold 
2020: £11m 2019: £12m

What we mean
This is the amount below which identified 
misstatements are considered to be clearly trivial 
from a quantitative point of view. We may become 
aware of differences below this threshold which 
could alter the nature, timing and scope of our 
audit procedures, for example if we identify 
smaller differences which are indicators of fraud.

This is also the amount above which all 
differences identified are communicated 
to Barclays PLC’s Board Audit Committee

Basis for determining the audit 
misstatement reporting threshold 
and judgements applied

The audit misstatement posting threshold has 
been set at a level of 5% of materiality for 
Barclays PLC’s Group financial statements. We 
consider this appropriate based on the number 
and nature of audit differences (adjusted and 
unadjusted) identified during previous audits.

The overall materiality for the Group of £230m 
(2019: £250m) determined with reference to a 
benchmark of normalised PBT of which it 
represents 4.4% (2019: 4.3%), compares as 
follows to the other main financial statement 
elements amounts. 

The overall materiality for the Group of £230m 
(2019: £250m), determined with reference to a 
benchmark of normalised PBT of which it 
represents 4.4% (2019: 4.3%), compares as 
follows to the other main financial statement 
elements amounts.

Group Materiality as % of caption

Total Revenue
2020
£21,776m
1.06%

Total Assets
2020

2019

2019
£21,632m £1,349,514m £1,140,229m
0.02%

0.02%

1.16%

Net Assets
2020
£65,797m
0.34%

2019
£65,660m
0.38%

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Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

This included: 
■■ A virtual global planning conference led by 
the Group audit team to discuss key audit 
risks and obtain input from component 
teams and other participating locations;
■■ Instructions issued by the Group audit team 

to component auditors setting out the 
significant areas to be covered, including the 
relevant key audit matters identified above 
and the information to be reported back to 
the Group audit team;

■■ Review and approval by the Group audit team 

of the component materiality for all 
components;

■■ Risk assessment and challenge sessions 
with each component audit team led by 
the Group engagement partner and audit 
quality partner;

■■ Fortnightly video conferences with the 
partners and directors of the Group and 
component audit teams along with regular 
ad hoc contact via video calls and email 
exchanges to challenge the component 
audit approach and findings; 

■■ Michelle Hinchliffe, the Group Lead 

Engagement Partner, attended each Board 
Audit Committee for Barclays Bank PLC and 
at least one Board Audit Committee for each 
of Barclays Bank UK, Barclays Capital Inc. 
and  Barclays Bank Delaware and Barclays 
Bank Ireland;

■■ Review of key working papers within 
component audit files (using remote 
technology capabilities) to understand and 
challenge the audit approach and audit 
findings of each component.

7. The scope of our audit
Group scope 
What we mean
We perform our planning and risk assessment 
procedures to identify balances where there is a 
risk of material misstatement and we include these 
in the scope of our audit. 

We have subjected three of the Group’s 
components to full scope audits for Group 
purposes. Our approach to scoping the three 
components was as follows: for two 
components, Barclays Bank UK PLC and Barclays 
Execution Services Limited Solus, we directly 
instructed the component audit teams to 
conduct and report to us on full scope audits; 
and for the other component, Barclays Bank PLC 
Group, we have specified four further 
components within that group. 

Within the Barclays Bank PLC Group we have 
specified the components as follows; Barclays 
Bank Solus to be subject to a full scope audit 
carried out by us; Barclays Bank Delaware and 
Barclays Capital Inc to be subject to a full scope 
audit overseen by us; and Barclays Bank Ireland 
PLC to be subject to an audit of certain account 
balances as instructed by us.

In the prior year, we subjected two of the Group’s 
components to full scope audits. We instructed 
the Barclays Bank UK PLC audit team to conduct 
and report to us on a full scope audit. We 
instructed the Barclays Bank PLC audit team to 
conduct and report to us on their own full scope 
group audit and we specified three components 
within that group that were overseen by the 
Barclays Bank PLC team; Barclays Bank 
Delaware, Barclays Capital Inc and Barclays Bank 
Ireland PLC.

The components within the scope of our work 
accounted for the percentages illustrated in 
section 2 – Group scope.

Barclays PLC has centralised certain Group-wide 
processes in India, the outputs of which are 

included in the financial information of the 
reporting components it services and therefore 
is not a separate reporting component. These 
Group-wide procedures are subject to specified 
audit procedures, predominantly the testing of 
transaction processing, reconciliations and 
review controls. Additional procedures are 
performed at certain reporting components 
to address the risks not covered by the work 
performed over these Group-wide processes 
in India.

The Group audit team have also performed audit 
procedures centrally across the Group, and 
again beyond the component scope set out 
above, in the following areas: 
■■ Testing of IT systems and configurations; 
■■ Consolidation of the financial information; 

and

■■ Operating expenses and Group recharges.

In addition, outside of the components 
subject to audit procedures set out above, 
we have performed Group level analysis on the 
remaining components to determine whether 
further risks of material misstatement exist in 
those components.

Group audit team oversight
What we mean
The Group audit team is required to instruct the 
component teams about their responsibilities in 
relation to the consolidated Group audit and to 
understand the approach taken by the 
components to meet these responsibilities. The 
Group audit team is also required to understand 
the conclusions reached by the component teams 
and to review and challenge the work they have 
performed to reach these conclusions. 

Due to the travel restrictions imposed by 
COVID-19 the Group audit team did not visit the 
overseas components. A virtual communication 
and oversight strategy was implemented 
between the Group audit team and the 
components. 

Scope

Number of components

Range of materiality applied

Full scope audit

3

£75m – £170m

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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Independent auditor’s report
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Barclays PLC continued

8. Other information 
in the annual report
All other information 
Our responsibility 
The directors are responsible for the other 
information presented in the Annual Report 
together with the financial statements. Our 
opinion on the financial statements does not 
cover the other information and, accordingly, 
we do not express an audit opinion or, except 
as explicitly stated below, any form of assurance 
conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other 
information and, in doing so, consider whether, 
based on our financial statements audit work, 
the information therein is materially misstated or 
inconsistent with the financial statements or our 
audit knowledge. 

Our results
Based solely on that work we have not identified 
material misstatements in the other information. 

Strategic report and directors’ report 
Our responsibility 
Based solely on our work on the other 
information:  
■■ we have not identified material 

misstatements in the strategic report and 
the Directors’ Report;

■■ in our opinion the information given in those 
reports for the financial year is consistent 
with the financial statements; and 
■■ in our opinion those reports have been 

prepared in accordance with the Companies 
Act 2006. 

Directors’ remuneration report 
Our responsibility 
We are required to form an opinion as to whether 
the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
to be audited has been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Our reporting
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report to be audited has been 
properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006. 

Corporate governance disclosures 
Our responsibility 
We are required to perform procedures to 
identify whether there is a material 
inconsistency between the Directors’ corporate 
governance disclosures, the financial 
statements and our audit knowledge, and:
■■ the Directors’ statement that they consider 

that the annual report and financial 
statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced 
and understandable, and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders 
to assess the Group’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy; 

278

Barclays PLC 
home.barclays/annualreport

■■ the section of the annual report describing 
the work of the Board Audit Committee, 
including the significant issues that the Board 
Audit Committee considered in relation to 
the financial statements, and how these 
issues were addressed; and

■■ the section of the annual report that 

describes the review of the effectiveness of 
the Group’s risk management and internal 
control systems. 

Our reporting
Based on those procedures, we have concluded 
that each of these disclosures is materially 
consistent with the financial statements and our 
audit knowledge. 

We are also required to review the part of 
Corporate Governance Statement relating to 
the Group’s compliance with the provisions of 
the UK Corporate Governance Code specified 
by the Listing Rules for our review.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Other matters on which we are required 
to report by exception
Our responsibility 
Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required 
to report to you if, in our opinion: 
■■ adequate accounting records have not been 
kept by the Parent Company, or returns 
adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or 

■■ the Parent Company financial statements 

and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report to be audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and returns; or 

■■ certain disclosures of directors’ 

remuneration specified by law are not made; 
or 

■■ we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit. 

Our reporting
We have nothing to report in these repsects.

9. Respective responsibilities 
Directors’ responsibilities 
As explained more fully in their statement set 
out on page 107, the Directors are responsible 
for: the preparation of the financial statements 
including being satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view; such internal control as they determine 
is necessary to enable the preparation of 
financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; 
assessing the Group and Parent Company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, 
as applicable, matters related to going concern; 
and using the going concern basis of accounting 
unless they either intend to liquidate the Group 
or the parent Company or to cease operations, 
or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable 
assurance about whether the financial 
statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or other 
irregularities, or error, and to issue our opinion in 
an auditor’s report. Reasonable assurance is a 
high level of assurance but does not guarantee 
that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs 
(UK) will always detect a material misstatement 
when it exists. Misstatements can arise from 
fraud, other irregularities or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in 
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to 
influence the economic decisions of users taken 
on the basis of the financial statements. 

A fuller description of our responsibilities 
is provided on the FRC’s website at  
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 

10. The purpose of our audit 
work and to whom we owe 
our responsibilities 
This report is made solely to the Company’s 
members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 
3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and the 
terms of our engagement by the Company. 
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we 
might state to the Company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them in an 
auditor’s report and the further matters we are 
required to state to them in accordance with the 
terms agreed with the Company, and for no 
other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted 
by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the 
Company and the Company’s members, 
as a body, for our audit work, for this report, 
or for the opinions we have formed. 

Michelle Hinchliffe 
(Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor 

Chartered Accountants 
15 Canada Square
London
E14 5GL

17 February 2021

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements
Consolidated income statement

For the year ended 31 December
Interest and similar income
Interest and similar expense
Net interest income
Fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense
Net fee and commission income
Net trading income
Net investment income
Other income
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Net operating income
Staff costs
Infrastructure costs
Administration and general expenses
Litigation and conduct
Operating expenses
Share of post-tax results of associates and joint ventures
Profit on disposal of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures
Profit before tax 
Taxation
Profit after tax

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Parent 
Other equity instrument holders
Total equity holders of the Parent
Non-controlling interests
Profit after tax

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per ordinary share
Diluted earnings per share

Notes
3
3

4
4

5
6

7

31
8
8
8
8

9

30

10
10

2020
£m
11,892
(3,770)
8,122
8,641
(2,070)
6,571
7,029
13
31
21,766
(4,838)
16,928
(8,097)
(3,323)
(2,313)
(153)
(13,886)
6
17
3,065
(604)
2,461

1,526
857
2,383
78
2,461

p

8.8
8.6

2019
£m
15,456
(6,049)
9,407
9,122
(2,362)
6,760
4,235
1,131
99
21,632
(1,912)
19,720
(8,315)
(2,970)
(2,300)
(1,849)
(15,434)
61
10
4,357
(1,003)
3,354

2,461
813
3,274
80
3,354

p

14.3
14.1

2018
£m
14,541
(5,479)
9,062
8,893
(2,084)
6,809
4,566
585
114
21,136
(1,468)
19,668
(8,629)
(2,950)
(2,457)
(2,207)
(16,243)
69
–
3,494
(911)
2,583

1,597
752
2,349
234
2,583

p

9.4
9.2

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

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279

  
 
Consolidated financial statements
Consolidated statement  
of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December
Profit after tax

Other comprehensive income/(loss) that may be recycled to profit or loss:
Currency translation reserve
Currency translation differencesa
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve movements relating to debt securities
Net gains/(losses) from changes in fair value
Net (gains)/losses transferred to net profit on disposal
Net losses due to impairment
Net (losses)/gains due to fair value hedging
Other movements
Tax
Cash flow hedging reserve
Net gains/(losses) from changes in fair value
Net gains transferred to net profit
Tax
Other
Other comprehensive income/(loss) that may be recycled to profit or loss

Other comprehensive income/(loss) not recycled to profit or loss:
Retirement benefit remeasurements
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve movements relating to equity instruments
Own credit
Tax
Other comprehensive income/(loss) not recycled to profit or loss

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Parent
Non-controlling interests
Total comprehensive income for the year

Note
a 

Includes £17m gain (2019: £15m gain; 2018: £41m loss) on recycling of currency translation differences.

2020
£m
2,461

2019
£m
3,354

2018
£m
2,583

(473)

(544)

834

2,902
(295)
2
(2,000)
–
(155)

1,299
(510)
(216)
5
559

(80)
(262)
(810)
198
(954)

2,901
(502)
1
(2,172)
(5)
(57)

724
(277)
(105)
16
(20)

(280)
(95)
(316)
150
(541)

(553)
48
4
236
(26)
65

(344)
(332)
175
30
137

412
(260)
77
(118)
111

(395)

(561)

248

2,066

2,793

2,831

1,988
78
2,066

2,713
80
2,793

2,597
234
2,831

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Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements
Consolidated balance sheet

As at 31 December
Assets
Cash and balances at central banks
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments 
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Goodwill and intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Current tax assets
Deferred tax assets
Retirement benefit assets
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
Cash collateral and settlement balances
Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Retirement benefit liabilities
Other liabilities
Provisions
Total liabilities
Equity
Called up share capital and share premium
Other equity instruments
Other reserves
Retained earnings 
Total equity excluding non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

The Board of Directors approved the financial statements on pages 279 to 376 on 17 February 2021.

Nigel Higgins
Group Chairman

James E Staley
Group Chief Executive

Tushar Morzaria
Group Finance Director 

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Notes

2020
£m

2019
£m

19

12
13
14
15
36
22
20

9
33

19

27
12
16
14

9
33
23
24

28
28
29

30

191,127
101,367
342,632
9,031
127,950
175,151
302,446
78,688
781
7,948
4,036
477
3,444
1,814
2,622

150,258
83,256
339,115
3,379
114,195
133,086
229,236
65,750
721
8,119
4,215
412
3,290
2,108
3,089
1,349,514 1,140,229

481,036
85,423
14,174
75,796
16,341
47,405
249,765
300,775
645
15
291
8,662
2,304

415,787
67,341
14,517
76,369
18,156
36,916
204,326
229,204
313
23
348
8,505
2,764
1,282,632 1,074,569

4,637
11,172
4,461
45,527
65,797
1,085
66,882

4,594
10,871
4,760
44,204
64,429
1,231
65,660
1,349,514 1,140,229

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281

  
 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements
Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity

Called up 
share capital 
and share 
premiuma
£m
4,594
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
43
–
–
–
–
–
–
4,637

Other equity
 instrumentsa
£m
10,871
857
–
–
–
–
–
–
857
–
311
(857)
–
–
–
(10)
11,172

4,311
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
182
101
–
–
–
–
–
–
4,594

9,632
813
–
–
–
–
–
–
813
–
–
1,238
(813)
–
–
–
1
10,871

Total equity 
excluding
non-
controlling
 interests
£m
64,429
2,383
(473)
192
573
(111)
(581)
5
1,988
346
256
(857)
(207)
(150)
–
(8)
65,797

62,556
3,274
(544)
71
342
(194)
(252)
16
2,713
182
579
832
(813)
(224)
(190)
(1,201)
(5)
64,429

Retained 
earnings
£m
44,204
1,526
–
–
–
(111)
–
5
1,420
303
(55)
–
–
(347)
–
2
45,527

43,460
2,461
–
–
–
(194)
–
16
2,283
–
478
(406)
–
–
(404)
(1,201)
(6)
44,204

Non-
controlling
 interests
£m
1,231
78
–
–
–
–
–
–
78
–
(158)
–
–
–
(79)
13
1,085

1,223
80
–
–
–
–
–
–
80
–
–
–
–
–
–
(80)
8
1,231

Total equity
£m
65,660
2,461
(473)
192
573
(111)
(581)
5
2,066
346
98
(857)
(207)
(150)
(79)
5
66,882

63,779
3,354
(544)
71
342
(194)
(252)
16
2,793
182
579
832
(813)
(224)
(190)
(1,281)
3
65,660

Other 
reservesb
£m
4,760
–
(473)
192
573
–
(581)
–
(289)
–
–
–
(207)
197
–
–
4,461

5,153
–
(544)
71
342
–
(252)
–
(383)
–
–
–
–
(224)
214
–
–
4,760

Balance as at 1 January 2020
Profit after tax
Currency translation movements
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve
Cash flow hedges
Retirement benefit remeasurements
Own credit reserve
Other
Total comprehensive income for the year
Employee share schemes and hedges thereof
Issue and exchange of other equity instruments
Other equity instruments coupons paid
Increase in treasury shares
Vesting of shares under employee share schemes
Dividends paid
Other reserve movements
Balance as at 31 December 2020

Balance as at 1 January 2019
Profit after tax
Currency translation movements
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve
Cash flow hedges
Retirement benefit remeasurements
Own credit reserve
Other
Total comprehensive income for the year
Issue of new ordinary shares
Employee share schemes
Issue and exchange of other equity instruments
Other equity instruments coupons paid
Increase in treasury shares
Vesting of shares under employee share schemes
Dividends paid
Other reserve movements
Balance as at 31 December 2019

Notes
a  For further details refer to Note 28.
b  For further details refer to Note 29.

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Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements
Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December
Reconciliation of profit before tax to net cash flows from operating activities:
Profit before tax
Adjustment for non-cash items:
Credit impairment charges
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment of property, plant, equipment and intangibles
Other provisions, including pensions
Net loss on disposal of investments and property, plant and equipment
Other non-cash movements including exchange rate movementsc
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net decrease/(increase) in cash collateral and settlement balancesb
Net increase in loans and advances to banks and customersc
Net increase in reverse repurchase agreements and other similar lending
Net increase in deposits 
Net (decrease)/increase in debt securities in issue
Net (increase)/decrease in repurchase agreements and other similar borrowing
Net (increase)/decrease in derivative financial instruments
Net (increase)/decrease in trading assets
Net increase/(decrease) in trading liabilities
Net decrease/(increase) in financial assets and liabilities at fair value through the income statement
Net decrease/(increase) in other assets
Net decrease in other liabilities
Corporate income tax paid
Net cash from operating activities
Purchase of debt securities at amortised costc
Proceeds from sale or redemption of debt securities at amortised costc
Purchase of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Proceeds from sale or redemption of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangibles
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and intangibles
Other cash flows associated with investing activities
Net cash from investing activities
Dividends paid and other coupon payments on equity instruments
Issuance of subordinated debt
Redemption of subordinated debt
Issue of shares and other equity instruments
Repurchase of shares and other equity instruments
Issuance of debt securitiesd
Net purchase of treasury shares 
Net cash from financing activities
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
Cash and cash equivalents comprise:
Cash and balances at central banks
Loans and advances to banks with original maturity less than three months
Cash collateral balances with central banks with original maturity less than three monthsb
Treasury and other eligible bills with original maturity less than three months

Notes

2020
£m

2019a
£m

2018a
£m

3,065

4,357

3,494

4,838
1,734
1,365
47
(2,977)

4,321
(4,365)
(5,652)
65,249
(6,309)
(343)
(1,845)
(13,755)
10,489
3,374
452
(1,500)
(683)
57,505
(14,671)
8,480
(91,744)
80,895
(1,324)
–
(12)
(18,376)
(936)
1,438
(3,258)
1,165
(1,056)
5,736
(357)
2,732
1,668
43,529
166,613
210,142

191,127
5,955
12,204
856
210,142

1,912
1,520
2,336
7
(280)

(6,436)
(2,255)
(1,071)
20,949
(9,911)
(4,061)
2,863
(10,008)
(966)
4,054
(412)
(2,872)
(228)
(502)
(14,729)
3,590
(92,365)
81,202
(1,793)
46
84
(23,965)
(1,912)
1,352
(3,248)
3,582
(2,668)
3,994
(410)
690
(3,347)
(27,124)
193,737
166,613

150,258
8,021
7,854
480
166,613

1,468
1,261
2,594
28
(4,488)

680
(11,049)
(1,711)
14,996
8,972
3,525
(3,571)
9,958
531
(12,686)
489
(4,755)
(548)
9,188
(4,539)
5,109
(106,669)
107,539
(1,402)
18
1,191
1,247
(1,658)
221
(3,246)
1,964
(3,582)
–
(486)
(6,787)
4,160
7,808
185,929
193,737

177,069
7,676
8,075
917
193,737

27
27
28

Notes
a  2019 and 2018 comparative figures have been restated to make the cash flow statement more relevant following a review of the disclosure and the accounting policies applied. Amendments 
have been made to the classification of cash collateral reported within cash and cash equivalents and to the presentation of items within net cash flows from operating and investing activities. 
Footnotes b and c below quantify the impact of the changes to the respective cash flow categories in prior periods and provide further detail.
‘Cash collateral balances with central banks with original maturity less than three months’ was previously labelled ‘Cash collateral and settlement balances with banks with original maturity less 
than three months’. This line item has been restated to include only balances that the Group holds at central banks related to payment schemes. Previously, cash collateral and settlement 
balances with non-central bank counterparties were also classified as cash equivalents and included within this balance. Comparatives have been restated. The effect of this change 
decreased cash and cash equivalents by £16,774m as at 31 December 2019, £17,429m as at 31 December 2018 and £18,683 as at 31 December 2017. As a result, net cash from operating 
activities increased by £655m in 2019 and £1,254m in 2018 representing the net decrease/(increase) in the cash collateral and settlement balances line item in those periods. 

b 

c  Movements in cash and cash equivalents relating to debt securities at amortised cost were previously shown within loans and advances to banks and customers in operating activities. These 
debt securities holdings are now considered to be part of the investing activity performed by the Group following a change in accounting policy and have been presented within investing 
activities in 2020. Comparatives have been restated. The effect of this change was to reclassify £11,139m of net cash outflows from operating activities to investing activities in 2019 and 
inflows of £570m in 2018.
Issuance of debt securities included in financing activities relate to instruments that qualify as eligible liabilities and satisfy regulatory requirements for MREL instruments which came into 
effect during 2019.

d 

Interest received was £18,748m (2019: £34,061m; 2018: £26,254m) and interest paid was £9,577m (2019: £23,186m; 2018: £16,124m). The Group is 
required to maintain balances with central banks and other regulatory authorities and these amounted to £3,392m (2019: £4,893m; 2018: £4,717m). For the 
purposes of the cash flow statement, cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits and cash equivalents comprise highly liquid investments that 
are convertible into cash with an insignificant risk of changes in value with original maturities of three months or less. Repurchase and reverse repurchase 
agreements are not considered to be part of cash equivalents. 

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Financial statements of Barclays PLC
Parent company accounts 

Statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December
Dividends received from subsidiaries
Net interest (expense)/income
Other income
Impairment of subsidiary
Operating expenses
(Loss)/profit before tax
Taxation
(Loss)/profit after tax
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive (loss)/income

(Loss)/profit after tax attributable to:
Ordinary equity holders
Other equity instrument holders
(Loss)/profit after tax

Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to:
Ordinary equity holders
Other equity instrument holders
Total comprehensive (loss)/income

Notes 
42

42
42

2020
£m
763
(175)
1,192
(2,573)
(241)
(1,034)
16
(1,018)
–
(1,018)

(1,875)
857
(1,018)

(1,875)
857
(1,018)

2019
£m
1,560
214
1,760
–
(267)
3,267
(86)
3,181
–
3,181

2,368
813
3,181

2,368
813
3,181

2018
£m
15,360
(101)
923
–
(312)
15,870
79
15,949
–
15,949

15,197
752
15,949

15,197
752
15,949

For the year ended 31 December 2020, loss after tax was £1,018m (2019: profit £3,181m) and total comprehensive loss was £1,018m (2019: income 
£3,181m). The Company has 60 members of staff (2019: 79).

Balance sheet

As at 31 December
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries
Loans and advances to subsidiaries
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement 
Derivative financial instruments
Other assets
Total assets

Liabilities
Deposits at amortised cost
Subordinated liabilities
Debt securities in issue
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Other liabilities
Total liabilities

Equity
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Other equity instruments
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

Notes 

42

42

42
42
42

28
28
28

2020
£m 

2019
£m 

58,886
24,710
17,521
7
65
101,189

482
7,724
28,428
9,507
176
46,317

4,340
297
11,169
394
38,672
54,872
101,189

59,546
28,850
10,348
58
2
98,804

500
7,656
30,564
3,498
119
42,337

4,331
263
10,865
394
40,614
56,467
98,804

The financial statements on pages 284 to 285 and the accompanying note on pages 371 to 372 were approved by the Board of Directors on 17 February 
2021 and signed on its behalf by:

Nigel Higgins 
Group Chairman 

James E Staley 
Group Chief Executive 

Tushar Morzaria
Group Finance Director

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Financial statements

Statement of changes in equity 

Balance as at 1 January 2020
Profit/(loss) after tax and other comprehensive income
Issue of shares under employee share schemes
Issue and exchange of other equity instruments
Vesting of shares under employee share schemes
Dividends paid
Other equity instruments coupons paid
Balance as at 31 December 2020

Balance as at 1 January 2019
Profit after tax and other comprehensive income
Issue of new ordinary shares
Issue of shares under employee share schemes
Issue and exchange of other equity instruments
Vesting of shares under employee share schemes
Dividends paid
Other equity instruments coupons paid
Balance as at 31 December 2019

Notes

11

11

Called up 
share capital 
and share
 premium
£m
4,594
– 
43
– 
– 
– 
– 
4,637

Other 
equity
 instruments
£m
10,865
857
– 
304
– 
– 
(857)
11,169

4,311
– 
182
101
– 
– 
– 
– 
4,594

9,633
813
– 
– 
1,232
– 
– 
(813)
10,865

Cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December
Reconciliation of profit before tax to net cash flows from operating activities:
(Loss)/profit before tax
Adjustment for non-cash items:
Impairment of subsidiary
Dividends in specie
Other non-cash items
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Net cash generated from operating activities
Capital contribution to and investment in subsidiary
Net cash used in investing activities
Issue of shares and other equity instruments
Redemption of other equity instruments
Net increase in loans and advances to subsidiaries of the Parent
Net increase in debt securities in issue
Proceeds of borrowings and issuance of subordinated debt
Dividends paid
Coupons paid on other equity instruments
Net cash generated from financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Net cash generated from operating activities includes:
Dividends received
Interest (paid)/received

Other
 reserves
£m
394
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
394

394
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
394

Retained
 earnings
£m
40,614
(1,875)
20
(73)
(14)
– 
– 
38,672

39,842
2,368
– 
20
(396)
(19)
(1,201)
– 
40,614

Total equity
£m
56,467
(1,018)
63
231
(14)
– 
(857)
54,872

54,180
3,181
182
121
836
(19)
(1,201)
(813)
56,467

2020
£m

2019
£m

2018
£m

(1,034)

3,267

15,870

2,573
–
528
–
2,067
(393)
(393)
1,175
(898)
(4,732)
3,720
158
–
(857)
(1,434)
240
–
240

–
–
(582)
87
2,772
(1,187)
(1,187)
3,597
(2,668)
(4,464)
2,588
1,194
(1,019)
(813)
(1,585)
–
–
–

–
(14,294)
653
55
2,284
(2,680)
(2,680)
1,953
(1,532)
(7,767)
9,174
–
(680)
(752)
396
–
–
–

763
(175)

1,560
214

1,066
(101)

The Parent company’s principal activity is to hold the investment in its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays 
Execution Services Limited and Barclays Principal Investments Limited. Dividends received are treated as operating income. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2020

This section describes the Group’s significant policies and critical accounting estimates that relate to the financial statements and notes as a whole. 
If an accounting policy or a critical accounting estimate relates to a particular note, the accounting policy and/or critical accounting estimate is 
contained with the relevant note.

1 Significant accounting policies

1. Reporting entity
These financial statements are prepared for Barclays PLC and its subsidiaries (the Group) under Section 399 of the Companies Act 2006. The Group 
is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management and 
investment management services. In addition, separate financial statements have been presented for the holding company.

2. Compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards
The consolidated financial statements of the Group, and the separate financial statements of Barclays PLC, have been prepared in accordance with 
international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) and interpretations (IFRICs) as issued by the IASB and adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in 
the European Union. These standards have also been endorsed by the UK. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the 
consolidated and separate financial statements are set out below, and in the relevant notes to the financial statements. These policies have been 
consistently applied with the exception of the early adoption of Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, 
IFRS 4 and IFRS16) which was applied from 1 January 2020.

3. Basis of preparation
The consolidated and separate financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention modified to include the fair valuation of 
investment property, and particular financial instruments, to the extent required or permitted under IFRS as set out in the relevant accounting policies. 
They are stated in millions of pounds Sterling (£m), the functional currency of Barclays PLC.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies using 
IFRS. The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, as the Board is satisfied that the Group and the parent company have the 
resources to continue in business for a period of at least 12 months from approval of the financial statements. 

In making this assessment, the Board has considered a wide range of information relating to present and future conditions and includes a review of a 
working capital report (WCR). The WCR is used by the Directors to assess the future performance of the business and that it has the resources in place 
that are required to meet its ongoing regulatory requirements. The assessment is based upon business plans which contain future projections of 
profitability taken from the Group’s three year medium-term plan as well as projections of regulatory capital requirements and business funding needs. 
The WCR also includes an assessment of the impact of internally generated stress testing scenarios on the liquidity and capital requirement forecasts. 
The stress tests used were based upon an assessment of reasonably possible downside economic scenarios that the Group could experience. 

The WCR showed that the Group had sufficient capital in place to support its future business requirements and remained above its regulatory minimum 
requirements in the stress scenarios. Accordingly, the Directors concluded that there was a reasonable expectation that the Group and parent company 
has adequate resources to continue as a Going Concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements.

4. Accounting policies
The Group prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. The Group’s significant accounting policies relating to specific financial statement 
items, together with a description of the accounting estimates and judgements that were critical to preparing them, are set out under the relevant 
notes. Accounting policies that affect the financial statements as a whole are set out below.

(i) Consolidation
The Group applies IFRS 10 Consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements combine the financial statements of Barclays PLC and all its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which 
Barclays PLC has control. The Group has control over another entity when the Group has all of the following: 

1) power over the relevant activities of the investee, for example through voting or other rights

2) exposure to, or rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the investee, and

3) the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee.

The assessment of control is based on the consideration of all facts and circumstances. The Group reassesses whether it controls an investee if facts 
and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control.

Intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation. Consistent accounting policies are used throughout the Group for the 
purposes of the consolidation.

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries are accounted for as equity transactions if they occur after control has already been obtained and they 
do not result in loss of control.

As the consolidated financial statements include partnerships where the Group member is a partner, advantage has been taken of the exemption 
under Regulation 7 of the Partnership (Accounts) Regulations 2008 with regard to preparing and filing of individual partnership financial statements.

Details of the principal subsidiaries are given in Note 34.

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1 Significant accounting policies continued

(ii) Foreign currency translation
The Group applies IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into Sterling at the rate 
ruling on the date of the transaction. Foreign currency monetary balances are translated into Sterling at the period end exchange rates. Exchange 
gains and losses on such balances are taken to the income statement. Non-monetary foreign currency balances in relation to items measured in 
terms of historical cost are carried at historical transaction date exchange rates. Non-monetary foreign currency balances in relation to items 
measured at fair value are translated using the exchange rate at the date when the fair value was measured. 

The Group’s foreign operations (including subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and branches) based mainly outside the UK may have different 
functional currencies. The functional currency of an operation is the currency of the main economy to which it is exposed. 

Prior to consolidation (or equity accounting) the assets and liabilities of non-Sterling operations are translated at the period end exchange rate and 
items of income, expense and other comprehensive income are translated into Sterling at the rate on the date of the transactions. Exchange 
differences arising on the translation of foreign operations are included in currency translation reserves within equity. These are transferred to the 
income statement when the Group disposes of the entire interest in a foreign operation, when partial disposal results in the loss of control of an 
interest in a subsidiary, when an investment previously accounted for using the equity method is accounted for as a financial asset, or on the disposal 
of an autonomous foreign operation within a branch.

(iii) Financial assets and liabilities
The Group applies IFRS 9 Financial Instruments to the recognition, classification and measurement, and derecognition of financial assets and financial 
liabilities and the impairment of financial assets. The Group applies the requirements of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for 
hedge accounting purposes. 

Recognition
The Group recognises financial assets and liabilities when it becomes a party to the terms of the contract. Trade date or settlement date accounting 
is applied depending on the classification of the financial asset.

Classification and measurement
Financial assets are classified on the basis of two criteria: 

i) the business model within which financial assets are managed, and 

ii) their contractual cash flow characteristics (whether the cash flows represent ‘solely payments of principal and interest’ (SPPI)).

The Group assesses the business model criteria at a portfolio level. Information that is considered in determining the applicable business model 
includes (i) policies and objectives for the relevant portfolio, (ii) how the performance and risks of the portfolio are managed, evaluated and reported to 
management, and (iii) the frequency, volume and timing of sales in prior periods, sales expectation for future periods, and the reasons for such sales.

The contractual cash flow characteristics of financial assets are assessed with reference to whether the cash flows represent SPPI. In assessing 
whether contractual cash flows are SPPI compliant, interest is defined as consideration primarily for the time value of money and the credit risk of the 
principal outstanding. The time value of money is defined as the element of interest that provides consideration only for the passage of time and not 
consideration for other risks or costs associated with holding the financial asset. Terms that could change the contractual cash flows so that it would 
not meet the condition for SPPI are considered, including: (i) contingent and leverage features, (ii) non-recourse arrangements and (iii) features that 
could modify the time value of money.

Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to collect 
contractual cash flows, and their contractual cash flows represent SPPI.

Financial assets are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income if they are held within a business model whose objective is achieved 
by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and their contractual cash flows represent SPPI.

Other financial assets are measured at fair value through profit and loss. There is an option to make an irrevocable election on initial recognition for 
non traded equity investments to be measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, in which case dividends are recognised in profit 
or loss, but gains or losses are not reclassified to profit or loss upon derecognition, and the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 do not apply.

The accounting policy for each type of financial asset or liability is included within the relevant note for the item. The Group’s policies for determining 
the fair values of the assets and liabilities are set out in Note 17.

Derecognition
The Group derecognises a financial asset, or a portion of a financial asset, from its balance sheet where the contractual rights to cash flows from the 
asset have expired, or have been transferred, usually by sale, and with them either substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset or significant risks 
and rewards, along with the unconditional ability to sell or pledge the asset.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the liability has been settled, has expired or has been extinguished. An exchange of an existing financial 
liability for a new liability with the same lender on substantially different terms – generally a difference of 10% or more in the present value of the cash 
flows or a substantive qualitative amendment – is accounted for as an extinguishment of the original financial liability and the recognition of a new 
financial liability.

Transactions in which the Group transfers assets and liabilities, portions of them, or financial risks associated with them can be complex and it may not 
be obvious whether substantially all of the risks and rewards have been transferred. It is often necessary to perform a quantitative analysis. Such an 
analysis compares the Group’s exposure to variability in asset cash flows before the transfer with its retained exposure after the transfer.

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Notes to the financial statements 
For the year ended 31 December 2020 continued

1 Significant accounting policies continued

A cash flow analysis of this nature may require judgement. In particular, it is necessary to estimate the asset’s expected future cash flows as well as 
potential variability around this expectation. The method of estimating expected future cash flows depends on the nature of the asset, with market 
and market-implied data used to the greatest extent possible. The potential variability around this expectation is typically determined by stressing 
underlying parameters to create reasonable alternative upside and downside scenarios. Probabilities are then assigned to each scenario. Stressed 
parameters may include default rates, loss severity, or prepayment rates. 

Accounting for reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements including other similar lending and borrowing
Reverse repurchase agreements (and stock borrowing or similar transaction) are a form of secured lending whereby the Group provides a loan or cash 
collateral in exchange for the transfer of collateral, generally in the form of marketable securities subject to an agreement to transfer the securities 
back at a fixed price in the future. Repurchase agreements are where the Group obtains such loans or cash collateral, in exchange for the transfer of 
collateral.

The Group purchases (a reverse repurchase agreement) or borrows securities subject to a commitment to resell or return them. The securities are 
not included in the balance sheet as the Group does not acquire the risks and rewards of ownership. Consideration paid (or cash collateral provided) 
is accounted for as a loan asset at amortised cost, unless it is designated or mandatorily at fair value through profit and loss. 

The Group may also sell (a repurchase agreement) or lend securities subject to a commitment to repurchase or redeem them. The securities are 
retained on the balance sheet as the Group retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership. Consideration received (or cash collateral 
provided) is accounted for as a financial liability at amortised cost, unless it is designated at fair value through profit and loss.

(iv) Issued debt and equity instruments
The Group applies IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation, to determine whether funding is either a financial liability (debt) or equity.

Issued financial instruments or their components are classified as liabilities if the contractual arrangement results in the Group having an obligation 
to either deliver cash or another financial asset, or a variable number of equity shares, to the holder of the instrument. If this is not the case, the 
instrument is generally an equity instrument and the proceeds included in equity, net of transaction costs. Dividends and other returns to equity 
holders are recognised when paid or declared by the members at the AGM and treated as a deduction from equity.

Where issued financial instruments contain both liability and equity components, these are accounted for separately. The fair value of the debt is 
estimated first and the balance of the proceeds is included within equity.

5. New and amended standards and interpretations 
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year, with the exception of the early adoption of Interest Rate 
Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16) which was applied from 1 January 2020.

IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 – Amendments relating to Interest Rate Benchmark Reform (Phase 2 amendments)
IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 were amended in August 2020, which are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2021 with 
earlier adoption permitted. The Group elected to early adopt the amendments with effect from 1 January 2020. The amendments have been 
endorsed by the EU and by the UK.

IFRS 9 allows companies when they first apply IFRS 9, to make an accounting policy choice to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of 
IAS 39. The Group made the election to continue to apply the IAS 39 hedge accounting requirements, and consequently, the amendments to IAS 39 
in respect of hedge accounting have been adopted by the Group. 

The objective of the amendments is to provide certain reliefs to companies when changes are made to the contractual cash flows or hedging 
relationships resulting from interest rate benchmark reform. The reliefs adopted by the Group have been described below.

Changes in the basis for determining contractual cash flows
A change in the basis of determining the contractual cash flows of a financial instrument that are required by the reform is accounted for by updating 
the effective interest rate, without the recognition of an immediate gain or loss. This practical expedient is only applied where (1) the change to the 
contractual cash flows is necessary as a direct consequence of the reform and (2) the new basis for determining the contractual cash flows is 
economically equivalent to the previous basis. For changes made in addition to those required by the reform, the practical expedient is applied first, 
after which the normal IFRS 9 requirements for modifications of financial instruments is applied.

Hedge accounting
The IAS 39 requirements in respect of hedge accounting have been amended in two phases. The Phase 1 amendments, which were adopted by the 
Group in 2019, provide relief to the hedge accounting requirements prior to changing a hedge relationship due to the interest rate benchmark reform 
(refer to Note 14). The Phase 2 amendments provide relief when changes are made to hedge relationships as a result of the interest rate benchmark 
reform. The Phase 2 amendments adopted by the Group are described below.
■■ Under a temporary exception, changes to the hedge designation and hedge documentation due to the interest rate benchmark reform would 

not constitute the discontinuation of the hedge relationship nor the designation of a new hedging relationship.

■■ In respect of the retrospective hedge effectiveness assessment, the Group may elect on a hedge-by-hedge basis to reset the cumulative fair 
value changes to zero when the exception to the retrospective assessment ends (Phase 1 relief). Any hedge ineffectiveness will continue to be 
measured and recognised in full in profit or loss.

■■ Amounts accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve would be deemed to be based on the alternative benchmark rate (on which the hedge 

future cash flows are determined) when there is a change in basis for determining the contractual cash flows.

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■■ For hedges of groups of items (such as those forming part of a macro cash flow hedging strategy), the amendments provide relief for items within 

a designated group of items that are amended for changes directly required by the reform.

■■ In respect of whether a risk component of a hedged item is separately identifiable, the amendments provide temporary relief to entities to meet 

this requirement when an alternative risk free rate (RFR) financial instrument is designated as a risk component. These amendments allow entities 
upon designation of the hedge to assume that the separately identifiable requirement is met if the entity reasonably expects the RFR risk will 
become separately identifiable within the next 24 months. This relief applies to each RFR on a rate-by-rate basis and starts when the entity first 
designates the RFR as a non-contractually specified risk component.

The amendments to IFRS 7 require certain disclosures to be made to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of interest rate 
benchmark reform on an entity’s financial instruments and risk management strategy. Refer to Note 41 where these disclosures have been included.

Future accounting developments
The following accounting standards have been issued by the IASB but are not yet effective:

IFRS 17 – Insurance contracts
In May 2017, the IASB issued IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, a comprehensive new accounting standard for insurance contracts covering recognition 
and measurement, presentation and disclosure. Once effective, IFRS 17 will replace IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts that was issued in 2005.

IFRS 17 applies to all types of insurance contracts (i.e. life, non-life, direct insurance and re-insurance), regardless of the type of entities that issue 
them, as well as to certain guarantees and financial instruments with discretionary participation features. A few scope exceptions will apply. 

In June 2020, the IASB published amendments to IFRS 17. The amendments that are relevant to the Group are the scope exclusion for credit card 
contracts and similar contracts that provide insurance coverage, the optional scope exclusion for loan contracts that transfer significant insurance 
risk, and the clarification that only financial guarantees issued are in the scope of IFRS 9.

The amendments also defer the effective date of IFRS 17, including the above amendments, to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2023.

IFRS 17, including the amendments to IFRS 17, has not yet been endorsed by the EU as of the date that the financial statements are authorised 
for issue. 

Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on 31 December 2020, the UK-adopted international accounting standards will be applicable. IFRS 17, 
including the amendments to IFRS 17, has not yet been endorsed by the UK. The Group is currently assessing the expected impact of adopting 
this standard.

6. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement 
in applying the accounting policies. The key areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity or areas where assumptions are significant 
to the consolidated and individual financial statements are highlighted under the relevant note. Critical accounting estimates and judgements are 
disclosed in:
■■ Credit impairment charges on page 296
■■ Tax on page 300
■■ Fair value of financial instruments on page 315
■■ Goodwill and intangible assets on page 332
■■ Pensions and post-retirement benefits – obligations on page 352
■■ Provisions including conduct and legal, competition and regulatory matters on page 337.

7. Other disclosures
To improve transparency and ease of reference, by concentrating related information in one place, certain disclosures required under IFRS have been 
included within the Risk review section as follows:
■■ Credit risk on pages 161 to 162 and 168 to 201
■■ Market risk on pages 162 to 163 and 202 to 203
■■ Treasury and capital risk – liquidity on pages 163 and 206 to 216
■■ Treasury and capital risk – capital on pages 163 to 164 and 217 to 225.

These disclosures are covered by the Audit opinion (included on pages 260 to 278) where referenced as audited. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns

The notes included in this section focus on the results and performance of the Group. Information on the income generated, expenditure incurred, 
segmental performance, tax, earnings per share and dividends are included here. For further detail on performance, see income statement 
commentary within Financial review (unaudited).

2 Segmental reporting

Presentation of segmental reporting
The Group’s segmental reporting is in accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments. Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent 
with the internal reporting provided to the Executive Committee, which is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the 
operating segments, and has been identified as the chief operating decision maker. All transactions between business segments are conducted on 
an arm’s-length basis, with intra-segment revenue and costs being eliminated in Head Office. Income and expenses directly associated with each 
segment are included in determining business segment performance.

The Group is a British universal bank diversified by business, geography and income type, serving consumer and wholesale customers and clients globally 
and for segmental reporting purposes it defines its two operating divisions as Barclays UK and Barclays International.
■■ Barclays UK comprises our UK Personal Banking, UK Business Banking and Barclaycard Consumer UK businesses. These businesses are carried on by 

our UK ring-fenced bank (Barclays Bank UK PLC) and certain other entities within the Group.

■■ Barclays International comprises our Corporate and Investment Bank and Consumer, Cards and Payments businesses. These businesses are carried 

on by our non ring-fenced bank (Barclays Bank PLC) and its subsidiaries, as well as by certain other entities within the Group.

The below table also includes Head Office which comprises head office, Barclays Execution Services FTE and legacy businesses.

Analysis of results by business

For the year ended 31 December 2020
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Net operating income/(expenses)
Operating costs
UK bank levy
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net income/(expenses)a
Profit/(loss) before tax 
Total assets (£bn)
Number of employees (full time equivalent)
Average number of employees (full time equivalent)

Barclays UK 
£m

Barclays
 International 
£m

Head Office
£m

Group results
£m

6,347
(1,467)
4,880
(4,270)
(50)
(32)
(4,352)
18
546
289.1
21,300

15,921
(3,280)
12,641
(8,765)
(240)
(48)
(9,053)
28
3,616
1,041.8
10,800

(502)
(91)
(593)
(399)
(9)
(73)
(481)
(23)
(1,097)
18.6
50,900

21,766
(4,838)
16,928
(13,434)
(299)
(153)
(13,886)
23
3,065
1,349.5
83,000
81,800

Note
a  Other net income/(expenses) represents the share of post-tax results of associates and joint ventures, profit (or loss) on disposal of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, 

and gains on acquisitions.

On 1 April 2020, assets of £2.2bn relating to the Barclays Partner Finance business were moved from Barclays International to Barclays UK, with net 
operating income of £19m and loss before tax of £5m subsequently recognised in Barclays UK for the rest of 2020. The 2019 and 2018 comparative 
figures have not been restated.

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For the year ended 31 December 2019
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Net operating income/(expenses)
Operating costs
UK bank levy
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net incomea
Profit/(loss) before tax 
Total assets (£bn)
Number of employees (full time equivalent)
Average number of employees (full time equivalent)

Barclays UK 
£m

Barclays
 International 
£m

Head Office
£m

Group results
£m

7,353
(712)
6,641
(3,996)
(41)
(1,582)
(5,619)
–
1,022
257.8
21,400

14,675
(1,173)
13,502
(9,163)
(174)
(116)
(9,453)
69
4,118
861.4
11,200

(396)
(27)
(423)
(200)
(11)
(151)
(362)
2
(783)
21.0
48,200

21,632
(1,912)
19,720
(13,359)
(226)
(1,849)
(15,434)
71
4,357
1,140.2
80,800
82,700

Note
a  Other net income/(expenses) represents the share of post-tax results of associates and joint ventures, profit (or loss) on disposal of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, 

and gains on acquisitions.

Analysis of results by business

For the year ended 31 December 2018
Total income
Credit impairment (charges)/releases
Net operating income/(expenses)
Operating costs
UK bank levy
GMP charge
Litigation and conduct
Total operating expenses
Other net income/(expenses)a
Profit/(loss) before tax
Total assets (£bn)
Number of employees (full time equivalent)

Barclays UK 
£m

Barclays
 International 
£m

Head Office
£m

Group results
£m

7,383
(826)
6,557
(4,075)
(46)
–
(483)
(4,604)
3
1,956
249.7
 22,600

14,026
(658)
13,368
(9,324)
(210)
–
(127)
(9,661)
68
3,775
862.1
 12,400

(273)
16
(257)
(228)
(13)
(140)
(1,597)
(1,978)
(2)
(2,237)
21.5
 48,500

21,136
(1,468)
19,668
(13,627)
(269)
(140)
(2,207)
(16,243)
69
3,494
1,133.3
 83,500

Note
a  Other net income/(expenses) represents the share of post-tax results of associates and joint ventures, profit (or loss) on disposal of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures,  

and gains on acquisitions.

Income by geographic regiona

For the year ended 31 December
United Kingdom
Europe 
Americas 
Africa and Middle East
Asia 
Total

Income from individual countries which represent more than 5% of total incomea

For the year ended 31 December
United Kingdom
United States 

Note
a  The geographical analysis is based on the location of the office where the transactions are recorded.

2020
£m
11,211
2,059
7,425
36
1,035
21,766

2020
£m
11,211
7,318

2019
£m
11,809
1,754
7,064
59
946
21,632

2019
£m
11,809
6,939

2018
£m
11,529
1,617
7,058
43
889
21,136

2018
£m
11,529
6,911

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

3 Net interest income

Accounting for interest income and expenses
Interest income on loans and advances at amortised cost and financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, and interest 
expense on financial liabilities held at amortised cost, are calculated using the effective interest method which allocates interest, and direct and 
incremental fees and costs, over the expected lives of the assets and liabilities.

The effective interest method requires the Group to estimate future cash flows, in some cases based on its experience of customers’ behaviour, 
considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument, as well as the expected lives of the assets and liabilities. 

The Group incurs certain costs to originate credit card balances with the most significant being co-brand partner fees. To the extent these costs 
are attributed to customers that continuously carry an outstanding balance (revolvers) and incremental to the origination of credit card balances, 
they are capitalised and subsequently included within the calculation of the effective interest rate. They are amortised to interest income over 
the period of expected repayment of the originated balance. Costs attributed to customers that settle their outstanding balances each period 
(transactors) are deferred on the balance sheet as a cost of obtaining a contract and amortised to fee and commission expense over the life of the 
customer relationship (refer to Note 4). There are no other individual estimates involved in the calculation of effective interest rates that are material 
to the results or financial position.

Cash and balances at central banks
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Fair value through other comprehensive income
Negative interest on liabilities
Other 
Interest and similar income
Deposits at amortised cost
Debt securities in issueb
Subordinated liabilities
Negative interest on assets
Other
Interest and similar expense
Net interest income

2020
£m
275
10,180
776
68
593
11,892
(1,030)
(1,360)
(670)
(344)
(366)
(3,770)
8,122

2019a
£m
1,091
12,450
1,032
13
870
15,456
(2,449)
(1,906)
(1,068)
(278)
(348)
(6,049)
9,407

2018a
£m
1,123
12,073
1,029
35
281
14,541
(2,250)
(1,677)
(1,223)
(270)
(59)
(5,479)
9,062

Notes
a  Comparatives for negative interest income on liabilities and negative interest expense on assets have been re-presented from Other interest income and Other interest expense.
b  Barclays has amended the presentation of the premium paid for purchased financial guarantees which are embedded in notes it issues directly to the market. From 2020 onwards, 

the full note coupon (£99m) is presented as interest expense within net interest income. The financial guarantee element of the coupon had previously been recognised in net investment 
income (2019: £25m; 2018: £1m). The comparatives have not been restated.

Interest and similar income presented above represents interest revenue calculated using the effective interest method. Costs to originate credit card 
balances of £698m (2019: £697m; 2018: £596m) have been amortised to interest and similar income during the year. Interest and similar income includes 
£40m (2019: £48m; 2018: £53m) accrued on impaired loans. Other interest expense includes £70m (2019: £76m) relating to IFRS 16 lease interest 
expenses.

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4 Net fee and commission income 

Accounting for net fee and commission income
The Group applies IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. IFRS 15 establishes a five-step model governing revenue recognition. 
The five-step model requires the Group to (i) identify the contract with the customer, (ii) identify each of the performance obligations included in the 
contract, (iii) determine the amount of consideration in the contract, (iv) allocate the consideration to each of the identified performance obligations 
and (v) recognise revenue as each performance obligation is satisfied.

The Group recognises fee and commission income charged for services provided by the Group as the services are provided, for example, 
on completion of the underlying transaction. Where the contractual arrangements also result in the Group recognising financial instruments in scope 
of IFRS 9, such financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value in accordance with IFRS 9 before applying the provisions of IFRS 15.

Fee and commission income is disaggregated below by fee types that reflect the nature of the services offered across the Group and operating 
segments, in accordance with IFRS 15. The below table includes a total for fees in scope of IFRS 15. Refer to Note 2 for more detailed information about 
operating segments.

Fee type
Transactional
Advisory
Brokerage and execution
Underwriting and syndication
Other
Total revenue from contracts with customers
Other non-contract fee income
Fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense
Net fee and commission income

Fee type
Transactional
Advisory
Brokerage and execution
Underwriting and syndication
Other
Total revenue from contracts with customers
Other non-contract fee income
Fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense
Net fee and commission income

Fee type
Transactional
Advisory
Brokerage and execution
Underwriting and syndication
Other
Total revenue from contracts with customers
Other non-contract fee income
Fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense
Net fee and commission income

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

2020

Barclays UK
£m

Barclays 
International
£m

Head Office
£m

Total
£m

810
159
212
–
71
1,252
–
1,252
(308)
944

2,353
693
1,173
2,867
173
7,259
119
7,378
(1,754)
5,624

–
2
–
–
9
11
–
11
(8)
3

3,163
854
1,385
2,867
253
8,522
119
8,641
(2,070)
6,571

2019

Barclays UK
£m

Barclays 
International
£m

Head Office
£m

Total
£m

1,074
177
208
–
92
1,551
–
1,551
(365)
1,186

2,809
903
1,131
2,358
242
7,443
116
7,559
(1,990)
5,569

–
–
–
–
12
12
–
12
(7)
5

3,883
1,080
1,339
2,358
346
9,006
116
9,122
(2,362)
6,760

2018

Barclays UK
£m

Barclays 
International
£m

Head Office
£m

Total
£m

1,102
209
153
–
78
1,542
–
1,542
(360)
1,182

2,614
850
1,073
2,462
207
7,206
118
7,324
(1,707)
5,617

–
–
–
–
27
27
–
27
(17)
10

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3,716
1,059
1,226
2,462
312
8,775
118
8,893
(2,084)
6,809

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

4 Net fee and commission income continued
Fee types
Transactional
Transactional fees are service charges on deposit accounts, cash management services and transactional processing fees. These include interchange 
and merchant fee income generated from credit and bank card usage. Transaction and processing fees are recognised at the point in time the transaction 
occurs or service is performed. Interchange and merchant fees are recognised upon settlement of the card transaction payment.

The Group incurs certain card related costs including those related to cardholder reward programmes and payments to co-brand partners. Cardholder 
reward programmes costs related to customers that settle their outstanding balance each period (transactors) are expensed when incurred and 
presented in fee and commission expense while costs related to customers that continuously carry an outstanding balance (revolvers) are included in the 
effective interest rate of the receivable (refer to Note 3). Payments to partners for new cardholder account originations related to transactor accounts are 
deferred as costs to obtain a contract under IFRS 15, while costs related to revolver accounts are included in the effective interest rate of the receivable 
(refer to Note 3). Those costs deferred under IFRS 15 are capitalised and amortised over the estimated life of the customer relationship. Payments to 
co-brand partners based on revenue sharing are presented as a reduction of fee and commission income while payments based on profitability are 
presented in fee and commission expense.

Advisory
Advisory fees are generated from wealth management services and investment banking advisory services related to mergers, acquisitions and financial 
restructurings. Wealth management advisory fees are earned over the period the services are provided and are generally recognised quarterly when the 
market value of client assets is determined. Investment banking advisory fees are recognised at the point in time when the services related to the 
transaction have been completed under the terms of the engagement. Investment banking advisory costs are recognised as incurred in fee and 
commission expense if direct and incremental to the advisory services or are otherwise recognised in operating expenses.

Brokerage and execution
Brokerage and execution fees are earned for executing client transactions with various exchanges and over the counter markets and assisting clients in 
clearing transactions. Brokerage and execution fees are recognised at the point in time the associated service has been completed which is generally the 
trade date of the transaction.

Underwriting and syndication
Underwriting and syndication fees are earned for the distribution of client equity or debt securities and the arrangement and administration of a loan 
syndication. This includes commitment fees to provide loan financing. Underwriting fees are generally recognised on trade date if there is no remaining 
contingency, such as the transaction being conditional on the closing of an acquisition or another transaction. Underwriting costs are deferred and 
recognised in fee and commission expense when the associated underwriting fees are recorded. Syndication fees are earned for arranging and 
administering a loan syndication; however, the associated fee may be subject to variability until the loan has been syndicated to other syndicate members 
or until other contingencies have been resolved and therefore the fee revenue is deferred until the uncertainty is resolved.

Included in the underwriting and syndication fees are loan commitment fees which are not presented as part of the carrying value of the loan in 
accordance with IFRS 9. Such commitment fees are recognised over time through to the contractual maturity of the commitment.

Contract assets and contract liabilities
The Group had no material contract assets or contract liabilities as at 31 December 2020 (2019: nil; 2018: nil).

Impairment of fee receivables and contract assets
During 2020, there have been no material impairments recognised in relation to fees receivable and contract assets (2019: nil; 2018: nil). Fees in relation 
to transactional business can be added to outstanding customer balances. These amounts may be subsequently impaired as part of the overall loans and 
advances balance.

Remaining performance obligations
The Group applies the practical expedient of IFRS 15 and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original 
expected durations of one year or less or because the Group has a right to consideration that corresponds directly with the value of the service provided 
to the client or customer.

Costs incurred in obtaining or fulfilling a contract
The Group expects that incremental costs of obtaining a contract such as success fee and commission fees paid are recoverable and therefore 
capitalised such contract costs in the amount of £141m at 31 December 2020 (2019: £159m; 2018: £125m).

Capitalised contract costs are amortised based on the transfer of services to which the asset relates which typically ranges over the expected life of the 
relationship. In 2020, the amount of amortisation was £36m (2019: £30m; 2018: £30m) and there was no impairment loss recognised in connection with 
the capitalised contract costs (2019: nil; 2018: nil).

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5 Net trading income

Accounting for net trading income
In accordance with IFRS 9, trading positions are held at fair value, and the resulting gains and losses are included in the income statement, together 
with interest and dividends arising from long and short positions and funding costs relating to trading activities.

Income arises from both the sale and purchase of trading positions, margins which are achieved through market making and customer business 
and from changes in fair value caused by movements in interest and exchange rates, equity prices and other market variables.

Gains or losses on non-trading financial instruments designated or mandatorily at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in the income 
statement are included in net trading income where the business model is to manage assets and liabilities on a fair value basis which includes use of 
derivatives or where an instrument is designated at fair value to eliminate an accounting mismatch and the related instrument’s gain and losses are 
reported in trading income.

Net gains from financial instruments held for trading
Net gains from financial instruments designated at fair value
Net gains from financial instruments mandatorily at fair value
Net trading income

6 Net investment income

2020
£m
5,342
700
987
7,029

2019
£m
2,941
256
1,038
4,235

2018
£m
3,292
267
1,007
4,566

Accounting for net investment income 
Dividends are recognised when the right to receive the dividend has been established. Other accounting policies relating to net investment income 
are set out in Note 13 and Note 15.

Net (losses)/gains from financial instruments mandatorily at fair value 
Net gains from disposal of debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income
Net (losses)/gains from disposal of financial assets and liabilities measured at amortised costa
Dividend income
Net (losses)/gains on other investmentsb
Net investment income

2020
£m
(50)
295
(61)
37
(208)
13

2019
£m
510
502
257
76
(214)
1,131

2018
£m
226
158
38
91
72
585

Notes
a 

Included within the 2020 balance are losses of £115m relating to the partial redemption of contingent capital notes. Included within the 2019 balance are gains of £170m relating to the 
sale of debt securities as part of the Group’s Treasury operations. 

b  Barclays has amended the presentation of the premium paid for purchased financial guarantees which are embedded in notes it issues directly to the market. From 2020 onwards, the full 
note coupon is presented as interest expense within net interest income. The financial guarantee element of the coupon had previously been recognised in net investment income. The 
reclassification into interest expense is £99m for 2020 (2019: £25m; 2018: £1m). The comparatives have not been restated.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

7 Credit impairment charges

Accounting for the impairment of financial assets
Impairment 
In accordance with IFRS 9, the Group is required to recognise expected credit losses (ECLs) based on unbiased forward-looking information for all 
financial assets at amortised cost, lease receivables, debt financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, loan commitments and 
financial guarantee contracts. 

At the reporting date, an allowance (or provision for loan commitments and financial guarantees) is required for the 12 month (Stage 1) ECLs. If the 
credit risk has significantly increased since initial recognition (Stage 2), or if the financial instrument is credit impaired (Stage 3), an allowance (or 
provision) should be recognised for the lifetime ECLs. 

The measurement of ECL is calculated using three main components: (i) probability of default (PD) (ii) loss given default (LGD) and (iii) the exposure 
at default (EAD). 

The 12 month and lifetime ECLs are calculated by multiplying the respective PD, LGD and the EAD. The 12 month and lifetime PDs represent the PD 
occurring over the next 12 months and the remaining maturity of the instrument respectively. The EAD represents the expected balance at default, 
taking into account the repayment of principal and interest from the balance sheet date to the default event together with any expected drawdowns 
of committed facilities. The LGD represents expected losses on the EAD given the event of default, taking into account, among other attributes, the 
mitigating effect of collateral value at the time it is expected to be realised and the time value of money. 

Determining a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition:

The Group assesses when a significant increase in credit risk has occurred based on quantitative and qualitative assessments. The credit risk of an 
exposure is considered to have significantly increased when:

i) Quantitative test
The annualised lifetime PD has increased by more than an agreed threshold relative to the equivalent at origination.

PD deterioration thresholds are defined as percentage increases, and are set at an origination score band and segment level to ensure the test 
appropriately captures significant increases in credit risk at all risk levels. Generally, thresholds are inversely correlated to the origination PD, i.e. as the 
origination PD increases, the threshold value reduces.

The assessment of the point at which a PD increase is deemed ‘significant’, is based upon analysis of the portfolio’s risk profile against a common set 
of principles and performance metrics (consistent across both retail and wholesale businesses), incorporating expert credit judgement where 
appropriate. Application of quantitative PD floors does not represent the use of the low credit risk exemption as exposures can separately move into 
Stage 2 via the qualitative route described below. 

Wholesale assets apply a 100% increase in PD and 0.2% PD floor to determine a significant increase in credit risk.

Retail assets apply bespoke relative increase and absolute PD thresholds based on product type and origination PD. Thresholds are subject to 
maximums defined by Group policy and typically apply minimum relative thresholds of 50-100% and a maximum relative threshold of 400%.

For existing/historical exposures where origination point scores or data are no longer available or do not represent a comparable estimate of lifetime 
PD, a proxy origination score is defined, based upon: 
■■ back-population of the approved lifetime PD score either to origination date or, where this is not feasible, as far back as possible (subject to a data 

start point no later than 1 January 2015); or

■■ use of available historical account performance data and other customer information, to derive a comparable ‘proxy’ estimation of origination PD.

ii) Qualitative test
This is relevant for accounts that meet the portfolio’s ‘high risk’ criteria and are subject to closer credit monitoring.

High risk customers may not be in arrears but either through an event or an observed behaviour exhibit credit distress. The definition and assessment 
of high risk includes as wide a range of information as reasonably available, such as industry and Group-wide customer level data, including but not 
limited to bureau scores and high consumer indebtedness index, wherever possible or relevant.

Whilst the high risk populations applied for IFRS 9 impairment purposes are aligned with risk management processes, they are also regularly reviewed 
and validated to ensure that they capture any incremental segments where there is evidence of credit deterioration.

iii) Backstop criteria
This is relevant for accounts that are more than 30 calendar days past due. The 30 days past due criteria is a backstop rather than a primary driver 
of moving exposures into Stage 2.

The criteria for determining a significant increase in credit risk for assets with bullet repayments follows the same principle as all other assets, 
i.e. quantitative, qualitative and backstop tests are all applied.

Exposures will move back to Stage 1 once they no longer meet the criteria for a significant increase in credit risk. This means that, at a minimum 
all payments must be up-to-date, the PD deterioration test is no longer met, the account is no longer classified as high risk, and the customer has 
evidenced an ability to maintain future payments. 

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Exposures are only removed from Stage 3 and re-assigned to Stage 2 once the original default trigger event no longer applies. Exposures being 
removed from Stage 3 must no longer qualify as credit impaired, and:

a) the obligor will also have demonstrated consistently good payment behaviour over a 12-month period, by making all consecutive contractual 
payments due and, for forborne exposures, the relevant EBA defined probationary period has also been successfully completed or;

b) (for non-forborne exposures) the performance conditions are defined and approved within an appropriately sanctioned restructure plan, including 
12 months’ payment history have been met.

Management overlays and other exceptions to model outputs are applied only if consistent with the objective of identifying significant increases 
in credit risk.

Forward-looking information
The measurement of ECL involves complexity and judgement, including estimation of PD, LGD, a range of unbiased future economic scenarios, 
estimation of expected lives (where contractual life is not appropriate), and estimation of EAD and assessing significant increases in credit risk.

Credit losses are the expected cash shortfalls from what is contractually due over the expected life of the financial instrument, discounted at the 
original effective interest rate (EIR). ECLs are the unbiased probability-weighted credit losses determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes 
and considering future economic conditions.

The Group uses a five-scenario model to calculate ECL. An external consensus forecast is assembled from key sources, including HM Treasury (short 
and medium term forecasts), Bloomberg (based on median of economic forecasts) and the Urban Land Institute (for US House Prices), which forms 
the baseline scenario. In addition, two adverse scenarios (Downside 1 and Downside 2) and two favourable scenarios (Upside 1 and Upside 2) are 
derived, with associated probability weightings. The adverse scenarios are calibrated to a similar severity to internal stress tests, whilst also 
considering IFRS 9 specific sensitivities and non-linearity. Downside 2 is benchmarked to the Bank of England’s annual cyclical scenarios and to the 
most severe scenario from Moody’s inventory, but is not designed to be the same. The favourable scenarios are calibrated to be symmetric to the 
adverse scenarios, subject to a ceiling calibrated to relevant recent favourable benchmark scenarios. The scenarios include eight economic variables 
(GDP, unemployment and House Price Index (HPI) in both the UK and US markets) and expanded variables using statistical models based on historical 
correlations. The upside and downside shocks are designed to evolve over a five-year stress horizon, with all five scenarios converging to a steady 
state after approximately eight years.

The methodology for estimating probability weights for each of the scenarios involves a comparison of the distribution of key historical UK and US 
macroeconomic variables against the forecast paths of the five scenarios. The methodology works such that the baseline (reflecting current 
consensus outlook) has the highest weight and the weights of adverse and favourable scenarios depend on the deviation from the baseline; the 
further from the baseline, the smaller the weight. A single set of five scenarios is used across all portfolios and all five weights are normalised to equate 
to 100%. The same scenarios and weights that are used in the estimation of expected credit losses are also used for the Group internal planning 
purposes. The impacts across the portfolios are different because of the sensitivities of each of the portfolios to specific macroeconomic variables, 
for example, mortgages are highly sensitive to house prices, credit cards and unsecured consumer loans are highly sensitive to unemployment. 

Definition of default, credit impaired assets, write-offs, and interest income recognition
The definition of default for the purpose of determining ECLs, and for internal credit risk management purposes, has been aligned to the Regulatory 
Capital CRR Article 178 definition of default, to maintain a consistent approach with IFRS 9 and associated regulatory guidance. The Regulatory 
Capital CRR Article 178 definition of default considers indicators that the debtor is unlikely to pay, includes exposures in forbearance and is no later 
than when the exposure is more than 90 days past due or 180 days past due in the case of UK mortgages. When exposures are identified as credit 
impaired at the time when they are purchased or originated interest income is calculated on the carrying value net of the impairment allowance.

An asset is considered credit impaired when one or more events occur that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of the 
financial asset. This comprises assets defined as defaulted and other individually assessed exposures where imminent default or actual loss is 
identified.

Uncollectable loans are written off against the related allowance for loan impairment on completion of the Group’s internal processes and when all 
reasonably expected recoverable amounts have been collected. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited to the income 
statement. The timing and extent of write-offs may involve some element of subjective judgement. Nevertheless, a write-off will often be prompted 
by a specific event, such as the inception of insolvency proceedings or other formal recovery action, which makes it possible to establish that some 
or the entire advance is beyond realistic prospect of recovery.

Accounting for purchased financial guarantee contracts
The Group may enter into a financial guarantee contract which requires the issuer of such contract to reimburse the Group for a loss it incurs because 
a specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the terms of a debt instrument. For these separate financial guarantee 
contracts, the Group recognises a reimbursement asset aligned with the recognition of the underlying ECLs, if it is considered virtually certain that 
a reimbursement would be received if the specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the terms of the debt instrument.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

7 Credit impairment charges continued

Loan modifications and renegotiations that are not credit-impaired
When modification of a loan agreement occurs as a result of commercial restructuring activity rather than due to the credit risk of the borrower, 
an assessment must be performed to determine whether the terms of the new agreement are substantially different from the terms of the existing 
agreement. This assessment considers both the change in cash flows arising from the modified terms as well as the change in overall instrument 
risk profile. In respect of payment holidays granted to borrowers which are not due to forbearance, if the revised cash flows on a present value basis 
(based on the original EIR) are not substantially different from the original cash flows, the loan is not considered to be substantially modified.

Where terms are substantially different, the existing loan will be derecognised and a new loan will be recognised at fair value, with any difference 
in valuation recognised immediately within the income statement, subject to observability criteria.

Where terms are not substantially different, the loan carrying value will be adjusted to reflect the present value of modified cash flows discounted 
at the original EIR, with any resulting gain or loss recognised immediately within the income statement as a modification gain or loss. 

Note 1 sets out details for changes in the basis of determining the contractual cash flows of a financial instrument that are required by interest rate 
benchmark reform.

Expected life
Lifetime ECLs must be measured over the expected life. This is restricted to the maximum contractual life and takes into account expected 
prepayment, extension, call and similar options. The exceptions are certain revolver financial instruments, such as credit cards and bank overdrafts, 
that include both a drawn and an undrawn component where the entity’s contractual ability to demand repayment and cancel the undrawn 
commitment does not limit the entity’s exposure to credit losses to the contractual notice period. For revolving facilities, expected life is analytically 
derived to reflect the behavioural life of the asset, i.e. the full period over which the business expects to be exposed to credit risk. Behavioural life 
is typically based upon historical analysis of the average time to default, closure or withdrawal of facility. Where data is insufficient or analysis 
inconclusive, an additional ‘maturity factor’ may be incorporated to reflect the full estimated life of the exposures, based upon experienced judgement 
and/or peer analysis. Potential future modifications of contracts are not taken into account when determining the expected life or EAD until 
they occur.

Discounting
ECLs are discounted at the EIR at initial recognition or an approximation thereof and consistent with income recognition. For loan commitments the 
EIR is the rate that is expected to apply when the loan is drawn down and a financial asset is recognised. Issued financial guarantee contracts are 
discounted at the risk free rate. Lease receivables are discounted at the rate implicit in the lease. For variable/floating rate financial assets, the spot 
rate at the reporting date is used and projections of changes in the variable rate over the expected life are not made to estimate future interest cash 
flows or for discounting.

Modelling techniques
ECLs are calculated by multiplying three main components, being the PD, LGD and the EAD, discounted at the original EIR. The regulatory Basel 
Committee of Banking Supervisors (BCBS) ECL calculations are leveraged for IFRS 9 modelling but adjusted for key differences which include:
■■ BCBS requires 12 month through the economic cycle losses whereas IFRS 9 requires 12 months or lifetime point in time losses based on 

conditions at the reporting date and multiple forecasts of the future economic conditions over the expected lives

■■ IFRS 9 models do not include certain conservative BCBS model floors and downturn assessments and require discounting to the reporting date 

at the original EIR rather than using the cost of capital to the date of default

■■ management adjustments are made to modelled output to account for situations where known or expected risk factors and information have 

not been considered in the modelling process, for example forecast economic scenarios for uncertain political events and

■■ ECL is measured at the individual financial instrument level, however a collective approach where financial instruments with similar risk 

characteristics are grouped together, with apportionment to individual financial instruments, is used where effects can only be seen at a collective 
level, for example for forward-looking information.

For the IFRS 9 impairment assessment, the Group’s risk models are used to determine the PD, LGD and EAD. For Stage 2 and 3, the Group applies 
lifetime PDs but uses 12 month PDs for Stage 1. The ECL drivers of PD, EAD and LGD are modelled at an account level which considers vintage, 
among other credit factors. Also, the assessment of significant increase in credit risk is based on the initial lifetime PD curve, which accounts for the 
different credit risk underwritten over time.

Forbearance
A financial asset is subject to forbearance when it is modified due to the credit distress of the borrower. A modification made to the terms of an asset 
due to forbearance will typically be assessed as a non-substantial modification that does not result in derecognition of the original loan, except in 
circumstances where debt is exchanged for equity. 

Both performing and non-performing forbearance assets are classified as Stage 3 except where it is established that the concession granted has not 
resulted in diminished financial obligation and that no other regulatory definition of default criteria have been triggered, in which case the asset is 
classified as Stage 2. The minimum probationary period for non-performing forbearance is 12 months and for performing forbearance, 24 months. 
Hence, a minimum of 36 months is required for non-performing forbearance to move out of a forborne state.

No financial instrument in forbearance can transfer back to Stage 1 until all of the Stage 2 thresholds are no longer met and can only move out of 
Stage 3 when no longer credit impaired.

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Critical accounting estimates and judgements
IFRS 9 impairment involves several important areas of judgement, including estimating forward looking modelled parameters (PD, LGD and EAD), 
developing a range of unbiased future economic scenarios, estimating expected lives and assessing significant increases in credit risk, based on the 
Group’s experience of managing credit risk. The determination of expected life is most material for Barclays credit card portfolios which is obtained 
via behavioural life analysis to materially capture the risk of these facilities. 

Within the retail and small businesses portfolios, which comprise large numbers of small homogenous assets with similar risk characteristics where 
credit scoring techniques are generally used, the impairment allowance is calculated using forward-looking modelled parameters which are typically 
run at account level. There are many models in use, each tailored to a product, line of business or customer category. Judgement and knowledge is 
needed in selecting the statistical methods to use when the models are developed or revised. The impairment allowance reflected in the financial 
statements for these portfolios is therefore considered to be reasonable and supportable. The impairment charge reflected in the income statement 
for retail portfolios is £3,116m (2019: £1,696m; 2018: £1,598m) of the total impairment charge on loans and advances and off balance sheet loan 
commitments and financial guarantee contracts.

For individually significant assets in Stage 3, impairment allowances are calculated on an individual basis and all relevant considerations that have a 
bearing on the expected future cash flows across a range of economic scenarios are taken into account. These considerations can be particularly 
subjective and can include the business prospects for the customer, the realisable value of collateral, the Group’s position relative to other claimants, 
the reliability of customer information and the likely cost and duration of the work-out process. The level of the impairment allowance is the difference 
between the value of the discounted expected future cash flows (discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate), and its carrying amount. 
Furthermore, judgements change with time as new information becomes available or as work-out strategies evolve, resulting in frequent revisions to 
the impairment allowance as individual decisions are taken. Changes in these estimates would result in a change in the allowances and have a direct 
impact on the impairment charge. The impairment charge reflected in the financial statements in relation to wholesale portfolios is a charge of 
£1,569m (2019: £208m charge; 2018: £133m release) of the total impairment charge on loans and advances and off balance sheet loan 
commitments and financial guarantee contracts. Further information on impairment allowances, impairment charges, measurement uncertainty, 
sensitivity analysis and related credit information is set out within the Credit risk performance section. 

Temporary adjustments to calculated IFRS 9 impairment allowances may be applied in limited circumstances to account for situations where known or 
expected risk factors or information have not been considered in the ECL assessment or modelling process. For further information please see page 
171 in the Credit risk performance section.

2020

Recoveries 
and 
reimburse-
mentsa
£m
(399)

Impairment 
charges
£m
4,308

Total
£m
3,909

Impairment 
charges
£m
1,957

2019

Recoveries 
and 
reimburse-
mentsa
£m
(124)

Total
£m
1,833

Impairment 
charges
£m
1,785

2018

Recoveries 
and 
reimburse-
mentsa
£m
(195)

Total
£m
1,590

776
5,084

–
(399)

776
4,685

71
2,028

–
(124)

71
1,904

(125)
1,660

–
(195)

(125)
1,465

2

2

–

–

2

2

1

1

–

–

1

1

(1)

4

–

–

(1)

4

149
5,237

–
(399)

149
4,838

6
2,036

–
(124)

6
1,912

–
1,663

–
(195)

–
1,468

Loans and advances
Provision for undrawn contractually 
committed facilities and guarantees 
provided
Loans impairment
Cash collateral and settlement 
balances
Financial assets at fair value through 
other comprehensive income
Other financial assets measured at 
cost
Credit impairment charges

Note
a  Recoveries and reimbursements includes £364m for reimbursements expected to be received under the arrangement where Group has entered into financial guarantee contracts which 

provide credit protection over certain loans assets with third parties. Cash recoveries of previously written off amounts to £35m.

Write-offs subject to enforcement activity
The contractual amount outstanding on financial assets that were written off during the year and that are still subject to enforcement activity is £1,246m 
(2019: £1,660m). This is lower than the write-offs presented in the movement in gross exposures and impairment allowance table due to assets sold 
during the year post write-offs and post write-off recoveries.

Modification of financial assets
Financial assets with a loss allowance measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECL of £4,275m (2019: £1,383m) were subject to non-substantial 
modification during the year, with a resulting loss of £34m (2019: £22m). The gross carrying amount of financial assets for which the loss allowance has 
changed to a 12 month ECL during the year amounts to £1,194m (2019: £401m).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

8 Operating expenses

Infrastructure costs
Property and equipment
Depreciation and amortisationa
Lease paymentsa
Impairment of property, equipment and intangible assets
Total infrastructure costs
Administration and general expenses
Consultancy, legal and professional fees
Marketing and advertising
UK bank levy
Other administration and general expenses
Total administration and general expenses
Staff costs
Provisions for litigation and conduct
Operating expenses

2020
£m

1,556
1,539
34
194
3,323

567
330
299
1,117
2,313
8,097
153
13,886

2019
£m

1,409
1,487
41
33
2,970

590
425
226
1,059
2,300
8,315
1,849
15,434

2018
£m

1,360
1,252
329
9
2,950

729
495
269
964
2,457
8,629
2,207
16,243

Note
a   Following the adoption of IFRS 16 from 1 January 2019, the depreciation charge associated with right of use assets is reported within the depreciation and amortisation charge for 2019 

and 2020.

For further details on staff costs including accounting policies, refer to Note 31.

9 Tax

Accounting for income taxes
The Group applies IAS 12 Income Taxes in accounting for taxes on income. Income tax payable on taxable profits (current tax) is recognised as an 
expense in the periods in which the profits arise. Withholding taxes are also treated as income taxes. Income tax recoverable on tax allowable losses is 
recognised as a current tax asset only to the extent that it is regarded as recoverable by offsetting against taxable profits arising in the current or prior 
periods. Current tax is measured using tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. 

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary 
differences, and the carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised, except in certain circumstances where the deferred tax 
asset relating to the deductible temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business 
combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred tax is determined using tax 
rates and legislation enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date which are expected to apply when the deferred tax asset is realised 
or the deferred tax liability is settled. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are only offset when there is both a legal right to set-off and an intention to 
settle on a net basis. 

The Group considers an uncertain tax position to exist when it considers that ultimately, in the future, the amount of profit subject to tax may be 
greater than the amount initially reflected in the Group’s tax returns. The Group accounts for provisions in respect of uncertain tax positions in two 
different ways. 

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A current tax provision is recognised when it is considered probable that the outcome of a review by a tax authority of an uncertain tax position will 
alter the amount of cash tax due to, or from, a tax authority in the future. From recognition, the current tax provision is then measured at the amount 
the Group ultimately expects to pay the tax authority to resolve the position. Effective from 1 January 2019, the Group changed its accounting policy 
on the accrual of interest and penalty amounts in respect of uncertain income tax positions and now recognises such amounts as an expense within 
profit before tax and will continue to do so in future periods. The prior periods’ tax charges have not been restated because the accrual for interest and 
penalties in those periods in respect of uncertain tax positions was not material. 

 Deferred tax provisions are adjustments made to the carrying value of deferred tax assets in respect of uncertain tax positions. A deferred tax 
provision is recognised when it is considered probable that the outcome of a review by a tax authority of an uncertain tax position will result in a 
reduction in the carrying value of the deferred tax asset. From recognition of a provision, measurement of the underlying deferred tax asset is 
adjusted to take into account the expected impact of resolving the uncertain tax position on the loss or temporary difference giving rise to the 
deferred tax asset. 

The approach taken to measurement takes account of whether the uncertain tax position is a discrete position that will be reviewed by the tax 
authority in isolation from any other position, or one of a number of issues which are expected to be reviewed together concurrently and resolved 
simultaneously with a tax authority. The Group’s measurement of provisions is based upon its best estimate of the additional profit that will become 
subject to tax. For a discrete position, consideration is given only to the merits of that position. Where a number of issues are expected to be reviewed 
and resolved together, the Group will take into account not only the merits of its position in respect of each particular issue but also the overall level of 
provision relative to the aggregate of the uncertain tax positions across all the issues that are expected to be resolved at the same time. In addition, in 
assessing provision levels, it is assumed that tax authorities will review uncertain tax positions and that all facts will be fully and transparently disclosed. 

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
There are two key areas of judgement that impact the reported tax position. Firstly, the level of provisioning for uncertain tax positions; and secondly, 
the recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets. 

The Group does not consider there to be a significant risk of a material adjustment to the carrying amount of current and deferred tax balances, 
including provisions for uncertain tax positions in the next financial year. The provisions for uncertain tax positions cover a diverse range of issues and 
reflect advice from external counsel where relevant. It should be noted that only a proportion of the total uncertain tax positions will be under audit at 
any point in time, and could therefore be subject to challenge by a tax authority over the next year. 

Deferred tax assets have been recognised based on business profit forecasts. Details on the recognition of deferred tax assets are provided in 
this note.

Current tax charge/(credit)
Current year
Adjustments in respect of prior years

Deferred tax charge/(credit)
Current year
Adjustments in respect of prior years

Tax charge

2020
£m

2019
£m

1,255 
31 
1,286 

(830)
148 
(682)
604 

1,037 
(45)
992 

86 
(75)
11 
1,003 

2018
£m

689 
(214)
475 

442 
(6)
436 
911

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

9 Tax continued
The table below shows the reconciliation between the actual tax charge and the tax charge that would result from applying the standard UK corporation 
tax rate to the Group’s profit before tax.

Profit before tax
Tax charge based on the standard UK corporation tax rate of 19% 
(2019: 19%; 2018: 19%) 
Impact of profits/losses earned in territories with different statutory rates 
to the UK (weighted average tax rate is 25.1% (2019: 24.2%; 2018: 21.9%))

Recurring items: 
Adjustments in respect of prior years
Non-creditable taxes including withholding taxes
Impact of UK bank levy being non-deductible
Non-deductible expenses
Tax adjustments in respect of share-based payments
Impact of Barclays Bank PLC’s overseas branches being taxed both locally 
and in the UK
Banking surcharge and other items
Changes in recognition of deferred tax and effect of unrecognised 
tax losses
AT1 tax credit
Non-taxable gains and income

Non-recurring items:
Remeasurement of UK deferred tax assets due to cancellation 
of rate change
Non-deductible provisions for UK customer redress
Non-deductible provisions for investigations and litigation 
Total tax charge

2019
£m
4,357

828

227

(120)
150
43
45
(6)

15
57

(82)
(157)
(260)

2019
%

19.0% 

5.2% 

(2.7%)
3.4% 
1.0% 
1.0% 
(0.1%)

0.3% 
1.3% 

(1.9%)
(3.6%)
(6.0%)

2020
£m
3,065

2020
%

582

19.0% 

188

6.1% 

5.8% 
3.5% 
1.9% 
1.6% 
0.8% 

0.8% 
0.2% 

(4.0%)
(5.4%)
(6.8%)

179
109
57
48
26

25
6

(123)
(165)
(208)

(118)
(7)
5
604

(3.8%)
(0.2%)
0.2% 
19.7%

–
263
–
1,003

– 
6.1% 
– 
23.0%

2018
£m
3,494

664

100

(220)
156
51
81
17

16
104

(104)
(148)
(245)

–
93
346
911

2018
%

19.0% 

2.9% 

(6.3%)
4.5% 
1.5% 
2.3% 
0.5% 

0.5% 
2.9% 

(3.0%)
(4.3%)
(7.0%)

– 
2.7% 
9.9% 
26.1%

Factors driving the effective tax rate
The effective tax rate of 19.7% is higher than the UK corporation tax rate of 19% primarily due to profits earned outside the UK being taxed at local 
statutory tax rates that are higher than the UK tax rate, adjustments in respect of prior years, non-creditable taxes and non-deductible expenses 
including UK bank levy. These factors, which have each increased the effective tax rate, are largely offset by the impact of non-taxable gains and income, 
tax relief on payments made under AT1 instruments, the use of unrecognised tax losses in the period and adjustments for the remeasurement of UK 
deferred tax assets as a result of the UK corporation tax rate being maintained at 19%.

The Group’s future tax charge will be sensitive to the geographic mix of profits earned, the tax rates in force and changes to the tax rules in the 
jurisdictions that the Group operates in.

Tax in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income
The tax relating to each component of other comprehensive income can be found in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income which 
includes within Other a tax credit of £5m (2019: £16m) on other items including share-based payments.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities
The deferred tax amounts on the balance sheet were as follows:

US Intermediate Holding Company Tax Group (‘IHC Tax Group’)
US Branch Tax Group
UK Tax Group
Other (outside the UK and US tax groups)
Deferred tax asset 
Deferred tax liability 
Net deferred tax 

2020
£m
1,001 
1,048 
886 
509 
3,444 
(15)
3,429 

2019
£m
1,037 
1,015 
818 
420 
3,290 
(23)
3,267 

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9 Tax continued
US deferred tax assets in the IHC and US Branch Tax Groups 
The deferred tax asset in the IHC Tax Group of £1,001m (2019: £1,037m) relates entirely to temporary differences and includes £nil (2019: £54m) relating 
to tax losses and the deferred tax asset in Barclays Bank PLC’s US Branch Tax Group of £1,048m (2019: £1,015m) also relates entirely to temporary 
differences and includes £nil (2019: £84m) relating to tax losses. 

The deferred tax asset in the IHC Tax Group of £1,001m (2019: £1,037m) also includes £330m (2019: £359m) arising from prior net operating loss 
conversion. Under New York State and City tax rules the amounts can be carried forward and will expire in 2034. Business profit forecasts indicate these 
amounts will be fully recovered before expiry. They are included within the other temporary differences category in the table below. 

UK Tax Group deferred tax asset
The deferred tax asset in the UK Tax Group of £886m (2019: £818m) includes £565m (2019: £268m) relating to tax losses, with the balance relating to 
temporary differences. There is no time limit on utilisation of UK tax losses and business profit forecasts indicate that these will be fully recovered.

Other deferred tax assets (outside the UK and US tax groups)
The deferred tax asset of £509m (2019: £420m) in other entities within the Group includes £170m (2019: £117m) relating to tax losses. These deferred 
tax assets relate to a number of different territories and their recognition is based on profit forecasts or local country law which indicate that it is probable 
that those deferred tax assets will be fully recovered.

Of the deferred tax asset of £509m (2019: £420m), an amount of £8m (2019: £10m) relates to entities which have suffered a loss in either the current or 
prior year and for which the utilisation of the deferred tax is dependent on future taxable profits. This has been taken into account in reaching the above 
conclusion that these deferred tax assets will be fully recovered in the future. 

The table below shows movements on deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year. The amounts are different from those disclosed on the balance 
sheet and in the preceding table as they are presented before offsetting asset and liability balances where there is a legal right to set-off and an intention 
to settle on a net basis.

Fair value 
through other
 compre-
hensive
 income 
£m
119
(18)
101
–

Fixed asset
timing
differences
£m
1,338
(31)
1,307
129

Cash flow
hedges
£m
–
(181)
(181)
–

Retirement
benefit
obligations
£m
38
(640)
(602)
6

Loan
impairment
allowance
£m
501
–
501
156

Share-based
payments and
 deferred 
compensation
£m
344
–
344
20

Other
provisions
£m
128
–
128
22

Other
 temporary
 differences 
£m
1,458
(312)
1,146
134

Tax losses
carried
forward
£m
523
–
523
215

–
(12)
1,424
1,465
(41)
1,424

1,292
(16)
1,276
51

–
(20)
1,307
1,338
(31)
1,307

(137)
(2)
(38)
–
(38)
(38)

180
(35)
145
–

(42)
(2)
101
119
(18)
101

(377)
(8)
(566)
–
(566)
(566)

39
(10)
29
–

(210)
–
(181)
–
(181)
(181)

(191)
4
(783)
43
(826)
(783)

46
(435)
(389)
(4)

(205)
(4)
(602)
38
(640)
(602)

–
9
666
666
–
666

601
–
601
(49)

(40)
(11)
501
501
–
501

–
(7)
143
143
–
143

112
–
112
23

2
(9)
128
128
–
128

5
(6)
363
363
–
363

359
–
359
(19)

9
(5)
344
344
–
344

238
(33)
1,485
1,564
(79)
1,485

1,377
(262)
1,115
(31)

72
(10)
1,146
1,458
(312)
1,146

–
(3)
735
735
–
735

529
–
529
18

–
(24)
523
523
–
523

Total 
£m
4,449
(1,182)
3,267
682

(462)
(58)
3,429
4,979
(1,550)
3,429

4,535
(758)
3,777
(11)

(414)
(85)
3,267
4,449
(1,182)
3,267

Assets
Liabilities
At 1 January 2020
Income statement
Other comprehensive 
income and reserves
Other movements

Assets
Liabilities
At 31 December 2020

Assets
Liabilities
At 1 January 2019
Income statement
Other comprehensive 
income and reserves
Other movements

Assets
Liabilities
At 31 December 2019

Other movements include the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates as well as deferred tax amounts relating to acquisitions and disposals. 

The amount of deferred tax assets expected to be recovered after more than 12 months is £4,544m (2019: £3,945m). The amount of deferred tax 
liability expected to be settled after more than 12 months is £1,510m (2019: £1,199m). These amounts are before offsetting asset and liability balances 
where there is a legal right to set-off and an intention to settle on a net basis. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Financial performance and returns continued

9 Tax continued
Unrecognised deferred tax
Tax losses and temporary differences
Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of gross deductible temporary differences of £125m (2019: £213m), unused tax credits of 
£236m (2019: £247m), and gross tax losses of £20,913m (2019: £19,582m). The tax losses include capital losses of £3,947m (2019: £3,980m). Of these 
tax losses, £139m (2019: £41m) expire within five years, £236m (2019: £239m) expire within six to 10 years, £7,271m (2019: £5,178m) expire within 11 
to 20 years and £13,267m (2019: £14,124m) can be carried forward indefinitely. Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of these items 
because it is not probable that future taxable profits and gains will be available against which they can be utilised. 

Group investments in subsidiaries, branches and associates 
Deferred tax is not recognised in respect of the value of the Group’s investments in subsidiaries, branches and associates where the Group is able to control 
the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future. The aggregate 
amount of these temporary differences for which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognised was £0.8bn (2019: £0.7bn).

10 Earnings per share

Profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 

Basic weighted average number of shares in issue
Number of potential ordinary shares
Diluted weighted average number of shares

Earnings per ordinary share

2020
£m
1,526

2020
million
17,300
368
17,668

2019
£m
2,461

2019
million
17,200
282
17,482

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

2020
p
8.8

2019
p
14.3

2018
p
9.4

2020
p
8.6

2019
p
14.1

2018
£m
1,597

2018
million
17,075
308
17,383

2018
p
9.2

The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the profit attributable to equity holders of the parent and the basic weighted average number 
of shares excluding treasury shares held in employee benefit trusts or held for trading. When calculating the diluted earnings per share, the weighted 
average number of shares in issue is adjusted for the effects of all expected dilutive potential ordinary shares held in respect of Barclays PLC, totalling 
368m (2019: 282m) shares. The total number of share options outstanding, under schemes considered to be potentially dilutive, was 719m 
(2019: 533m). These options have strike prices ranging from £0.84 to £2.27.

Of the total number of employee share options and share awards at 31 December 2020, 69m (2019: 43m) were anti-dilutive.

The 100m (2019: 125m) increase in the basic weighted average number of shares are primarily due to shares issued under employee share schemes.

11 Dividends on ordinary shares
In response to a request from the PRA, and to preserve additional capital for use in serving Barclays customers and clients through the extraordinary 
challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board agreed to cancel the 6.0p per ordinary share full year 2019 dividend. 

The Directors have approved a total dividend in respect of 2020 of 1.0p per ordinary share of 25p each. The full year dividend for 2020 of 1.0p per ordinary 
share will be paid on 1 April 2021 to shareholders on the Share Register on 26 February 2021. On 31 December 2020, there were 17,359m ordinary 
shares in issue. The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 do not reflect this dividend, which will be accounted for in shareholders’ 
equity as an appropriation of retained profits in the year ending 31 December 2021. Dividends are funded out of distributable reserves.

The Directors have confirmed their intention to initiate a share buyback of up to £700m after the balance sheet date. The share buyback is expected to 
commence in the first quarter of 2021. The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 do not reflect the impact of the proposed share 
buyback, which will be accounted for as and when shares are repurchased by the Company. 

304

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

Assets and liabilities held at fair value

The notes included in this section focus on assets and liabilities the Group holds and recognises at fair value. Fair value refers to the price that would be 
received to sell an asset or the price that would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement 
date, which may be an observable market price or, where there is no quoted price for the instrument, may be an estimate based on available market 
data. Detail regarding the Group’s approach to managing market risk can be found in the Market risk management section.

12 Trading portfolio

Accounting for trading portfolio assets and liabilities
In accordance with IFRS 9, all assets and liabilities held for trading purposes are held at fair value with gains and losses in the changes in fair value taken 
to the income statement in net trading income (Note 5).

Debt securities and other eligible bills
Equity securities
Traded loans
Commodities
Trading portfolio assets/(liabilities)

Trading portfolio assets

Trading portfolio liabilities

2020 
£m
56,482
62,192
8,348
928
127,950

2019 
£m
52,739
56,000
5,378
78
114,195

2020 
£m
(30,102)
(17,303)
–
–
(47,405)

2019 
£m
(23,741)
(13,175)
–
–
(36,916)

13 Financial assets at fair value through the income statement

Accounting for financial assets mandatorily at fair value
Financial assets that are held for trading are recognised at fair value through profit or loss. In addition, financial assets are held at fair value through 
profit or loss if they do not contain contractual terms that give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are SPPI, or if the financial asset is not held 
in a business model that is either (i) a business model to collect the contractual cash flows or (ii) a business model that is achieved by both collecting 
contractual cash flows and selling. 

Accounting for financial assets designated at fair value
Financial assets, other than those held for trading, are classified in this category if they are so irrevocably designated at inception and the use of the 
designation removes or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch.

Subsequent changes in fair value for these instruments are recognised in the income statement in net investment income, except if reporting it in 
trading income reduces an accounting mismatch. 

The details on how the fair value amounts are derived for financial assets at fair value are described in Note 17.

Loans and advances
Debt securities
Equity securities
Reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending
Other financial assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement

Designated at fair value

Mandatorily at fair value

Total

2020 
£m
5,600
292
–

19
–
5,911

2019 
£m
4,900
3,995
–

40
–
8,935

2020 
£m
25,279
1,401
4,620

2019 
£m
17,792
1,254
7,495

2020 
£m
30,879
1,693
4,620

2019 
£m
22,692
5,249
7,495

137,597
343
169,240

96,847
763
124,151

137,616
343
175,151

96,887
763
133,086

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

13 Financial assets at fair value through the income statement continued
Credit risk of financial assets designated at fair value and related credit derivatives
The following table shows the maximum exposure to credit risk, the changes in fair value attributable to changes in credit risk, and the cumulative 
changes in fair value since initial recognition for loans and advances. The table does not include debt securities and reverse repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured lending designated at FV as they have minimal exposure to credit risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are collateralised and debt 
securities are primarily relating to high quality sovereigns.

Loans and advances designated at fair value, attributable to credit risk
Value mitigated by related credit derivatives 

14 Derivative financial instruments 

Maximum exposure  
as at 31 December

2020 
£m
5,600
795

2019 
£m
4,900
–

Changes in fair value during  
the year ended
2020 
£m
(47)
3

2019 
£m
4
–

Cumulative changes in fair  
value from inception

2020 
£m
(73)
3

2019 
£m
(26)
–

Accounting for derivatives
Derivative instruments are contracts whose value is derived from one or more underlying financial instruments or indices defined in the contract. 
They include swaps, forward-rate agreements, futures, options and combinations of these instruments and primarily affect the Group’s net interest 
income, net trading income and derivative assets and liabilities. Notional amounts of the contracts are not recorded on the balance sheet. Derivatives 
are used to hedge interest rate, credit risk, inflation risk, exchange rate, commodity equity exposures, and exposures to certain indices such as house 
price indices and retail price indices related to non-trading positions. 

All derivative instruments are held at fair value through profit or loss, except for derivatives that are in a designated cash flow or net investment hedge 
accounting relationship. Derivatives are classified as assets when their fair value is positive or as liabilities when their fair value is negative. This includes 
terms included in a contract or financial liability (the host), which, had it been a standalone contract, would have met the definition of a derivative. 
If these are separated from the host, i.e. when the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative are not closely related with those of the host 
contract and the combined instrument is not measured at fair value through profit or loss, then they are accounted for in the same way as derivatives. 
For financial assets, the requirements are whether the financial assets contain contractual terms that give rise on specified dates to cash flows that 
are SPPI, and consequently the requirements for accounting for embedded derivatives are not applicable to financial assets. 

Hedge accounting
The Group applies the requirements of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for hedge accounting purposes. The Group applies 
hedge accounting to represent the economic effects of its interest rate, currency and contractually linked inflation risk management strategies. 
Where derivatives are held for risk management purposes, and when transactions meet the required criteria for documentation and hedge 
effectiveness, the Group applies fair value hedge accounting, cash flow hedge accounting, or hedging of a net investment in a foreign operation, 
as appropriate to the risks being hedged. 

The Group has applied the ‘Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7 Interest Rate Benchmark Reform’ issued in September 2019. In accordance with 
the transition provisions, the amendments have been adopted retrospectively to hedging relationships that existed at the start of the reporting period 
or were designated thereafter, and to the amount accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve at that date.

The amendments provide temporary relief from applying specific hedge accounting requirements to hedging relationships directly affected by IBOR 
(‘Interbank Offered Rates’) reform. The reliefs have the effect that IBOR reform should not generally cause hedge accounting to terminate. However, 
any hedge ineffectiveness continues to be recorded in the income statement. Furthermore, the amendments set out triggers for when the reliefs will 
end, which include the uncertainty arising from interest rate benchmark reform no longer being present.

In summary, the reliefs provided by the amendments that apply to the Group are:
■■ When considering the ‘highly probable’ requirement, the Group has assumed that the IBOR interest rates upon which our hedged items are based 

do not change as a result of IBOR reform.

■■ In assessing whether the hedge is expected to be highly effective on a forward-looking basis the Group has assumed that the IBOR interest rates 

upon which the cash flows of the hedged items and the interest rate swaps that hedge them are based are not altered by IBOR reform.

■■ The Group will not discontinue hedge accounting during the period of IBOR-related uncertainty solely because the retrospective effectiveness 

falls outside the required 80–125% range.

■■ The Group has not recycled the cash flow hedge reserve relating to the period after the reforms are expected to take effect.
■■ The Group has assessed whether the hedged IBOR risk component is a separately identifiable risk only when it first designates a hedged item 

in a fair value hedge and not on an ongoing basis.

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Financial statements

14 Derivative financial instruments continued

The Group has elected to early adopt the ‘Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2’ 
issued in August 2020. The Phase 2 amendments provide relief when changes are made to hedge relationships as a result of the interest rate 
benchmark reform. 

The Phase 2 amendments adopted by the Group are: 
■■ under a temporary exception, the Group has considered that changes to the hedge designation and hedge documentation due to the interest rate 

benchmark reform would not constitute the discontinuation of the hedge relationship nor the designation of a new hedging relationship

■■ in respect of the retrospective hedge effectiveness assessment, the Group may elect, on a hedge-by-hedge basis, to reset the cumulative fair 
value changes to zero when the exception to the retrospective assessment ends (Phase 1 relief). Any hedge ineffectiveness will continue to be 
measured and recognised in full in profit or loss

■■ the Group has deemed the amounts accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve to be based on the alternative benchmark rate (on which the 

hedge future cash flows are determined) when there is a change in basis for determining the contractual cash flows

■■ for hedges of groups of items (such as those forming part of a macro cash flow hedging strategy), the amendments provide relief for items within 

a designated group of items that are amended for changes directly required by the reform

■■ in respect of whether a risk component of a hedged item is separately identifiable, the amendments provide temporary relief to entities to meet 
this requirement when an alternative risk free rate (RFR) financial instrument is designated as a risk component. These amendments allow the 
Group upon designation of the hedge to assume that the separately identifiable requirement is met if the Group reasonably expects the RFR risk 
will become separately identifiable within the next 24 months. The Group applies this relief to each RFR on a rate-by-rate basis and starts when the 
Group first designates the RFR as a non-contractually specified risk component.

Fair value hedge accounting 
Changes in fair value of derivatives that qualify and are designated as fair value hedges are recorded in the income statement, together with changes 
in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk. The fair value changes adjust the carrying value of the hedged 
asset or liability held at amortised cost.

If hedge relationships no longer meet the criteria for hedge accounting, hedge accounting is discontinued. For fair value hedges of interest rate risk, 
the fair value adjustment to the hedged item is amortised to the income statement over the period to maturity of the previously designated hedge 
relationship using the effective interest method. If the hedged item is sold or repaid, the unamortised fair value adjustment is recognised immediately 
in the income statement. For items classified as fair value through other comprehensive income, the hedge accounting adjustment is included in 
other comprehensive income. 

Cash flow hedge accounting
For qualifying cash flow hedges, the fair value gain or loss associated with the effective portion of the cash flow hedge is recognised initially in other 
comprehensive income, and then recycled to the income statement in the periods when the hedged item will affect profit or loss. Any ineffective 
portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised in the income statement immediately.

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing 
in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognised when the hedged item is ultimately recognised in the income statement. When a forecast 
transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was recognised in equity is immediately transferred to the income 
statement.

Hedges of net investments 
The Group’s net investments in foreign operations, including monetary items accounted for as part of the net investment, are hedged for foreign 
currency risks using both derivatives and foreign currency borrowings. Hedges of net investments are accounted for similarly to cash flow hedges; 
the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is being recognised directly in other comprehensive income and the ineffective 
portion being recognised immediately in the income statement. The cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income is recognised 
in the income statement on the disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation, or other reductions in the Group’s investment in the operation.

Total derivatives

2020

2019

Total derivative assets/(liabilities) held for trading
Total derivative assets/(liabilities) held for risk management
Derivative assets/(liabilities)

Notional
 contract 
amount
£m
43,169,971
189,784
43,359,755

Fair value

Assets 
£m
301,880
566
302,446

Liabilities 
£m

Notional 
contract 
amount 
£m
(299,795) 42,111,110
181,375
(300,775) 42,292,485

(980)

Fair value

Assets 
£m
229,063
173
229,236

Liabilities 
£m
(228,617)
(587)
(229,204)

Further information on netting arrangements of derivative financial instruments can be found within Note 18.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

14 Derivative financial instruments continued
The fair values and notional amounts of derivative instruments held for trading and held for risk management are set out in the following table:

Derivatives held for trading and held for risk management

Derivatives held for trading
Foreign exchange derivatives
OTC derivatives
Derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Exchange traded derivatives
Foreign exchange derivatives
Interest rate derivatives
OTC derivatives
Derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Exchange traded derivatives
Interest rate derivatives
Credit derivatives
OTC derivatives
Derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Credit derivatives
Equity and stock index derivatives
OTC derivatives
Exchange traded derivatives
Equity and stock index derivatives
Commodity derivatives
OTC derivatives
Exchange traded derivatives
Commodity derivatives
Derivative assets/(liabilities) held for trading

Total OTC derivatives
Total derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Total exchange traded derivatives
Derivative assets/(liabilities) held for trading

Derivatives held for risk management
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
OTC foreign exchange derivatives
OTC interest rate derivatives
Interest rate derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges
OTC interest rate derivatives
Interest rate derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges
Derivatives designated as hedges of net investments
OTC foreign exchange derivatives
Derivatives designated as hedges of net investments
Derivative assets/(liabilities) held for risk management

Total OTC derivatives
Total derivatives cleared by central counterparty
Derivative assets/(liabilities) held for risk management

2020

2019

Notional
 contract 
amount
£m

Fair value

Assets 
£m

Liabilities 
£m

Notional 
contract 
amount 
£m

Fair value

Assets 
£m

Liabilities 
£m

5,461,057
78,946
14,034
5,554,037

84,401
335
3
84,739

(84,043)
(335)
(3)
(84,381)

4,906,647
74,698
18,520
4,999,865

56,480
84
12
56,576

(56,845)
(145)
(31)
(57,021)

13,547,990
18,737,415
2,971,966
35,257,371

170,808
965
371
172,144

(161,157) 12,627,808
(885) 17,428,460
5,041,948
(360)
(162,402) 35,098,216

140,207
867
1,251
142,325

(133,401)
(1,093)
(1,265)
(135,759)

384,900
462,945
847,845

466,151
927,114
1,393,265

4,244
113,209
117,453
43,169,971

19,864,342
19,279,306
4,026,323
43,169,971

3,674
931
4,605

18,807
20,165
38,972

89
1,331
1,420
301,880

277,779
2,231
21,870
301,880

(3,909)
(1,095)
(5,004)

399,386
426,130
825,516

(26,094)
(20,521)
(46,615)

232,050
841,994
1,074,044

(110)
(1,283)
(1,393)

7,327
106,142
113,469
(299,795) 42,111,110

(275,313) 18,173,218
(2,315) 17,929,288
6,008,604
(299,795) 42,111,110

(22,167)

5,253
2,962
8,215

10,628
10,178
20,806

303
838
1,141
229,063

212,871
3,913
12,279
229,063

(5,399)
(2,687)
(8,086)

(15,785)
(10,849)
(26,634)

(256)
(861)
(1,117)
(228,617)

(211,686)
(3,925)
(13,006)
(228,617)

6,596
2,433
65,408
74,437

11,116
103,440
114,556

791
791
189,784

20,936
168,848
189,784

351
35
– 
386

155
– 
155

25
25
566

566
– 
566

– 
– 
– 
– 

(980)
– 
(980)

– 
– 
(980)

(980)
– 
(980)

–
1,195
66,578
67,773

8,379
104,078
112,457

1,145
1,145
181,375

10,719
170,656
181,375

–
7
– 
7

136
– 
136

30
30
173

173
– 
173

–
(1)
– 
(1)

(586)
– 
(586)

– 
– 
(587)

(587)
– 
(587)

308

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Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

14 Derivative financial instruments continued
Hedge accounting
Hedge accounting is applied predominantly for the following risks:
■■ interest rate risk – arises due to a mismatch between fixed interest rates and floating interest rates. Interest rate risk also includes exposure to inflation 

risk for certain types of investments

■■ currency risk – arises due to assets or liabilities being denominated in different currencies than the functional currency of the relevant entity. 

At a consolidated level, currency risk also arises when the functional currency of subsidiaries are different from the parent

■■ contractually linked inflation risk – arises from financial instruments within contractually specified inflation risk. The Group does not hedge inflation risk 

that arises from other activities.

In order to hedge these risks, the Group uses the following hedging instruments:
■■ interest rate derivatives to swap interest rate exposures into either fixed or variable rates
■■ currency derivatives to swap foreign currency exposures into the entity’s functional currency, and net investment exposure to local currency
■■ inflation derivatives to swap inflation exposure into either fixed or variable interest rates.

In some cases, certain items which are economically hedged may be ineligible hedged items for the purposes of IAS 39, such as core deposits and equity. 
In these instances, a proxy hedging solution can be utilised whereby portfolios of floating rate assets are designated as eligible hedged items in cash flow 
hedges.

In some hedging relationships, the Group designates risk components of hedged items as follows:
■■ benchmark interest rate risk as a component of interest rate risk, such as the LIBOR or Risk Free Rate (RFR) component
■■ inflation risk as a contractually specified component of a debt instrument
■■ spot exchange rate risk for foreign currency financial assets or financial liabilities
■■ components of cash flows of hedged items, for example certain interest payments for part of the life of an instrument.

Using the benchmark interest rate risk results in other risks, such as credit risk and liquidity risk, being excluded from the hedge accounting relationship. 
LIBOR is considered the predominant interest rate risk and therefore the hedged items change in fair value on a fully proportionate basis with reference 
to this risk.

In respect of many of the Group’s hedge accounting relationships, the hedged item and hedging instrument change frequently due to the dynamic nature 
of the risk management and hedge accounting strategy. The Group applies hedge accounting to dynamic scenarios, predominantly in relation to interest 
rate risk, with a combination of hedged items in order for its financial statements to reflect as closely as possible the economic risk management 
undertaken. In some cases, if the hedge accounting objective changes, the relevant hedge accounting relationship is de-designated and is replaced with 
a different hedge accounting relationship.

Changes in the GBP value of net investments due to foreign currency movements are captured in the currency translation reserve, resulting in a 
movement in CET1 capital. The Group mitigates this by matching the CET1 capital movements to the revaluation of the foreign currency RWA 
exposures. Net investment hedges are designated where necessary to reduce the exposure to movement in a particular exchange rate to within limits 
mandated by Risk. As far as possible, existing external currency liabilities are designated as the hedging instruments.

The hedging instruments share the same risk exposures as the hedged items. Hedge effectiveness is determined with reference to quantitative tests, 
predominantly regression testing, but to the extent hedging instruments are exposed to different risks than the hedged items, this could result in hedge 
ineffectiveness or hedge accounting failures.

Sources of ineffectiveness include the following:
■■ mismatches between the contractual terms of the hedged item and hedging instrument, including basis differences
■■ changes in credit risk of the hedging instruments
■■ if a hedging relationship becomes over-hedged, for example in hedges of net investments if the net asset value designated at the start of the period 

falls below the amount of the hedging instrument

■■ cash flow hedges using external swaps with non-zero fair values
■■ the effects of the forthcoming reforms to IBOR because these might take effect at a different time and have a different impact on hedged items and 

hedging instruments.

Across all benchmarks which Barclays is materially exposed to, there is still uncertainty regarding the precise timing and effects of IBOR reform. There is 
yet to be full consensus regarding methodologies for converging existing IBORs to their final benchmark rates. As such, Barclays has not incorporated any 
change in assumptions for affected benchmarks into its expectations or calculations. Barclays does, however, assume sufficient liquidity in IBOR linked 
benchmarks to provide reliable valuation calculations of both hedged items and hedging instruments (notwithstanding reliefs already applied within the 
financial reporting).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

14 Derivative financial instruments continued
The following table summarises the significant hedge accounting exposures impacted by the IBOR reform (see Note 41 for further updates) as at 31 
December 2020:

Current benchmark rate
GBP London Interbank Offered rate (LIBOR)
USD LIBOR
Euro Overnight Index Average (EONIA)
JPY LIBOR
CHF LIBOR
All Other IBORs
Total

Hedged items in fair value hedges

Expected convergence to RFR
Reformed Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA)
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)
Euro Short-Term Rate (€STR)
Tokyo Overnight Average (TONA)
Swiss Average Rate Overnight (SARON)
Various Other RFRs

Accumulated fair value 
adjustment included in 
carrying amount

Nominal 
amount of 
hedged items 
directly 
impacted by 
IBOR reform 
£m
15,740
29,154
5,128
1,262
145
111
51,540

Nominal 
amount of 
hedging 
instruments 
directly 
impacted by 
IBOR reform
£m
14,276
28,832
5,128
1,262
145
111
49,754

Hedged item statement of financial position classification and risk category
2020
Assets
Loans and advances at amortised cost
– Interest rate risk
– Inflation risk
Debt securities classified at amortised cost
– Interest rate risk
– Inflation risk
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
– Interest rate risk
– Inflation risk
Total assets
Liabilities
Debt securities in issue
– Interest rate risk
Total liabilities
Total hedged items

Of which:
 Accumulated 
fair value 
adjustment 
on items no
 longer in a 
hedge 
relationship
£m

Change in 
fair value 
used as a 
basis to 
determine 
ineffectiveness
£m

Hedge 
ineffectiveness 
recognised in 
the income 
 statementa
£m

(638)
–

–
–

351
(9)
(296)

(24)
(24)
(320)

1,583
25

18
453

825
307
3,211

(1,466)
(1,466)
1,745

111
3

(7)
3

(13)
1
98

(56)
(56)
42

Carrying 
amount
£m

Total
£m

9,858
545

1,440
4,071

41,544
10,821
68,279

2,289
345

23
(43)

1,284
367
4,265

(50,438)
(50,438)
17,841

(2,859)
(2,859)
1,406

310

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14 Derivative financial instruments continued

Hedged items in fair value hedges

Accumulated fair value 
adjustment included in 
carrying amount

Of which:
 Accumulated 
fair value 
adjustment 
on items no
 longer in a 
hedge 
relationship
£m

Change in 
fair value 
used as a 
basis to 
determine 
ineffectiveness
£m

Hedge 
ineffectiveness 
recognised in 
the income 
 statementa
£m

Hedged item statement of financial position classification and risk category
2019
Assets
Loans and advances at amortised cost
– Interest rate risk
– Inflation risk
Debt securities classified at amortised cost
– Interest rate risk
– Inflation risk
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
– Interest rate risk
– Inflation risk
Total assets
Liabilities
Debt securities in issue
– Interest rate risk
Total liabilities
Total hedged items

Note
a  Hedge ineffectiveness is recognised in net interest income.

Carrying 
amount
£m

8,442
525

2,974
2,258

32,169
7,811
54,179

Total
£m

694
325

(1)
(41)

922
87
1,986

(55,589)
(55,589)
(1,410)

(1,574)
(1,574)
412

(643)
–

–
–

494
–
(149)

(75)
(75)
(224)

1,030
(2)

(1)
(41)

2,046
111
3,143

(1,445)
(1,445)
1,698

For items classified as fair value through other comprehensive income, the hedge accounting adjustment is not included in the carrying amount, 
but rather adjusts other comprehensive income.

The following table shows the fair value hedging instruments which are carried on the Group’s balance sheet:

Hedge type
As at 31 December 2020
Fair value 

As at 31 December 2019
Fair value 

Risk category

Interest rate risk
Inflation risk
Total

Interest rate risk
Inflation risk
Total

Carrying value

Derivative
 assets
£m

Derivative
 liabilities
£m

Loan 
liabilities 
£m

Nominal 
amount 
£m

120
35
155

110
26
136

(166)
(815)
(980)

(44)
(542)
(586)

–
–
–

–
–
–

103,623
10,933
114,556

104,568
7,889
112,457

Change in 
fair value 
used as a 
basis to 
determine 
ineffectiveness 
£m

(925)
(778)
(1,703)

(1,571)
(82)
(1,653)

76
1

–
1

(4)
(16)
58

(13)
(13)
45

Nominal 
amount 
directly 
impacted 
by IBOR 
reform 
£m

30,072
1,487
31,559

55,552
6,101
61,653

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

14 Derivative financial instruments continued
The following table profiles the expected notional values of current hedging instruments in future years:

As at 31 December
Fair value hedges of:
Interest rate risk (outstanding notional amount)
Inflation risk (outstanding notional amount)

2020
£m

2021
£m

2022
£m

2023
£m

2024
£m

2025
£m

2026 and 
later
£m

103,623
10,933

94,402
10,128

81,916
8,817

72,281
7,966

58,001
6,051

47,244
5,062

40,243
4,348

There are 1,906 (2019: 2,308) interest rate risk fair value hedges with an average fixed rate of 1.87% (2019: 2.13%) across the relationships and 104 
(2019: 117) inflation risk fair value hedges with an average rate of 0.63% (2019: 0.70%) across the relationships.

Hedged items in cash flow hedges and hedges of net investments in foreign operations

Change in value
 of hedged item
 used as the
 basis for 
recognising 
ineffectiveness
£m

Balance in 
cash flow 
hedging 
reserve for
 continuing
 hedges
£m

Balance in
 currency 
translation 
reserve for
 continuing 
hedges
£m

Balances 
remaining in
 cash flow
 hedging
 reserve for
 which hedge 
accounting 
is no longer 
applied
£m

Balances 
remaining in 
currency
 translation
 reserve for
 which hedge
 accounting 
is no longer 
applied
£m

Hedging 
gains 
or losses 
recognised 
in other
 comprehensive
 income
£m

Hedge 
ineffectiveness
 recognised in 
the income
 statementa
£m

(1,124)

(598)

(70)
(278)

(41)
(1,513)

(240)
(17)
(9)
(266)

(15)
(65)

(65)
(743)

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–

857
(2)
47
902

(1,370)

–
–

–
(1,370)

–
–
–
–

(696)

(223)

(29)
(725)

215
70
3
288

(26)
(249)

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

(1,072)

–
(1,072)

1,087
(1)
1
1,087

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–
–
186
186

–

–
–

–
16
240
256

(1,124)

(70)
(278)

(41)
(1,513)

(240)
(17)
(9)
(266)

(706)

(25)
(731)

215
70
3
288

27

–
–

1
28

–
–
–
–

43

2
45

–
–
–
–

Description of hedge relationship and hedged risk
2020
Cash flow hedge of:  
Interest rate risk
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Foreign exchange risk
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Debt securities classified at amortised cost
Inflation risk
Debt securities classified at amortised cost
Total cash flow hedge
Hedge of net investment in foreign operations
USD foreign operations
EUR foreign operations
Other foreign operations
Total foreign operations

2019
Cash flow hedge of:
Interest rate risk
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Inflation risk
Debt securities classified at amortised cost
Total cash flow hedge
Hedge of net investment in foreign operations
USD foreign operations
EUR foreign operations
Other foreign operations
Total foreign operations

Note
a  Hedge ineffectiveness is recognised in net interest income.

312

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14 Derivative financial instruments continued
The following table shows the cash flow and net investment hedging instruments which are carried on the Group’s balance sheet:

Hedge type
As at 31 December 2020
Cash flow

Net investment

As at 31 December 2019
Cash flow

Net investment

Risk category

Interest rate risk
Foreign exchange risk
Inflation risk
Total
Foreign exchange risk

Interest rate risk
Inflation risk
Total
Foreign exchange risk

Carrying value

Derivative
 assets
£m

Derivative
 liabilities
£m

Loan 
liabilities 
£m

Nominal 
amount 
£m

33
351
2
386
25

3
4
7
30

–
–
–
–
–

(1)
–
(1)
–

–
–
–
–
(8,660)

–
–
–
(10,051)

65,042
6,596
2,799
74,437
9,451

66,515
1,258
67,773
11,196

Change in 
fair value 
used as a 
basis to 
determine 
ineffectiveness 
£m

1,151
348
42
1,541
265

739
31
770
288

Nominal 
amount 
directly 
impacted 
by IBOR 
reform 
£m

18,195
–
–
18,195
–

15,223
–
15,223
–

There are 29 (2019: nil) foreign exchange risk cash flow hedges with an average foreign exchange rate of 135.29 JPY: 1 GBP (2019: nil) across the 
relationships.

The Group’s risk exposure is directly affected by interest rate benchmark reform, across both its cash flow hedge accounting activities; where IBOR-linked 
derivatives are designated as a cash flow hedge of IBOR-linked cash flows, and its fair value hedge accounting activities; where IBOR-linked derivatives are 
designated as a fair value hedge of fixed interest rate assets and liabilities. Further information on the group’s risk exposure and response can be found in 
Note 41.

The effect on the income statement and other comprehensive income of recycling amounts in respect of cash flow hedges and net investment hedges 
of foreign operations is set out in the following table:

Description of hedge relationship and hedged risk
Cash flow hedge of interest rate risk
Recycled to net interest income
Cash flow hedge of foreign exchange risk
Recycled to net interest income
Hedge of net investment in foreign operations
Recycled to other income

2020

2019

Amount recycled
from other 
comprehensive
income due to
 hedged item 
affecting income 
statement
£m

Amount recycled 
from other 
comprehensive
 income due to 
sale of investment, 
or cash flows 
no longer 
expected to occur
£m

Amount recycled
from other 
comprehensive
income due to
 hedged item 
affecting income 
statement
£m

Amount recycled 
from other 
comprehensive
 income due to 
sale of investment, 
or cash flows 
no longer 
expected to occur
£m

489

268

–

17

–

(4)

259

–

–

18

–

15

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

15 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

Accounting for financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI)
Financial assets that are debt instruments held in a business model that is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling and that 
contain contractual terms that give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are SPPI are measured at FVOCI. They are subsequently remeasured 
at fair value and changes therein (except for those relating to impairment, interest income and foreign currency exchange gains and losses) are 
recognised in other comprehensive income until the assets are sold. Interest (calculated using the effective interest method) is recognised in the 
income statement in net interest income (Note 3). Upon disposal, the cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income is included 
in net investment income (Note 6).

In determining whether the business model is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, it is determined that both 
collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets are integral to achieving the objective of the business model. The Group will consider past 
sales and expectations about future sales to establish if the business model is achieved.

For equity securities that are not held for trading, the Group may make an irrevocable election on initial recognition to present subsequent changes in 
the fair value of the instrument in other comprehensive income (except for dividend income which is recognised in profit or loss). Gains or losses on 
the derecognition of these equity securities are not transferred to profit or loss. These assets are also not subject to the impairment requirements 
and therefore no amounts are recycled to the income statement. Where the Group has not made the irrevocable election to present subsequent 
changes in the fair value of the instrument in other comprehensive income, equity securities are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

Debt securities and other eligible bills
Equity securities
Loans and advances
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

16 Financial liabilities designated at fair value

2020
£m
77,736
761
191
78,688

2019
£m
64,103
1,023
624
65,750

Accounting for liabilities designated at fair value through profit and loss
In accordance with IFRS 9, financial liabilities may be designated at fair value, with gains and losses taken to the income statement within net trading 
income (Note 5) and net investment income (Note 6). Movements in own credit are reported through other comprehensive income, unless the 
effects of changes in the liability’s credit risk would create or enlarge an accounting mismatch in P&L. In these scenarios, all gains and losses on that 
liability (including the effects of changes in the credit risk of the liability) are presented in P&L. On derecognition of the financial liability no amount 
relating to own credit risk are recycled to the income statement. The Group has the ability to make the fair value designation when holding the 
instruments at fair value reduces an accounting mismatch (caused by an offsetting liability or asset being held at fair value), or is managed by the 
Group on the basis of its fair value, or includes terms that have substantive derivative characteristics (Note 14).

The details on how the fair value amounts are arrived at for financial liabilities designated at fair value are described in Note 17.

Debt securities
Deposits
Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing
Other financial liabilities
Financial liabilities designated at fair value

The cumulative own credit net loss recognised is £954m (2019: £373m loss).

2020

2019

Contractual 
amount due 
on maturity 
£m

57,650
22,107
177,389
251
257,397

Fair value 
£m

50,437
21,706
177,371
251
249,765

Contractual 
amount due 
on maturity 
£m

56,891
25,725
128,706
694
212,016

Fair value 
£m

49,559
25,526
128,547
694
204,326

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17 Fair value of financial instruments

Accounting for financial assets and liabilities – fair values
Financial instruments that are held for trading are recognised at fair value through profit or loss. In addition, financial assets are held at fair value 
through profit or loss if they do not contain contractual terms that give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are SPPI, or if the financial asset is 
not held in a business model that is either (i) a business model to collect the contractual cash flows or (ii) a business model that is achieved by both 
collecting contractual cash flows and selling. Subsequent changes in fair value for these instruments are recognised in the income statement in net 
investment income, except if reporting it in trading income reduces an accounting mismatch. 

All financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date of initial recognition (including transaction costs, other than financial 
instruments held at fair value through profit or loss) and depending on the subsequent classification of the financial asset or liability, may continue 
to be held at fair value either through profit or loss or other comprehensive income. The fair value of a financial instrument is the price that would be 
received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Wherever possible, fair value is determined by reference to a quoted market price for that instrument. For many of the Group’s financial assets and 
liabilities, especially derivatives, quoted prices are not available and valuation models are used to estimate fair value. The models calculate the 
expected cash flows under the terms of each specific contract and then discount these values back to a present value. These models use as their 
basis independently sourced market inputs including, for example, interest rate yield curves, equities and commodities prices, option volatilities and 
currency rates.

For financial liabilities measured at fair value, the carrying amount reflects the effect on fair value of changes in own credit spreads derived from 
observable market data such as in primary issuance and redemption activity for structured notes. 

On initial recognition, it is presumed that the transaction price is the fair value unless there is observable information available in an active market 
to the contrary. The best evidence of an instrument’s fair value on initial recognition is typically the transaction price. However, if fair value can be 
evidenced by comparison with other observable current market transactions in the same instrument, or is based on a valuation technique whose 
inputs include only data from observable markets, then the instrument should be recognised at the fair value derived from such observable 
market data.

For valuations that have made use of unobservable inputs, the difference between the model valuation and the initial transaction price (Day One 
profit) is recognised in profit or loss either: on a straight-line basis over the term of the transaction; or over the period until all model inputs will become 
observable where appropriate; or released in full when previously unobservable inputs become observable.

Various factors influence the availability of observable inputs and these may vary from product to product and change over time. Factors include the 
depth of activity in the relevant market, the type of product, whether the product is new and not widely traded in the marketplace, the maturity of 
market modelling and the nature of the transaction (bespoke or generic). To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are not 
observable in the market, the determination of fair value can be more subjective, dependent on the significance of the unobservable input to the 
overall valuation. Unobservable inputs are determined based on the best information available, for example by reference to similar assets, similar 
maturities or other analytical techniques.

The sensitivity of valuations used in the financial statements to possible changes in significant unobservable inputs is shown on page 323.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The valuation of financial instruments often involves a significant degree of judgement and complexity, in particular where valuation models make use 
of unobservable inputs (‘Level 3’ assets and liabilities). This note provides information on these instruments, including the related unrealised gains and 
losses recognised in the period, a description of significant valuation techniques and unobservable inputs, and a sensitivity analysis.

Valuation
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement requires an entity to classify its assets and liabilities according to a hierarchy that reflects the observability of significant 
market inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined below.

Quoted market prices – Level 1 
Assets and liabilities are classified as Level 1 if their value is observable in an active market. Such instruments are valued by reference to unadjusted 
quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets where the quoted price is readily available, and the price represents actual and regularly 
occurring market transactions. An active market is one in which transactions occur with sufficient volume and frequency to provide pricing information 
on an ongoing basis. 

Valuation technique using observable inputs – Level 2 
Assets and liabilities classified as Level 2 have been valued using models whose inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. Valuations based on 
observable inputs include assets and liabilities such as swaps and forwards which are valued using market standard pricing techniques, and options that 
are commonly traded in markets where all the inputs to the market standard pricing models are observable. 

Valuation technique using significant unobservable inputs – Level 3 
Assets and liabilities are classified as Level 3 if their valuation incorporates significant inputs that are not based on observable market data (unobservable 
inputs). A valuation input is considered observable if it can be directly observed from transactions in an active market, or if there is compelling external 
evidence demonstrating an executable exit price. Unobservable input levels are generally determined via reference to observable inputs, historical 
observations or using other analytical techniques. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

17 Fair value of financial instruments continued
The following table shows the Group’s assets and liabilities that are held at fair value disaggregated by valuation technique (fair value hierarchy) 
and balance sheet classification:

Assets and liabilities held at fair value

As at 31 December
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income 
statement
Derivative financial assets
Financial assets at fair value through other 
comprehensive income
Investment property
Total assets

2020
Valuation technique using

2019
Valuation technique using

Level 1
£m
60,671

Level 2
£m
65,416

4,503
9,155

162,142
288,822

19,792
–
94,121

58,743
–
575,123

Level 3
£m
1,863

8,506
4,469

153
10
15,001

Total
£m
127,950

175,151
302,446

78,688
10
684,245

Level 1
£m
60,352

Level 2
£m
51,579

10,445
5,439

114,141
220,642

18,755
–
94,991

46,566
–
432,928

Level 3
£m
2,264

8,500
3,155

429
13
14,361

Total
£m
114,195

133,086
229,236

65,750
13
542,280

Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Derivative financial liabilities
Total liabilities

(24,391)
(159)
(8,762)
(33,312)

(22,986)
(249,251)
(285,774)
(558,011)

(28)
(355)
(6,239)
(6,622)

(47,405)
(249,765)
(300,775)
(597,945)

(20,977)
(82)
(5,305)
(26,364)

(15,939)
(203,882)
(219,910)
(439,731)

–
(362)
(3,989)
(4,351)

(36,916)
(204,326)
(229,204)
(470,446)

The following table shows the Group’s Level 3 assets and liabilities that are held at fair value disaggregated by product type:

Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value by product type

Interest rate derivatives 
Foreign exchange derivatives 
Credit derivatives
Equity derivatives 
Commodity derivatives 
Corporate debt 
Reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements 
Non-asset backed loans 
Asset backed securities 
Equity cash products 
Private equity investments
Othera
Total

2020

2019

Assets
£m
1,613
144
196
2,498
18
698
–
6,394
767
542
873
1,258
15,001

Liabilities
£m
(1,615)
(143)
(351)
(4,112)
(18)
(3)
(174)
–
(24)
–
(14)
(168)
(6,622)

Assets
£m
605
291
539
1,711
9
521
–
6,811
756
1,228
899
991
14,361

Liabilities
£m
(812)
(298)
(342)
(2,528)
(9)
–
(167)
–
–
–
(19)
(176)
(4,351)

Note
a  Other includes commercial real estate loans, asset backed loans, funds and fund-linked products, issued debt, government sponsored debt and investment property.

Valuation techniques and sensitivity analysis
Sensitivity analysis is performed on products with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) to generate a range of reasonably possible alternative 
valuations. The sensitivity methodologies applied take account of the nature of the valuation techniques used, as well as the availability and reliability 
of observable proxy and historical data and the impact of using alternative models. 

Sensitivities are dynamically calculated on a monthly basis. The calculation is based on range or spread data of a reliable reference source or a scenario 
based on relevant market analysis alongside the impact of using alternative models. Sensitivities are calculated without reflecting the impact of any 
diversification in the portfolio. 

The valuation techniques used, observability and sensitivity analysis for material products within Level 3, are described below.

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Interest rate derivatives
Description: Derivatives linked to interest rates or inflation indices. The category includes futures, interest rate and inflation swaps, swaptions, caps, floors, 
inflation options, balance guaranteed swaps and other exotic interest rate derivatives.

Valuation: Interest rate and inflation derivatives are generally valued using curves of forward rates constructed from market data to project and discount 
the expected future cash flows of trades. Instruments with optionality are valued using volatilities implied from market inputs, and use industry standard 
or bespoke models depending on the product type. 

Observability: In general, inputs are considered observable up to liquid maturities which are determined separately for each input and underlying. 
Unobservable inputs are generally set by referencing liquid market instruments and applying extrapolation techniques or inferred via another reasonable 
method.

Foreign exchange derivatives
Description: Derivatives linked to the foreign exchange (FX) market. The category includes FX forward contracts, FX swaps and FX options. The majority 
are traded as over the counter (OTC) derivatives.

Valuation: FX derivatives are valued using industry standard and bespoke models depending on the product type. Valuation inputs include FX rates, 
interest rates, FX volatilities, interest rate volatilities, FX interest rate correlations and others as appropriate. 

Observability: FX correlations, forwards and volatilities are generally observable up to liquid maturities which are determined separately for each input 
and underlying. Unobservable inputs are set by referencing liquid market instruments and applying extrapolation techniques, or inferred via another 
reasonable method.

Credit derivatives
Description: Derivatives linked to the credit spread of a referenced entity, index or basket of referenced entities or a pool of referenced assets 
(e.g. a securitised product). The category includes single name and index credit default swaps (CDS) and total return swaps (TRS).

Valuation: CDS are valued on industry standard models using curves of credit spreads as the principal input. Credit spreads are observed directly from 
broker data, third party vendors or priced to proxies.

Observability: CDS contracts referencing entities that are actively traded are generally considered observable. Other valuation inputs are considered 
observable if products with significant sensitivity to the inputs are actively traded in a liquid market. Unobservable valuation inputs are generally 
determined with reference to recent transactions or inferred from observable trades of the same issuer or similar entities.

Equity derivatives
Description: Exchange traded or OTC derivatives linked to equity indices and single names. The category includes vanilla and exotic equity products.

Valuation: Equity derivatives are valued using industry standard models. Valuation inputs include stock prices, dividends, volatilities, interest rates, equity 
repurchase curves and, for multi-asset products, correlations.

Observability: In general, valuation inputs are observable up to liquid maturities which are determined separately for each input and underlying. 
Unobservable inputs are set by referencing liquid market instruments and applying extrapolation techniques, or inferred via another reasonable method.

 Commodity derivatives

Description: Exchange traded and OTC derivatives based on underlying commodities such as metals, crude oil and refined products, agricultural, power 
and natural gas. 

Valuation: Commodity swaps and options are valued using models incorporating discounting of cash flows and other industry standard modelling 
techniques. Valuation inputs include forward curves, volatilities implied from market observable inputs and correlations. 

Observability: Commodity correlations, forwards and volatilities are generally observable up to liquid maturities which are determined separately for 
each input and underlying. Unobservable inputs are set with reference to similar observable products, or by applying extrapolation techniques to 
observable inputs.

Corporate debt
Description: Primarily corporate bonds. 

Valuation: Corporate bonds are valued using observable market prices sourced from broker quotes, inter-dealer prices or other reliable pricing sources. 

Observability: Prices for actively traded bonds are considered observable. Unobservable bonds prices are generally determined by reference to bond 
yields or CDS spreads for actively traded instruments issued by or referencing the same (or a similar) issuer.

Reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements
Description: Includes securities purchased under resale agreements, securities sold under repurchase agreements, and other similar secured lending 
agreements. The agreements are primarily short-term in nature.

Valuation: Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are generally valued by discounting the expected future cash flows using industry standard 
models that incorporate market interest rates and repurchase rates, based on the specific details of the transaction.

Observability: Inputs are deemed observable up to liquid maturities, and are determined based on the specific features of the transaction. Unobservable 
inputs are generally set by referencing liquid market instruments and applying extrapolation techniques, or inferred via another reasonable method.

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17 Fair value of financial instruments continued
Non-asset backed loans
Description: Largely made up of fixed rate loans.

Valuation: Fixed rate loans are valued using models that discount expected future cash flows based on interest rates and loan spreads. 

Observability: Within this loan population, the loan spread is generally unobservable. Unobservable loan spreads are determined by incorporating funding 
costs, the level of comparable assets such as gilts, issuer credit quality and other factors.

Asset backed securities
Description: Securities that are linked to the cash flows of a pool of referenced assets via securitisation. The category includes residential mortgage 
backed securities, commercial mortgage backed securities, CDOs, collateralised loan obligations (CLOs) and other asset backed securities.

Valuation: Where available, valuations are based on observable market prices sourced from broker quotes and inter-dealer prices. Otherwise, valuations 
are determined using industry standard discounted cash flow analysis that calculates the fair value based on valuation inputs such as constant default 
rate, conditional prepayment rate, loss given default and yield. These inputs are determined by reference to a number of sources including proxying to 
observed transactions, market indices or market research, and by assessing underlying collateral performance. 

Proxying to observed transactions, indices or research requires an assessment and comparison of the relevant securities’ underlying attributes including 
collateral, tranche, vintage, underlying asset composition (historical losses, borrower characteristics and loan attributes such as loan to value ratio and 
geographic concentration) and credit ratings (original and current).

Observability: Where an asset backed product does not have an observable market price and the valuation is determined using a discounted cash flow 
analysis, the instrument is considered unobservable. 

Equity cash products
Description: Includes listed equities, Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) and preference shares.

Valuation: Valuation of equity cash products is primarily determined through market observable prices.

Observability: Prices for actively traded equity cash products are considered observable. Unobservable equity prices are generally determined by 
reference to actively traded instruments that are similar in nature, or inferred via another reasonable method.

Private equity investments
Description: Includes investments in equity holdings in operating companies not quoted on a public exchange. 

Valuation: Private equity investments are valued in accordance with the ‘International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines’ which 
require the use of a number of individual pricing benchmarks such as the prices of recent transactions in the same or similar entities, discounted cash flow 
analysis and comparison with the earnings multiples of listed companies. While the valuation of unquoted equity instruments is subjective by nature, 
the relevant methodologies are commonly applied by other market participants and have been consistently applied over time.

Observability: Inputs are considered observable if there is active trading in a liquid market of products with significant sensitivity to the inputs. 
Unobservable inputs include earnings estimates, multiples of comparative companies, marketability discounts and discount rates.

Other
Description: Other includes commercial real estate loans, funds and fund-linked products, asset backed loans, physical commodities and investment property.

Assets and liabilities reclassified between Level 1 and Level 2
During the period, there were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 (2019: there were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 2).

Level 3 movement analysis
The following table summarises the movements in the Level 3 balances during the period. The table shows gains and losses and includes amounts for all 
financial assets and liabilities that are held at fair value transferred to and from Level 3 during the period. Transfers have been reflected as if they had taken 
place at the beginning of the year.

Asset and liability transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 are primarily due to i) an increase or decrease in observable market activity related to an input 
or ii) a change in the significance of the unobservable input, with assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 if an unobservable input is deemed significant.

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Analysis of movements in Level 3 assets and liabilities

Corporate debt
Non-asset backed loans
Asset backed securities
Equity cash products
Other
Trading portfolio assets

Non-asset backed loans
Equity cash products
Private equity investments
Other
Financial assets at fair value 
through the income statement

Non-asset backed loans
Asset backed securities
Financial assets at fair value 
through other comprehensive 
income

Investment property

Trading portfolio liabilities

As at 
1 January 
2020
£m
120 
974 
656 
392 
122 
2,264 

Purchases
£m
77 
1,955 
458 
5 
 – 
2,495 

5,494 
835 
900 
1,271 

1,102 
15 
84 
3,718 

Sales
£m
(6)
(2,182)
(428)
(149)
 – 
(2,765)

(283)
(404)
(54)
(3,606)

8,500 

4,919 

(4,347)

343 
86 

429 

13 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

(27)

 – 
(35)

(35)

(2)

 – 

Total gains and losses 
in the period 
recognised in the 
income statement
Trading 
income
£m
(35)
(10)
(25)
(41)
(21)
(132)

Other
 income
£m
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Total gains 
or losses 
recognised 
in OCI
£m
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Issues
£m
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Settlements
£m
 – 
(12)
(40)
 – 
 – 
(52)

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(706)
 – 
(3)
(32)

426 
(93)
 – 
32 

 – 
(36)
(56)
(43)

(741)

365 

(135)

(237)
 – 

(237)

 – 

 – 

1 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

(1)

20 

 – 
 – 

 – 

(1)

 – 

4 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

Transfers

In
£m
12 
39 
90 
11 
2 
154 

 – 
9 
15 
386 

As at 31 
December 
2020
£m
151 
709 
686 
214 
103 
1,863 

5,580 
326 
874 
1,726 

Out
£m
(17)
(55)
(25)
(4)
 – 
(101)

(453)
–
(12)
 – 

410 

(465)

8,506 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

106 
47 

153 

10 

(28)

(38)

38 

(355)

(18)
(19)
(21)
(13)

23 
22 
116 
(44)

(2)
1 
(155)
(1,614)

(71)

117 

(1,770)

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
(4)

(4)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

Financial liabilities designated 
at fair value

(362)

 – 

3 

(21)

Interest rate derivatives
Foreign exchange derivatives
Credit derivatives
Equity derivatives
Net derivative financial 
instrumentsa

(206)
(7)
198 
(819)

17 
 – 
(125)
(699)

(12)
 – 
24 
(43)

(834)

(807)

(31)

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

85 
21 
(371)
105 

109 
(16)
24 
(101)

(160)

16 

Total

10,010 

6,580 

(7,177)

(21)

(1,189)

268 

(132)

(4)

455 

(411)

8,379 

Note
a  The derivative financial instruments are represented on a net basis. On a gross basis, derivative financial assets are £4,469m (2019: £3,155m) and derivative financial liabilities are 

£6,239m (2019: £3,989m).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

17 Fair value of financial instruments continued

Analysis of movements in Level 3 assets and liabilities

Corporate debt
Non-asset backed loans
Asset backed securities
Equity cash products
Other
Trading portfolio assets

Non-asset backed loans
Equity cash products
Private equity investments
Other
Financial assets at fair value 
through the income statement

Non-asset backed loans
Asset backed securities
Equity cash products
Other
Financial assets at fair value 
through other comprehensive 
income

Investment property

Trading portfolio liabilities

As at 
1 January 
2019
£m
388 
2,263 
664 
136 
162 
3,613 

Purchases
£m
126 
1,844 
202 
62 
 – 
2,234 

5,688 
559 
1,071 
2,064 

235 
66 
45 
5,719 

Sales
£m
(52)
(2,799)
(166)
(40)
 – 
(3,057)

 – 
 – 
(121)
(5,720)

9,382 

6,065 

(5,841)

 – 
 – 
2 
353 

283 
116 
 – 
 – 

 – 
(30)
(1)
 – 

355 

399 

(31)

9 

(3)

5 

–

 – 

–

Total gains and losses 
in the period 
recognised in the 
income statement
Trading 
income
£m
1 
24 
(30)
(31)
(24)
(60)

Other
 income
£m
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Total gains 
or losses 
recognised 
in OCI
£m
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Issues
£m
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Settlements
£m
(311)
(134)
 – 
 – 
(1)
(446)

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

–

(755)
(2)
(28)
(9)

343 
3 
 – 
12 

(1)
209 
55 
(15)

(794)

358 

248 

 – 
 – 
 – 
(135)

(135)

 – 

–

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

(1)

–

(2)

–
–
–
–

 – 

Transfers

In
£m
45 
200 
16 
293 
 – 
554 

 – 
 – 
41 
24 

65 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

–

As at 31 
December 
2019
£m
120 
974 
656 
392 
122 
2,264 

5,494 
835 
900 
1,271 

Out
£m
(77)
(424)
(30)
(28)
(15)
(574)

(16)
 – 
(163)
(804)

(983)

8,500 

 – 
 – 
 – 
(218)

343 
86 
 – 
 – 

(218)

429 

 – 

3

13 

 – 

(362)
 – 
(206)
(7)
198 
(819)

(27)

50

(177)
(32)
(9)
(37)

(38)
5
3
454

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

60 
 – 
(1)
 – 

59 

 – 

–

–

–
–
–
–

 – 

(255)

424 

(834)

Financial liabilities designated at 
fair value

(280)

(179)

10

(42)

41

67

Interest rate derivatives
Foreign exchange derivatives
Credit derivatives
Equity derivatives
Net derivative financial 
instruments

22
7
1,050
(607)

(9)
–
(59)
(296)

472 

(364)

–
–
3
(35)

(32)

–
–
–
–

 – 

88
25
(866)
(2)

(92)
(12)
76
(296)

(755)

(324)

Total

13,548

8,160

(8,951)

(42)

(2,089)

41

245

59

337

(1,298) 10,010

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Unrealised gains and losses on Level 3 financial assets and liabilities
The following table discloses the unrealised gains and losses recognised in the year arising on Level 3 financial assets and liabilities held at year end.

Unrealised gains and losses recognised during the period on Level 3 assets and liabilities held at year end

2020

2019

As at 31 December
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income 
statement
Fair value through other comprehensive income
Investment property
Trading portfolio liabilities
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Net derivative financial instruments 
Total

Income statement
Trading 
income
£m
(114)

Other 
income
£m
–

Other 
compre-
hensive
income
£m
–

399
–
–
–
20
(91)
214

(89)
–
(1)
–
(1)
–
(91)

–
(1)
–
–
–
–
(1)

Income statement
Trading 
income
£m
(57)

Other 
income
£m
–

Other 
compre-
hensive
income
£m
–

346
–
–
–
64
(459)
(106)

246
–
(1)
–
–
–
245

–
60
–
–
–
–
60

Total
£m
(114)

310
(1)
(1)
–
19
(91)
122

Total
£m
(57)

592
60
(1)
–
64
(459)
199

Significant unobservable inputs
The following table discloses the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs for assets and liabilities recognised at fair value and classified 
as Level 3 along with the range of values used for those significant unobservable inputs:

Valuation technique(s)c

Significant unobservable inputs

2020 Range
Min

Max

2019 Range
Min

Max

Unitsa

Derivative financial 
instrumentsb
Interest rate derivatives

Credit derivatives

Equity derivatives

Non-derivative financial 
instruments
Non-asset backed loans

Asset backed securities
Private equity investments

Corporate debt
Otherd

Discounted cash flows

Comparable pricing
Option model

Discounted cash flows
Comparable pricing
Option model

Discounted cash flow

Discounted cash flows

Comparable pricing
Comparable pricing
EBITDA multiple
Earnings multiple
Discounted cash flow
Comparable pricing
Discounted cash flows

Inflation forwards
Credit spread
Price
Inflation volatility
Interest rate volatility
FX – IR correlation
IR – IR correlation
Credit spread
Price
Equity volatility
Equity – equity correlation
Discounted margin

Loan spread
Credit spread
Price
Yield
Price
Price
EBITDA multiple
Earnings multiple
Discount margin
Price
Credit spread

1
17
–
31
6
(30)
(20)
5
–
1
(45)
(225)

31
200
–
5
–
–
14
3
1
–
146

3
1,831
84
227
489
78
99
480
100
110
100
3,000

1,518
300
104
8
137
112
16
28
10
127
483

1
41
–
47
8
(30)
(30)
72
–
1
(20)
(500)

31
180
–
6
–
–
5
–
8
–
126

3
1,620
37
190
431
78
100
200
155
200
100
1,100

1,884
1,223
133
12
123
99
16
27
10
100
649

%
bps
points
bps vol
bps vol
%
%
bps
points
%
%
bps

bps
bps
points
%
points
points
Multiple
Multiple
%
points
bps

Notes
a  The units used to disclose ranges for significant unobservable inputs are percentages, points and basis points. Points are a percentage of par; for example, 100 points equals 100% of par. 

A basis point equals 1/100th of 1%; for example, 150 basis points equals 1.5%.

b  Certain derivative instruments are classified as Level 3 due to a significant unobservable credit spread input into the calculation of the Credit Valuation Adjustment for the instruments. 

The range of significant unobservable credit spreads is between 17-1831bps (2019: 41-1,620bps).

c  A range has not been provided for Net Asset Value as there would be a wide range reflecting the diverse nature of the positions.
d  Other includes commercial real estate loans.

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Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

17 Fair value of financial instruments continued
The following section describes the significant unobservable inputs identified in the table above, and the sensitivity of fair value measurement of the 
instruments categorised as Level 3 assets or liabilities to increases in significant unobservable inputs. Where sensitivities are described, the inverse 
relationship will also generally apply.

Where reliable interrelationships can be identified between significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurement, a description of those 
interrelationships is included below.

Forwards
A price or rate that is applicable to a financial transaction that will take place in the future.

In general, a significant increase in a forward in isolation will result in a fair value increase for the contracted receiver of the underlying (currency, bond, 
commodity, etc.), but the sensitivity is dependent on the specific terms of the instrument.

Credit spread
Credit spreads typically represent the difference in yield between an instrument and a benchmark security or reference rate. Credit spreads reflect 
the additional yield that a market participant demands for taking on exposure to the credit risk of an instrument and form part of the yield used in a 
discounted cash flow calculation.

In general, a significant increase in credit spread in isolation will result in a movement in a fair value decrease for a cash asset.

For a derivative instrument, a significant increase in credit spread in isolation can result in a fair value increase or decrease depending on the specific 
terms of the instrument.

Volatility
Volatility is a measure of the variability or uncertainty in return for a given derivative underlying. It is an estimate of how much a particular underlying 
instrument input or index will change in value over time. In general, volatilities are implied from observed option prices. For unobservable options the 
implied volatility may reflect additional assumptions about the nature of the underlying risk, and the strike/maturity profile of a specific contract.

In general a significant increase in volatility in isolation will result in a fair value increase for the holder of a simple option, but the sensitivity is dependent 
on the specific terms of the instrument. 

There may be interrelationships between unobservable volatilities and other unobservable inputs (e.g. when equity prices fall, implied equity volatilities 
generally rise) but these are generally specific to individual markets and may vary over time.

Correlation
Correlation is a measure of the relationship between the movements of two variables. Correlation can be a significant input into valuation of derivative 
contracts with more than one underlying instrument. Credit correlation generally refers to the correlation between default processes for the separate 
names that make up the reference pool of a CDO structure.

A significant increase in correlation in isolation can result in a fair value increase or decrease depending on the specific terms of the instrument.

Comparable price
Comparable instrument prices are used in valuation by calculating an implied yield (or spread over a liquid benchmark) from the price of a comparable 
observable instrument, then adjusting that yield (or spread) to account for relevant differences such as maturity or credit quality. Alternatively, 
a price-to-price basis can be assumed between the comparable and unobservable instruments in order to establish a value.

In general, a significant increase in comparable price in isolation will result in an increase in the price of the unobservable instrument. For derivatives, 
a change in the comparable price in isolation can result in a fair value increase or decrease depending on the specific terms of the instrument.

Loan spread
Loan spreads typically represent the difference in yield between an instrument and a benchmark security or reference rate. Loan spreads typically reflect 
credit quality, the level of comparable assets such as gilts and other factors, and form part of the yield used in a discounted cash flow calculation.

The ESHLA portfolio primarily consists of long-dated fixed rate loans extended to counterparties in the UK Education, Social Housing and Local Authority 
sectors. The loans are categorised as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy due to their illiquid nature and the significance of unobservable loan spreads to the 
valuation. Valuation uncertainty arises from the long-dated nature of the portfolio, the lack of secondary market in the loans and the lack of observable 
loan spreads. The majority of ESHLA loans are to borrowers in heavily regulated sectors that are considered extremely low credit risk, and have a history 
of near zero defaults since inception. While the overall loan spread range is from 31bps to 1,518bps (2019: 31bps to 1,884bps), the vast majority of 
spreads are concentrated towards the bottom end of this range, with 97% of the loan notional being valued with spreads less than 200bps consistently 
for both years.

In general, a significant increase in loan spreads in isolation will result in a fair value decrease for a loan.

EBITDA multiple
EBITDA multiple is the ratio of the valuation of the investment to the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. 

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In general, a significant increase in the multiple will result in a fair value increase for an investment.

Sensitivity analysis of valuations using unobservable inputs

Interest rate derivatives
Foreign exchange derivatives
Credit derivatives
Equity derivatives
Commodity derivatives
Corporate debt
Non-asset backed loans
Equity cash products
Private equity investments
Othera
Total

2020

2019

Favourable changes
Income 
statement
£m
82
6
55
174
2
16
190
158
199
21
903

Equity
£m
–
–
–
–
–
–
3
–
–
–
3

Unfavourable changes

Income 
statement
£m
(123)
(11)
(44)
(179)
(2)
(14)
(409)
(141)
(227)
(21)
(1,171)

Equity
£m
–
–
–
–
–
–
(3)
–
–
–
(3)

Favourable changes
Income 
statement
£m
44
5
73
114
–
11
214
123
205
1
790

Equity
£m
–
–
–
–
–
–
8
–
–
–
8

Unfavourable changes

Income 
statement
£m
(127)
(7)
(47)
(119)
–
(16)
(492)
(175)
(235)
(1)
(1,219)

Equity
£m
–
–
–
–
–
–
(8)
–
–
–
(8)

Note
a   Other includes commercial real estate loans and asset backed loans.

The effect of stressing unobservable inputs to a range of reasonably possible alternatives, alongside considering the impact of using alternative models, 
would be to increase fair values by up to £906m (2019: £798m) or to decrease fair values by up to £1,174m (2019: £1,227m) with substantially all the 
potential effect impacting profit and loss rather than reserves. 

Fair value adjustments
Key balance sheet valuation adjustments are quantified below:

Exit price adjustments derived from market bid-offer spreads
Uncollateralised derivative funding
Derivative credit valuation adjustments
Derivative debit valuation adjustments

2020
£m
(493)
(115)
(268)
113

2019
£m
(429)
(57)
(135)
155

Exit price adjustments derived from market bid-offer spreads
The Group uses mid-market pricing where it is a market maker and has the ability to transact at, or better than, mid price (which is the case for certain 
equity, bond and vanilla derivative markets). For other financial assets and liabilities, bid-offer adjustments are recorded to reflect the exit level for the 
expected close out strategy. The methodology for determining the bid-offer adjustment for a derivative portfolio involves calculating the net risk 
exposure by offsetting long and short positions by strike and term in accordance with the risk management and hedging strategy.

Bid-offer levels are generally derived from market quotes such as broker data. Less liquid instruments may not have a directly observable bid-offer level. 
In such instances, an exit price adjustment may be derived from an observable bid-offer level for a comparable liquid instrument, or determined by 
calibrating to derivative prices, or by scenario or historical analysis.

Exit price adjustments derived from market bid-offer spreads have increased by £64m to £493m as a result of movements in market bid offer spreads.

Discounting approaches for derivative instruments 
Collateralised
In line with market practice, the methodology for discounting collateralised derivatives takes into account the nature and currency of the collateral that 
can be posted within the relevant credit support annex (CSA). The CSA aware discounting approach recognises the ‘cheapest to deliver’ option that 
reflects the ability of the party posting collateral to change the currency of the collateral.

Uncollateralised
A fair value adjustment of £115m is applied to account for the impact of incorporating the cost of funding into the valuation of uncollateralised and 
partially collateralised derivative portfolios and collateralised derivatives where the terms of the agreement do not allow the rehypothecation of collateral 
received. This adjustment is referred to as the Funding Fair Value Adjustment (FFVA). FFVA has increased by £58m to £115m as a result of moves in input 
funding spreads and an update to methodology.

FFVA incorporates a scaling factor which is an estimate of the extent to which the cost of funding is incorporated into observed traded levels. On 
calibrating the scaling factor, it is with the assumption that Credit Valuation Adjustments (CVA) and Debit Valuation Adjustments (DVA) are retained as 
valuation components incorporated into such levels. The effect of incorporating this scaling factor at 31 December 2020 was to reduce FFVA by £115m 
(2019: £170m).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

17 Fair value of financial instruments continued
Derivative credit and debit valuation adjustments
CVA and DVA are incorporated into derivative valuations to reflect the impact on fair value of counterparty credit risk and Barclays’ own credit quality 
respectively. These adjustments are calculated for uncollateralised and partially collateralised derivatives across all asset classes. CVA and DVA are 
calculated using estimates of exposure at default, probability of default and recovery rates, at a counterparty level. Counterparties include (but are not 
limited to) corporates, sovereigns and sovereign agencies and supranationals.

Exposure at default is generally estimated through the simulation of underlying risk factors through approximating with a more vanilla structure, or by 
using current or scenario-based mark to market as an estimate of future exposure. 

Probability of default and recovery rate information is generally sourced from the CDS markets. Where this information is not available, or considered 
unreliable, alternative approaches are taken based on mapping internal counterparty ratings onto historical or market-based default and recovery 
information. In particular, this applies to sovereign related names where the effect of using the recovery assumptions implied in CDS levels would imply 
a £32m (2019: £36m) increase in CVA.

CVA increased by £133m to £268m as a result of an increased uncollateralised and partially collateralised derivative asset and widening input 
counterparty credit spreads. DVA decreased by £42m to £113m as a result of an update to methodology partially offset by widening input own credit 
spreads.

Correlation between counterparty credit and underlying derivative risk factors, termed ‘wrong-way,’ or ‘right-way’ risk, is not systematically incorporated 
into the CVA calculation but is adjusted where the underlying exposure is directly related to the counterparty. 

Barclays continues to monitor market practices and activity to ensure the approach to uncollateralised derivative valuation remains appropriate.

Portfolio exemptions
The Group uses the portfolio exemption in IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement to measure the fair value of groups of financial assets and liabilities. 
Instruments are measured using the price that would be received to sell a net long position (i.e. an asset) for a particular risk exposure or to transfer a net 
short position (i.e. a liability) for a particular risk exposure in an orderly transaction between market participants at the balance sheet date under current 
market conditions. Accordingly, the Group measures the fair value of the group of financial assets and liabilities consistently with how market participants 
would price the net risk exposure at the measurement date.

Unrecognised gains as a result of the use of valuation models using unobservable inputs
The amount that has yet to be recognised in income that relates to the difference between the transaction price (the fair value at initial recognition) and 
the amount that would have arisen had valuation models using unobservable inputs been used on initial recognition, less amounts subsequently 
recognised, is £116m (2019: £113m) for financial instruments measured at fair value and £247m (2019: £255m) for financial instruments carried at 
amortised cost. There are additions of £27m (2019: £41m), and amortisation and releases of £24m (2019: £69m) for financial instruments measured at 
fair value and additions of £6m (2019: £7m) and amortisation and releases of £14m (2019: £14m) for financial instruments measured at amortised cost. 

Third party credit enhancements
Structured and brokered certificates of deposit issued by Barclays are insured up to $250,000 per depositor by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
(FDIC) in the US. The FDIC is funded by premiums that Barclays and other banks pay for deposit insurance coverage. The carrying value of these issued 
certificates of deposit that are designated under the IFRS 9 fair value option includes this third party credit enhancement. The on-balance sheet value of 
these brokered certificates of deposit amounted to £1,494m (2019: £3,218m).

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17 Fair value of financial instruments continued
Comparison of carrying amounts and fair values for assets and liabilities not held at fair value
The following table summarises the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured at amortised cost on the Group’s balance sheet:

As at 31 December
Financial assets 
Loans and advances at 
amortised cost
Reverse repurchase 
agreements and other 
similar secured lending 

Financial liabilities 
Deposits at amortised 
cost
Repurchase agreements 
and other similar 
secured borrowing 
Debt securities in issue 
Subordinated liabilities 

2020

2019

Carrying 
amount
£m

Fair value
£m

Level 1
£m

Level 2
£m

Level 3
£m

Carrying 
amount
£m

Fair value
£m

Level 1
£m

Level 2
£m

Level 3
£m

342,632

340,516

8,824

81,322

250,370

339,115

337,510

11,145

73,378

250,985

9,031

9,031

–

9,031

–

3,379

3,379

–

3,379

–

(481,036)

(481,106)

(396,124)

(82,874)

(2,108)

(415,787)

(415,807)

(327,329)

(78,659)

(9,819)

(14,174)
(75,796)
(16,341)

(14,174)
(77,813)
(16,918)

–
–
–

(14,174)
(75,957)
(16,918)

–
(1,856)
–

(14,517)
(76,369)
(18,156)

(14,517)
(78,512)
(18,863)

–
–
–

(14,517)
(76,142)
(18,863)

–
(2,370)
–

The fair value is an estimate of the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date. As a wide range of valuation techniques are available, it may not be appropriate to directly compare this fair value 
information to independent market sources or other financial institutions. Different valuation methodologies and assumptions can have a significant 
impact on fair values which are based on unobservable inputs.

Financial assets
The carrying value of financial assets held at amortised cost is determined in accordance with the relevant accounting policy in Note 19.

Loans and advances at amortised cost
The fair value of loans and advances, for the purpose of this disclosure, is derived from discounting expected cash flows in a way that reflects the current 
market price for lending to issuers of similar credit quality. Where market data or credit information on the underlying borrowers is unavailable, a number 
of proxy/extrapolation techniques are employed to determine the appropriate discount rates.

Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing
The fair value of reverse repurchase agreements approximates carrying amount as these balances are generally short dated and fully collateralised.

Financial liabilities
The carrying value of financial liabilities held at amortised cost is determined in accordance with the accounting policy in Note 1.

Deposits at amortised cost
In many cases, the fair value disclosed approximates carrying value because the instruments are short term in nature or have interest rates that reprice 
frequently, such as customer accounts and other deposits and short-term debt securities.

The fair value for deposits with longer-term maturities, mainly time deposits, are estimated using discounted cash flows applying either market rates 
or current rates for deposits of similar remaining maturities. Consequently, the fair value discount is minimal. 

Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing
The fair value of repurchase agreements approximates carrying amounts as these balances are generally short dated.

Debt securities in issue
Fair values of other debt securities in issue are based on quoted prices where available, or where the instruments are short dated, carrying amount 
approximates fair value. 

Subordinated liabilities
Fair values for dated and undated convertible and non-convertible loan capital are based on quoted market rates for the issuer concerned or issuers 
with similar terms and conditions.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets and liabilities held at fair value continued

18 Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities
In accordance with IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation, the Group reports financial assets and financial liabilities on a net basis on the balance sheet 
only if there is a legally enforceable right to set-off the recognised amounts and there is intention to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle 
the liability simultaneously. The following table shows the impact of netting arrangements on:
■■ all financial assets and liabilities that are reported net on the balance sheet
■■ all derivative financial instruments and reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending and borrowing agreements 

that are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements, but do not qualify for balance sheet netting.

The ‘Net amounts’ presented are not intended to represent the Group’s actual exposure to credit risk, as a variety of credit mitigation strategies are 
employed in addition to netting and collateral arrangements.

As at 31 December 2020
Derivative financial assets
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar 
secured lendinge
Total assets
Derivative financial liabilities
Repurchase agreements and other similar 
secured borrowinge
Total liabilities

As at 31 December 2019
Derivative financial assets
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar 
secured lendinge
Total assets
Derivative financial liabilities
Repurchase agreements and other similar 
secured borrowinge
Total liabilities

Amounts subject to enforceable netting arrangements

Effects of offsetting on-balance sheet

Related amounts not offset

Gross 
amounts
£m

Amounts 
offseta
£m

Net amounts
 reported on 
the balance
 sheet
£m

Financial 
instruments
£m

Financial 
collateralb
£m

Net 
amount
£m

Amounts not 
subject to 
enforceable 
netting 
arrangementsc 
£m

Balance 
sheet 
totald
£m

342,649

(44,305)

298,344

(233,080)

(48,064)

17,200

4,102

302,446

448,134
790,783
(333,943)

(306,398)
(350,703)
41,982

141,736
440,080
(291,961)

–
(233,080)
233,080

(141,352)
(189,416)
46,804

384
17,584
(12,077)

4,911
9,013
(8,814)

146,647
449,093
(300,775)

(476,912)
(810,855)

306,398
348,380

(170,514)
(462,475)

–
233,080

170,514
217,318

–
(12,077)

(21,031)
(29,845)

(191,545)
(492,320)

260,206

(32,546)

227,660

(175,998)

(38,922)

12,740

1,576

229,236

374,274
634,480
(255,269)

(276,021)
(308,567)
31,180

98,253
325,913
(224,089)

–
(175,998)
175,998

(98,253)
(137,175)
38,632

–
12,740
(9,459)

2,013
3,589
(5,115)

100,266
329,502
(229,204)

(406,081)
(661,350)

276,021
307,201

(130,060)
(354,149)

–
175,998

130,058
168,690

(2)
(9,461)

(13,004)
(18,119)

(143,064)
(372,268)

Notes
a  Amounts offset for derivative financial assets additionally includes cash collateral netted of £4,990m (2019: £4,099m). Amounts offset for derivative financial liabilities additionally 

includes cash collateral netted of £7,313m (2019: £5,465m). Settlements assets and liabilities have been offset amounting to £18,143m (2019: £14,079m). 

b  Financial collateral of £48,064m (2019: £38,922m) was received in respect of derivative assets, including £43,291m (2019: £33,411m) of cash collateral and £4,773m (2019: £5,511m) of 
non-cash collateral. Financial collateral of £46,804m (2019: £38,632m) was placed in respect of derivative liabilities, including £42,730m (2019: £35,712m) of cash collateral and £4,074m 
(2019: £2,920m) of non-cash collateral. The collateral amounts are limited to net balance sheet exposure so as to not include overcollateralisation.

c  This column includes contractual rights of set-off that are subject to uncertainty under the laws of the relevant jurisdiction.
d  The balance sheet total is the sum of ‘Net amounts reported on the balance sheet’ that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements and ‘Amounts not subject to enforceable netting 

arrangements’.

e  Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of £146,647m (2019: £100,266m) is split by fair value £137,616m (2019: £96,887m) and amortised cost £9,031m 

(2019: £3,379m). Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing of £191,545m (2019: £143,064m) is split by fair value £177,371m (2019: £128,547m) and amortised cost 
£14,174m (2019: £14,517m).

Derivative assets and liabilities
The ‘Financial instruments’ column identifies financial assets and liabilities that are subject to set-off under netting agreements, such as the ISDA Master 
Agreement or derivative exchange or clearing counterparty agreements, whereby all outstanding transactions with the same counterparty can be offset 
and close-out netting applied across all outstanding transactions covered by the agreements if an event of default or other predetermined events occur.

Financial collateral refers to cash and non-cash collateral obtained, typically daily or weekly, to cover the net exposure between counterparties by enabling 
the collateral to be realised in an event of default or if other predetermined events occur.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending and borrowing
The ‘Amounts offset’ column identifies financial assets and liabilities that are subject to set-off under netting agreements, such as Global Master 
Repurchase Agreements and Global Master Securities Lending Agreements, whereby all outstanding transactions with the same counterparty can be offset 
and close-out netting applied across all outstanding transactions covered by the agreements if an event of default or other predetermined events occur.

Financial collateral typically comprises highly liquid securities which are legally transferred and can be liquidated in the event of counterparty default.

These offsetting and collateral arrangements and other credit risk mitigation strategies used by the Group are further explained in the Credit risk 
management section. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets at amortised cost 
and other investments

The notes included in this section focus on the Group’s loans and advances and deposits at amortised cost, leases, property, plant and equipment 
and goodwill and intangible assets. Details regarding the Group’s liquidity and capital position can be found in the Treasury and capital risk section.

19 Loans and advances and deposits at amortised cost

Accounting for loans and advances and deposits held at amortised cost
Loans and advances to customers and banks, customer accounts, debt securities and most financial liabilities, are held at amortised cost. That is, 
the initial fair value (which is normally the amount advanced or borrowed) is adjusted for repayments and the amortisation of coupon, fees and 
expenses to represent the effective interest rate of the asset or liability. Balances deferred on-balance sheet as effective interest rate adjustments 
are amortised to interest income over the life of the financial instrument to which they relate.

Financial assets that are held in a business model to collect the contractual cash flows and that contain contractual terms that give rise on specified 
dates to cash flows that are SPPI, are measured at amortised cost. The carrying value of these financial assets at initial recognition includes any 
directly attributable transaction costs. Refer to Note 1 for details on ‘solely payments of principal and interest’.

In determining whether the business model is a ‘hold to collect’ model, the objective of the business model must be to hold the financial asset to 
collect contractual cash flows rather than holding the financial asset for trading or short-term profit taking purposes. While the objective of the 
business model must be to hold the financial asset to collect contractual cash flows this does not mean the Group is required to hold the financial 
assets until maturity. When determining if the business model objective is to collect contractual cash flows the Group will consider past sales and 
expectations about future sales.

Loans and advances and deposits at amortised cost

As at 31 December
Loans and advances at amortised cost to banks
Loans and advances at amortised cost to customers
Debt securities at amortised cost
Total loans and advances at amortised cost

Deposits at amortised cost from banks
Deposits at amortised cost from customers
Total deposits at amortised cost

20 Property, plant and equipment

2020
£m
8,900
309,927
23,805
342,632

17,343
463,693
481,036

2019
£m
9,624
311,739
17,752
339,115

15,402
400,385
415,787

Accounting for property, plant and equipment
The Group applies IAS 16 Property Plant and Equipment and IAS 40 Investment Properties.

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, which includes direct and incremental acquisition costs less accumulated depreciation and provisions 
for impairment, if required. Subsequent costs are capitalised if these result in enhancement of the asset. 

Depreciation is provided on the depreciable amount of items of property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful 
economic lives. Depreciation rates, methods and the residual values underlying the calculation of depreciation of items of property, plant and equipment 
are kept under review to take account of any change in circumstances. The Group uses the following annual rates in calculating depreciation:

Annual rates in calculating depreciation
Freehold land
Freehold buildings and long-leasehold property (more than 50 years to run) 
Leasehold property over the remaining life of the lease (less than 50 years to run)
Costs of adaptation of freehold and leasehold property
Equipment installed in freehold and leasehold property
Computers and similar equipment
Fixtures and fittings and other equipment

Depreciation rate 
Not depreciated
2-3.3%
Over the remaining life of the lease
6-10%
6-10%
17-33%
9-20%

Costs of adaptation and installed equipment are depreciated over the shorter of the life of the lease or the depreciation rates noted in the table above. 

Investment property
The Group initially recognises investment property at cost, and subsequently at fair value at each balance sheet date, reflecting market conditions 
at the reporting date. Gains and losses on remeasurement are included in the income statement.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets at amortised cost and other investments continued

20 Property, plant and equipment continued

Cost
As at 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2020
Accumulated depreciation and impairment
As at 1 January 2020
Depreciation charge
Impairment
Disposals
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2020
Net book value 
Cost
As at 1 January 2019
Additions
Disposals
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2019
Accumulated depreciation and impairment
As at 1 January 2019
Depreciation charge
Impairment
Disposals
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2019
Net book value 

Investment 
property 
£m

Property 
£m

Equipment 
£m

Leased assets 
£m

Right of use 
assets a
£m

13
–
(1)
(2)
10

–
–
–
–
–
–
10

9
5
–
(1)
13

–
–
–
–
–
–
13

3,938
193
(96)
(33)
4,002

(1,901)
(187)
(25)
82
18
(2,013)
1,989

3,684
377
(73)
(50)
3,938

(1,792)
(178)
(11)
56
24
(1,901)
2,037

2,977
246
(100)
(41)
3,082

(2,306)
(223)
(2)
92
27
(2,412)
670

2,956
337
(251)
(65)
2,977

(2,322)
(229)
(1)
205
41
(2,306)
671

9
–
–
–
9

(9)
–
–
–
–
(9)
–

9
–
–
–
9

(9)
–
–
–
–
(9)
–

1,826
85
(14)
37
1,934

(332)
(231)
(15)
2
9
(567)
1,367

1,748
95
(10)
(7)
1,826

(104)
(226)
(2)
–
–
(332)
1,494

Total 
£m

8,763
524
(211)
(39)
9,037

(4,548)
(641)
(42)
176
54
(5,001)
4,036

8,406
814
(334)
(123)
8,763

(4,227)
(633)
(14)
261
65
(4,548)
4,215

Note
a  Right of use (ROU) asset balances relate to property leases under IFRS 16. Refer to Note 21 for further details.

Property rentals of £11m (2019: £22m) have been included in other income.

The fair value of investment property is determined by reference to current market prices for similar properties, adjusted as necessary for condition and 
location, or by reference to recent transactions updated to reflect current economic conditions. Discounted cash flow techniques may be employed to 
calculate fair value where there have been no recent transactions, using current external market inputs such as market rents and interest rates. Valuations 
are carried out by management with the support of appropriately qualified independent valuers. Refer to Note 17 for further details. 

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21 Leases

Accounting for leases under IFRS 16 effective from 1 January 2019
IFRS 16 applies to all leases with the exception of licenses of intellectual property, rights held by licensing agreement within the scope of IAS 38 
Intangible Assets, service concession arrangements, leases of biological assets within the scope of IAS 41 Agriculture and leases of minerals, oil, natural 
gas and similar non-regenerative resources. IFRS 16 includes an accounting policy choice for a lessee to elect not to apply IFRS 16 to remaining assets 
within the scope of IAS 38 Intangible Assets which the Group has decided to apply. 

When the Group is the lessee, it is required to recognise both:
■■ a lease liability, measured at the present value of remaining cash flows on the lease, and 
■■ a right of use (ROU) asset, measured at the amount of the initial measurement of the lease liability, plus any lease payments made prior to 

commencement date, initial direct costs, and estimated costs of restoring the underlying asset to the condition required by the lease, less any 
lease incentives received.

Subsequently the lease liability will increase for the accrual of interest, resulting in a constant rate of return throughout the life of the lease, and reduce 
when payments are made. The right of use asset will amortise to the income statement over the life of the lease. The lease liability is remeasured 
when there is a change in one of the following:
■■ future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate
■■ the Group’s estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee, or
■■ the Group’s assessment of whether it will exercise a purchase, extension or termination option. 

When the lease liability is remeasured, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the ROU asset, or is recorded in the income 
statement if the carrying amount of the ROU asset has been reduced to nil. 

On the balance sheet, the ROU assets are included within property, plant and equipment and the lease liabilities are included within other liabilities. 

The Group applies the recognition exemption in IFRS 16 for leases with a term not exceeding 12 months. For these leases the lease payments are 
recognised as an expense on a straight line basis over the lease term unless another systematic basis is more appropriate. 

When the Group is the lessor, the lease must be classified as either a finance lease or an operating lease. A finance lease is a lease which confers 
substantially all the risks and rewards of the leased assets on the lessee. An operating lease is a lease where substantially all of the risks and rewards 
of the leased asset remain with the lessor. 

When the lease is deemed a finance lease, the leased asset is not held on the balance sheet; instead a finance lease receivable is recognised 
representing the minimum lease payments receivable under the terms of the lease, discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the lease.

When the lease is deemed an operating lease, the lease income is recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease unless another 
systematic basis is more appropriate. The Group holds the leased assets on-balance sheet within property, plant and equipment. 

Accounting for finance leases under IAS 17 for 2018
Under IAS 17, a finance lease is a lease which confers substantially all the risks and rewards of the leased assets on the lessee. Where the Group is the 
lessor, the leased asset is not held on the balance sheet; instead a finance lease receivable is recognised representing the minimum lease payments 
receivable under the terms of the lease, discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the lease. Where the Group is the lessee, the leased asset is 
recognised in property, plant and equipment and a finance lease liability is recognised, representing the minimum lease payments payable under the 
lease, discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the lease.

Interest income or expense is recognised in interest receivable or payable, allocated to accounting periods to reflect a constant periodic rate of return.

Accounting for operating leases under IAS 17 for 2018
An operating lease under IAS 17 is a lease where substantially all of the risks and rewards of the leased assets remain with the lessor. Where the Group 
is the lessor, lease income is recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease unless another systematic basis is more appropriate. 
The Group holds the leased assets on-balance sheet within property, plant and equipment.

Where the Group is the lessee, rentals payable are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term 
unless another systematic basis is more appropriate.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets at amortised cost and other investments continued

21 Leases continued
As a Lessor
Finance lease receivables are included within loans and advances at amortised cost. The Group specialises in the provision of leasing and other asset 
finance facilities across a broad range of asset types to business and individual customers. 

The following table sets out a maturity analysis of lease receivables, showing the lease payments to be received after the reporting date.

Gross 
investment 
in finance 
lease 
receivables
£m
535
312
215
107
52
24
1,245

2020

2019

Present 
value of 
minimum 
lease 
payments 
receivable
£m
509
297
203
101
49
23
1,182

Unguaranteed 
residual 
values
£m
70
45
52
27
18
13
225

Gross 
investment 
in finance 
lease 
receivables
£m
1,403
909
593
354
123
115
3,497

Future 
finance 
income
£m
(26)
(15)
(12)
(6)
(3)
(1)
(63)

Present 
value of 
minimum 
lease 
payments 
receivable
£m
1,288
833
544
326
115
98
3,204

Unguaranteed 
residual 
values
£m
77
53
45
43
19
22
259

Future 
finance 
income
£m
(115)
(76)
(49)
(28)
(8)
(17)
(293)

Not more than one year
One to two year
Two to three year
Three to four year
Four to five year
Over five years
Total

As a part of a strategic review, Barclays Partner Finance sold its motor point of sale finance portfolio that led to a decrease in gross investment in finance 
lease receivables. The Group does not have any material operating leases as a lessor.

The impairment allowance for finance lease receivables amounted to £29m (2019: £55m).

Finance lease income
Finance lease income is included within interest income. The following table shows amounts recognised in the income statement during the year.

Finance income from net investment in lease
(Loss)/profit on sales

2020
£m
55
(25)

2019
£m
141
6

As a Lessee 
The Group leases various offices, branches and other premises under non-cancellable lease arrangements to meet its operational business requirements. 
In some instances, Barclays will sublease property to third parties when it is no longer needed to meet business requirements. Currently, Barclays does 
not have any material subleasing arrangements.

ROU asset balances relate to property leases only. Refer to Note 20 for a breakdown of the carrying amount of ROU assets.

The total expenses recognised during the year for short term leases were £4m (2019: £14m). The portfolio of short term leases to which Barclays 
is exposed at the end of the year is not dissimilar to the expenses recognised in the year.

Lease liabilities

As at 1 January
Interest expense
New leases
Disposals
Cash payments
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December (see Note 23) 

2020
£m
1,563
70
85
(15)
(306)
47
1,444

2019
£m
1,696
76
94
(19)
(289)
5
1,563

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The below table sets out a maturity analysis of undiscounted lease liabilities, showing the lease payments to be paid after the reporting date.

Undiscounted lease liabilities maturity analysis

Not more than one year
One to two years
Two to three years 
Three to four years
Four to five years
Five to ten years
Greater than ten years
Total undiscounted lease liabilities as at 31 December

2020
£m
255
221
198
176
162
557
248
1,817

2019
£m
296
252
208
186
165
565
310
1,982

In addition to the cash flows identified above, Barclays is exposed to:
■■ variable lease payments: This variability will typically arise from either inflation index instruments or market based pricing adjustments. Currently, 
Barclays has 809 (2019: 939) leases out of the total 1,329 (2019: 1,467) leases which have variable lease payment terms based on market based 
pricing adjustments. Of the gross cash flows identified above, £1,096m (2019: £1,526m) is attributable to leases with some degree of variability 
predominately linked to market based pricing adjustments

■■ extension and termination options: The table above represents Barclays best estimate of future cash out flows for leases, including assumptions 

regarding the exercising of contractual extension and termination options. The above gross cash flows have been reduced by £446m (2019: £474m) 
for leases where Barclays is highly expected to exercise an early termination option. However, there is no significant impact where Barclays is expected 
to exercise an extension option.

The Group currently does not have any significant sale and lease back transactions. The Group does not have any restrictions or covenants imposed 
by the lessor on its property leases which restrict its businesses. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets at amortised cost and other investments continued

22 Goodwill and intangible assets

Accounting for goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill
The carrying value of goodwill is determined in accordance with IFRS 3 Business Combinations and IAS 36 Impairment of Assets.

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiaries represents the excess of the fair value of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the 
Group’s share of the assets acquired and the liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed on the date of the acquisition.

Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment, or more frequently when there are indications that impairment may have occurred. The test involves 
comparing the carrying value of a cash generating unit (CGU) including goodwill with the present value of the pre-tax cash flows, discounted at a rate 
of interest that reflects the inherent risks, of the CGU to which the goodwill relates, or the CGU’s fair value if this is higher.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets other than goodwill are accounted for in accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets.

Intangible assets are initially recognised when they are separable or arise from contractual or other legal rights, the cost can be measured reliably and, 
in the case of intangible assets not acquired in a business combination, where it is probable that future economic benefits attributable to the assets 
will flow from their use.

For internally generated intangible assets, only costs incurred during the development phase are capitalised. Expenditures in the research phase are 
expensed when it is incurred. 

Intangible assets are stated at cost (which is, in the case of assets acquired in a business combination, the acquisition date fair value) less accumulated 
amortisation and impairment, if any, and are amortised over their useful lives in a manner that reflects the pattern to which they contribute to future 
cash flows, generally using the amortisation periods set out below:

Annual rates in calculating amortisation
Goodwill
Internally generated softwarea
Other software
Customer lists
Licences and other

Amortisation period
Not amortised
12 months to 6 years
12 months to 6 years
12 months to 25 years
12 months to 25 years

Note
a  Exceptions to the above rate relate to useful lives of certain core banking platforms that are assessed individually and, if appropriate, amortised over longer periods ranging from 

10 to 15 years.

Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when there are indications that impairment may have occurred. Intangible assets not yet available for use 
are reviewed annually for impairment.

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Intangible assets

Internally 
generated 
software
£m

Goodwill 
£m

Other 
software
£m

Customer 
lists 
£m

Licences 
and other 
£m

Total 
£m

2020
Cost 
As at 1 January 2020
Additions and disposals
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2020
Accumulated amortisation and impairment
As at 1 January 2020
Disposals
Amortisation charge
Impairment charge
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2020
Net book value
2019
Cost 
As at 1 January 2019
Additions and disposals
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2019
Accumulated amortisation and impairment
As at 1 January 2019
Disposals
Amortisation charge
Impairment charge
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2019
Net book value

4,760
(37)
(7)
4,716

(861)
37
–
–
(1)
(825)
3,891

4,768
–
(8)
4,760

(861)
–
–
–
–
(861)
3,899

6,643
646
(42)
7,247

(2,989)
97
(771)
(147)
31
(3,779)
3,468

5,835
857
(49)
6,643

(2,362)
67
(716)
(17)
39
(2,989)
3,654

505
131
3
639

(279)
10
(51)
(6)
(2)
(328)
311

389
120
(4)
505

(254)
25
(52)
(2)
4
(279)
226

1,465
–
(46)
1,419

(1,250)
–
(43)
–
41
(1,252)
167

1,630
(124)
(41)
1,465

(1,359)
124
(49)
–
34
(1,250)
215

489
22
(21)
490

(364)
3
(33)
–
15
(379)
111

558
(39)
(30)
489

(371)
37
(37)
–
7
(364)
125

Goodwill
Goodwill and intangible assets are allocated to business operations according to business segments as follows:

Barclays UK
Barclays International
Head Office
Total

Goodwill
£m
3,560
289
42
3,891

2020
Intangibles
£m
1,618
2,435
4
4,057

Total
£m
5,178
2,724
46
7,948

Goodwill
£m
3,526
329
44
3,899

2019

Intangibles
£m
1,520
2,686
14
4,220

13,862
762
(113)
14,511

(5,743)
147
(898)
(153)
84
(6,563)
7,948

13,180
814
(132)
13,862

(5,207)
253
(854)
(19)
84
(5,743)
8,119

Total
£m
5,046
3,015
58
8,119

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Notes to the financial statements 
Assets at amortised cost and other investments continued

22 Goodwill and intangible assets continued
Critical accounting estimates and judgements
Goodwill
Testing goodwill for impairment involves a significant amount of judgement. Goodwill is allocated to CGUs for the purpose of impairment testing. 
The review of goodwill for impairment involves calculating a value in use (VIU) valuation which is compared to the carrying value of a CGU associated with 
the goodwill to determine whether any impairment has occurred. This includes the identification of independent CGUs across the organisation and the 
allocation of goodwill to those CGUs. 

The calculation of a value in use contains a high degree of uncertainty in estimating the future cash flows and the rates used to discount them. 
Key judgements include determining the carrying value of the CGU, the cash flows and discount rates used in the calculation. 
■■ The cash flow forecasts used by management involve judgement and are based upon a view of the future prospects of the business and market 
conditions at the point in time the assessment is prepared. The estimation of pre-tax cash flows is sensitive to the periods for which detailed 
forecasts are available and to assumptions regarding long-term sustainable cash flows.

■■ The discount rates applied to the future cash flows also involve judgement as they can have a significant impact on the valuation. The discount rates 

used are compared to market participants to ensure that they are appropriate and based on an estimated cost of equity for each CGU. 

■■ The choice of a terminal growth rate used to determine the present value of the future cash flows of the CGUs is also a judgement that can impact 
the outcome of the assessment. The terminal growth rate and discount rates used may vary due to external market rates and economic conditions 
that are beyond management’s control.

Further details of some of the key judgements are set out below. 

2020 impairment review
The 2020 impairment review was performed during Q4 2020. Given the change in the macroeconomic and interest rate outlook, this review was 
performed across all material CGUs. The review identified that a number of the CGUs have been adversely impacted by changes in their operating 
environment, in particular retail and business banking activity. A detailed assessment has been performed, with the approach and results of this analysis 
set out below.

Determining the carrying value of CGUs
The carrying value for each CGU is the sum of the tangible equity, goodwill and intangible balances associated with that CGU.

The Group manages the assets and liabilities of its CGUs with reference to tangible equity of the respective businesses. That tangible equity is derived 
from the level of risk weighted assets (RWAs) and capital required to be deployed in the CGU and therefore reflects its relative risk, as well as the level of 
capital management consider a market participant would require to hold and retain to support business growth. 

The goodwill held across the group has been allocated to the CGU where it originated, based upon historical records. The intangible balances are 
allocated to the CGUs based upon their expected usage of these assets. 

Cash flows
The five-year cash flows used in the calculation are based on the formally agreed medium term plans approved by the Board. These are prepared using 
macroeconomic assumptions which management consider reasonable and supportable, and reflect business agreed initiatives for the forecast period. 
The macroeconomic assumptions underpinning the medium term plan were determined in August 2020 and management has considered whether 
there are subsequent significant changes in those assumptions which would adversely impact the results of the impairment review. 

As required by IAS 36, all estimates of future cash flows exclude cash inflows or outflows that are expected to arise from restructuring initiatives where 
a constructive obligation to carry out the plan does not yet exist. 

The Education, Social Housing and Local Authority (ESHLA) portfolio has been excluded from the Business Banking CGU cash flows. This is a legacy loan 
portfolio which was previously within the Non-Core bank and was not part of the business to which the goodwill relates. As such, the cash flows relating 
to this portfolio have been excluded from the Business Banking VIU calculation. 

The Personal Banking CGU cash flows have been extended to a sixth year (prior to the calculation of terminal values below) to reflect an observed 15bp 
inflexion point in the yield curve which was beyond the period of the medium term plan. 

Discount rates
IAS 36 requires that the discount rate used in a value in use calculation reflects the pre-tax rate an investor would require if they were to choose an 
investment that would generate similar cash flows to those that the entity expects to generate from the asset. In determining the discount rate, 
management have identified the cost of equity associated with market participants that closely resemble our cash generating units and adjusted them 
for tax to arrive at the pre-tax equivalent rate. A range of discount rates have been used across the CGUs ranging from 12.0% to 16.3% (2019: 11.0% 
to 13.3%). 

Terminal growth rate
The terminal growth rate is used to estimate the effect of projecting cash flows to the end of an asset’s useful economic life. It is management’s 
judgement that the cash flows associated with the CGUs will grow in line with the major economies in which we operate. In prior years, the growth rate 
used had been based upon estimated economic growth rates (GDP). Given macroeconomic uncertainty, inflation rates are now considered a better 
approximation of future growth rates and are therefore the basis of terminal growth rates applied. The terminal growth rate used is 2.0% (2019:1.5%).

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22 Goodwill and intangible assets continued
Outcome of goodwill and intangibles review
The Personal Banking and Business Banking retail banking CGUs carry the majority of the Group’s goodwill balance, predominantly as a consequence 
of the Woolwich acquisition. The goodwill within Personal Banking was £2,752m (2019: £2,718m), of which £2,501m (2019: £2,501m) was attributable 
to Woolwich, and within Business Banking was £629m (2019: £629m), fully attributable to Woolwich. 

The outcome of the impairment review for Personal Banking and Business Banking are set out below:

Cash generating unit
Personal Banking
Business Banking
Total

Tangible equity
£m
4,650
1,353
6,003

Goodwill
£m
2,752
629
3,381

Intangibles
£m
1,407
190
1,597

Carrying value
£m
8,809
2,172
10,981

Value in use
£m
8,932
2,912
11,844

Value in use 
exceeding 
carrying value
£m
123
740
863

Value in use 
exceeding 
carrying value 
2019
£m
2,570
1,981
4,551

Based on management’s plans and assumptions the value in use exceeds the carrying value of the CGUs and no impairment has been indicated. 

However, the extent to which the recoverable amounts exceed the carrying values for the Personal Banking and Business Banking CGUs has reduced 
significantly in comparison to the 2019 impairment review, reflective of the challenging macroeconomic and interest rate outlook.

Intangible assets
During the year internally generated software assets related to the discontinuation of obsolete applications resulted in these assets being impaired 
by £153m.

Sensitivity of key judgements
The CGUs are sensitive to possible adverse changes in the key assumptions that support the recoverable amount:

Cash flows: The medium term plans used to determine the cash flows used in the VIU calculation rely on macroeconomic forecasts, including interest 
rates, GDP and unemployment, and forecast levels of market and client activity. Interest rate assumptions impact planned cash flows from both 
customer income and structural hedge contributions and therefore cash flow expectations are highly sensitive to movements in the yield curve. The cash 
flows also contain assumptions with regards to the prudential and financial conduct regulatory environment which may be subject to change. Given the 
current level of economic uncertainty, a 10% reduction in cash flows has been provided to show the sensitivity of the outcome to a change in these key 
assumptions. 

Discount rate: The discount rate should reflect the market risk free rate adjusted for the inherent risks of the business it is applied to. Management 
have identified discount rates for comparable businesses and consider these to be a reasonable estimate of a suitable market rate for the profile of the 
business unit being tested. The risk that these discount rates may not be appropriate is quantified below and show the impact of a 100 bps change 
in the discount rate.

Terminal growth rate: The terminal growth rate is used to estimate the cash flows into perpetuity based on the expected longevity of the CGU’s 
businesses. The terminal growth rate is sensitive to uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment. The risk that using inflation data may not be 
appropriate for its determination is quantified below and shows the impact of a 100 bps change in the terminal value.

Allocated capital rate: Tangible equity is allocated based on the level of risk weighted assets (RWAs) and capital required to be deployed in the CGU which 
is dependent on the relative risk of businesses. The capital ratio used in determining the level of tangible equity allocated to the CGU and its capital cash 
flows could move over time. The impact of a 50 bps increase in capital ratio is quantified below.

The sensitivity of the value in use to key judgements in the calculations is set out below: 

Cash generating unit
Personal Banking
Business Banking
Total

Carrying 
value
£m
8,809
2,172

Value in 
use
£m
8,932
2,912
10,981 11,844

Value in use 
exceeding 
carrying 
value
£m
123
740
863

Discount 
rate
%
13.51
13.81

Terminal 
growth 
rate
%
2.0
2.0

Reduction in headroom

100 bps 
increase 
in the 
discount 
rate
£m
(893)
(205)

100 bps
 decrease 
in terminal 
growth 
rate
£m
(623)
(128)

50 bps
 increase to 
allocated 
capital rate
£m
(220)
(60)

10% 
reduction in 
forecasted 
cash flows
£m
(972)
(206)

Change required to reduce  
headroom to zero

Discount 
rate
%
0.1
4.6

Terminal 
growth 
rate
%
(0.2)
(9.7)

Allocated 
capital 
rate
%
0.3
6.2

Cash
 flows
%
(1.3)
(35.9)

The sensitivity analysis highlights that there could be an impairment in the recoverable value of the goodwill associated with Personal Banking if there 
were to be a change in management cash flow forecasts, discount rate or allocated capital rate. Management continue to review the recoverability of its 
goodwill positions as the macroeconomic conditions remain uncertain.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Accruals, provisions, contingent liabilities 
and legal proceedings

The notes included in this section focus on the Group’s accruals, provisions and contingent liabilities. Provisions are recognised for present obligations 
arising as consequences of past events where it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be necessary to settle the obligation, and it can be 
reliably estimated. Contingent liabilities reflect potential liabilities that are not recognised on the balance sheet.

23 Other liabilities

Accruals and deferred income
Other creditors
Items in the course of collection due to other banks
Lease liabilities (refer to Note 21)
Other liabilities

24 Provisions

2020
£m
3,683
3,447
88
1,444
8,662

2019
£m
3,472
3,257
213
1,563
8,505

Accounting for provisions
The Group applies IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets in accounting for non-financial liabilities.

Provisions are recognised for present obligations arising as consequences of past events where it is more likely than not that a transfer of economic 
benefit will be necessary to settle the obligation, which can be reliably estimated. Provision is made for the anticipated cost of restructuring, including 
redundancy costs, when an obligation exists; for example, when the Group has a detailed formal plan for restructuring a business and has raised valid 
expectations in those affected by the restructuring by announcing its main features or starting to implement the plan.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The financial reporting of provisions involves a significant degree of judgement and is complex. Identifying whether a present obligation exists and 
estimating the probability, timing, nature and quantum of the outflows that may arise from past events requires judgements to be made based on the 
specific facts and circumstances relating to individual events and often requires specialist professional advice. When matters are at an early stage, 
accounting judgements and estimates can be difficult because of the high degree of uncertainty involved. Management continues to monitor matters 
as they develop to re-evaluate on an ongoing basis whether provisions should be recognised, however there can remain a wide range of possible 
outcomes and uncertainties, particularly in relation to legal, competition and regulatory matters, and as a result it is often not practicable to make 
meaningful estimates even when matters are at a more advanced stage. 

The complexity of such matters often requires the input of specialist professional advice in making assessments to produce estimates. Customer 
redress and legal, competition and regulatory matters are areas where a higher degree of professional judgement is required. The amount that is 
recognised as a provision can also be very sensitive to the assumptions made in calculating it. This gives rise to a large range of potential outcomes 
which require judgement in determining an appropriate provision level. See below for information on payment protection redress and Note 26 for 
more detail of legal, competition and regulatory matters.

As at 1 January 2020
Additions
Amounts utilised
Unused amounts reversed
Exchange and other movements
As at 31 December 2020

Onerous
 contracts 
£m
42
24
(13)
(25)
–
28

Redundancy 
and
 restructuring 
£m
143
194
(109)
(60)
(10)
158

Undrawn
 contractually
 committed
 facilities and
 guaranteesª 

£m
322
806
–
(30)
(34)
1,064

Customer redress

Payment
Protection
Insurance
£m
1,155
–
(979)
(47)
–
129

Other
customer
 redress 
£m
420
186
(195)
(44)
1
368

Legal, 
competition 
and regulatory
 matters 
£m
376
106
(171)
(45)
2
268

Sundry
provisions
£m
306
192
(118)
(92)
1
289

Total 
£m
2,764
1,508
(1,585)
(343)
(40)
2,304

Note
a  Undrawn contractually committed facilities and guarantees provisions are accounted for under IFRS 9.

Provisions expected to be recovered or settled within no more than 12 months after 31 December 2020 were £1,751m (2019: £2,457m).

Onerous contracts
Onerous contract provisions comprise an estimate of the costs involved with fulfilling the terms and conditions of contracts net of any expected benefits 
to be received.

Redundancy and restructuring
These provisions comprise the estimated cost of restructuring, including redundancy costs where an obligation exists. Additions made during the year relate 
to formal restructuring plans and have either been utilised, or reversed, where total costs are now expected to be lower than the original provision amount.

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24 Provisions continued
Undrawn contractually committed facilities and guarantees
Impairment allowance under IFRS 9 considers both the drawn and the undrawn counterparty exposure. For retail portfolios, the total impairment allowance 
is allocated to the drawn exposure to the extent that the allowance does not exceed the exposure as ECL is not reported separately. Any excess is 
reported on the liability side of the balance sheet as a provision. For wholesale portfolios, the impairment allowance on the undrawn exposure is reported 
on the liability side of the balance sheet as a provision. For further information, refer to the Credit risk section for loan commitments and financial 
guarantees on page 176.

Customer redress
Customer redress provisions comprise the estimated cost of making redress payments to customers, clients and counterparties for losses or damages 
associated with inappropriate judgement in the execution of the Group’s business activities. Other than Payment Protection Insurance, there are no 
significant individual customer redress provisions at 31 December 2020.

Legal, competition and regulatory matters
The Group is engaged in various legal proceedings, both in the UK and a number of other overseas jurisdictions, including the US. For further information 
in relation to legal proceedings and discussion of the associated uncertainties, refer to Note 26. 

Sundry provisions
This category includes provisions that do not fit into any of the other categories, such as fraud losses and dilapidation provisions.

Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) redress
As at 31 December 2020 Barclays had recognised cumulative provisions totalling £10.9bn (December 2019: £11bn), including a £55m release in Q4 2020 
on resolution of the items received in Q3 2019 and claims from the Official Receiver with whom we reached agreement in Q3 2020, against the cost of PPI 
redress and associated processing costs. Utilisation of the cumulative provisions to date is £10.8bn (December 2019: £9.8bn), leaving a residual provision 
of £0.1bn (December 2019: £1.2bn) to be utilised in 2021. This represents Barclays best estimate as at 31 December 2020 based on information available.

25 Contingent liabilities and commitments

Accounting for contingent liabilities
Contingent liabilities are possible obligations whose existence will be confirmed only by uncertain future events, and present obligations where the 
transfer of economic resources is uncertain or cannot be reliably measured. Contingent liabilities are not recognised on the balance sheet but are 
disclosed unless the likelihood of an outflow of economic resources is remote.

The following table summarises the nominal principal amount of contingent liabilities and commitments which are not recorded on-balance sheet:

Guarantees and letters of credit pledged as collateral security
Performance guarantees, acceptances and endorsements
Total contingent liabilities
Of which: Financial guarantees carried at fair value

Documentary credits and other short-term trade related transactions
Standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments
Total commitments
Of which: Loan commitments carried at fair value

2020
£m
15,665
5,944
21,609
229

2019
£m
17,606
6,921
24,527
43

1,086
331,963
333,049
9,269

1,291
333,164
334,455
17,679

Expected credit losses held against contingent liabilities and commitments equal £1,064m (2019: £322m) and are reported in Note 24. Further details 
on contingent liabilities relating to legal and competition and regulatory matters can be found in Note 26.

26 Legal, competition and regulatory matters
The Group faces legal, competition and regulatory challenges, many of which are beyond our control. The extent of the impact of these matters cannot 
always be predicted but may materially impact our operations, financial results, condition and prospects. Matters arising from a set of similar 
circumstances can give rise to either a contingent liability or a provision, or both, depending on the relevant facts and circumstances. 

The recognition of provisions in relation to such matters involves critical accounting estimates and judgements in accordance with the relevant 
accounting policies as described in Note 24, Provisions. We have not disclosed an estimate of the potential financial impact or effect on the Group of 
contingent liabilities where it is not currently practicable to do so. Various matters detailed in this note seek damages of an unspecified amount. While 
certain matters specify the damages claimed, such claimed amounts do not necessarily reflect the Group’s potential financial exposure in respect of 
those matters. 

Matters are ordered under headings corresponding to the financial statements in which they are disclosed. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Accruals, provisions, contingent liabilities and legal proceedings continued

26 Legal, competition and regulatory matters continued
1.  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC

Investigations into certain advisory services agreements and related civil action 
FCA proceedings 
In 2008, Barclays Bank PLC and Qatar Holdings LLC entered into two advisory service agreements (the Agreements). The Financial Conduct Authority 
(FCA) conducted an investigation into whether the Agreements may have related to Barclays PLC’s capital raisings in June and November 2008 (the 
Capital Raisings) and therefore should have been disclosed in the announcements or public documents relating to the Capital Raisings. In 2013, the FCA 
issued warning notices (the Notices) finding that Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC acted recklessly and in breach of certain disclosure-related listing 
rules, and that Barclays PLC was also in breach of Listing Principle 3. The financial penalty provided in the Notices is £50m. Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank 
PLC continue to contest the findings. Following the conclusion of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) proceedings against certain former Barclays executives 
resulting in their acquittals, the FCA proceedings, which were stayed, have resumed. All charges brought by the SFO against Barclays PLC and Barclays 
Bank PLC in relation to the Agreements were dismissed in 2018.

Civil action 
PCP Capital Partners LLP and PCP International Finance Limited (PCP) are seeking damages of up to approximately £819m from Barclays Bank PLC for 
fraudulent misrepresentation and deceit, arising from alleged statements made by Barclays Bank PLC to PCP in relation to the terms on which securities 
were to be issued to potential investors, allegedly including PCP, in the November 2008 capital raising. The trial took place in 2020 and the High Court has 
indicated that judgment is imminent. The outcome of the judgment, and any financial impact on the Group, is unknown. Barclays Bank PLC is defending 
the claim. 

Investigations into LIBOR and other benchmarks and related civil actions 

Regulators and law enforcement agencies, including certain competition authorities, from a number of governments have conducted investigations 
relating to Barclays Bank PLC’s involvement in allegedly manipulating certain financial benchmarks, such as LIBOR. The SFO closed its investigation with 
no action to be taken against the Group. Various individuals and corporates in a range of jurisdictions have threatened or brought civil actions against the 
Group and other banks in relation to the alleged manipulation of LIBOR and/or other benchmarks. 

USD LIBOR civil actions
The majority of the USD LIBOR cases, which have been filed in various US jurisdictions, have been consolidated for pre-trial purposes in the US District 
Court in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). The complaints are substantially similar and allege, among other things, that Barclays PLC, Barclays 
Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. (BCI) and other financial institutions individually and collectively violated provisions of the US Sherman Antitrust Act 
(Antitrust Act), the US Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), the US Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 and various state laws by manipulating USD LIBOR rates.

Putative class actions and individual actions seek unspecified damages with the exception of three lawsuits, in which the plaintiffs are seeking a combined 
total of approximately $900m in actual damages and additional punitive damages against all defendants, including Barclays Bank PLC. Some of the 
lawsuits also seek trebling of damages under the Antitrust Act and RICO. Barclays Bank PLC has previously settled certain claims. Two class action 
settlements where Barclays Bank PLC has respectively paid $7.1m and $20m have received final court approval. 

Sterling LIBOR civil actions
In 2016, two putative class actions filed in the SDNY against Barclays Bank PLC, BCI and other Sterling LIBOR panel banks alleging, among other things, 
that the defendants manipulated the Sterling LIBOR rate in violation of the Antitrust Act, CEA and RICO, were consolidated. The defendants’ motion to 
dismiss the claims was granted in 2018. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal.

Japanese Yen LIBOR civil actions
In 2012, a putative class action was filed in the SDNY against Barclays Bank PLC and other Japanese Yen LIBOR panel banks by a lead plaintiff involved in 
exchange-traded derivatives and members of the Japanese Bankers Association’s Euroyen Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate (Euroyen TIBOR) panel. The 
complaint alleges, among other things, manipulation of the Euroyen TIBOR and Yen LIBOR rates and breaches of the CEA and the Antitrust Act. In 2014, 
the court dismissed the plaintiff’s antitrust claims, and, in 2020, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s remaining CEA claims. The plaintiff has appealed the 
lower court’s dismissal of such claims.

In 2015, a second putative class action, making similar allegations to the above class action, was filed in the SDNY against Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC 
and BCI. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in 2020, and the defendants have filed a motion to dismiss.

SIBOR/SOR civil action 
In 2016, a putative class action was filed in the SDNY against Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BCI and other defendants, alleging manipulation of the 
Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (SIBOR) and Singapore Swap Offer Rate (SOR). In 2018, the court dismissed all claims against Barclays PLC, Barclays 
Bank PLC and BCI. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal. 

ICE LIBOR civil actions
In 2019, several putative class actions were filed in the SDNY against Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BCI, other financial institution defendants and 
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and certain of its affiliates (ICE), asserting antitrust claims that defendants manipulated USD LIBOR through defendants’ 
submissions to ICE. These actions have been consolidated. The defendants’ motion to dismiss was granted in 2020. The plaintiffs have appealed the 
dismissal. In August 2020, an ICE LIBOR-related action was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of individual 
borrowers and consumers of loans and credit cards with variable interest rates linked to USD ICE LIBOR. 

Non-US benchmarks civil actions 
Legal proceedings (which include the claims referred to below in ‘Local authority civil actions concerning LIBOR’) have been brought or threatened against 
Barclays Bank PLC (and, in certain cases, Barclays Bank UK PLC) in the UK in connection with alleged manipulation of LIBOR, EURIBOR and other 
benchmarks. Proceedings have also been brought in a number of other jurisdictions in Europe and Israel. Additional proceedings in other jurisdictions may 
be brought in the future. 

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Financial statements

26 Legal, competition and regulatory matters continued
Foreign Exchange investigations and related civil actions 
In 2015, the Group reached settlements totalling approximately $2.38bn with various US federal and state authorities and the FCA in relation to 
investigations into certain sales and trading practices in the Foreign Exchange market. Under the related plea agreement with the US Department of 
Justice (DoJ), which received final court approval in January 2017, the Group agreed to a term of probation of three years, which expired in January 2020. 
The Group also continues to provide relevant information to certain authorities.

The European Commission is one of a number of authorities still conducting an investigation into certain trading practices in Foreign Exchange markets. 
The European Commission announced two settlements in May 2019 and the Group paid penalties totalling approximately €210m. In June 2019, the 
Swiss Competition Commission announced two settlements and the Group paid penalties totalling approximately CHF 27m. The financial impact of the 
ongoing matters is not expected to be material to the Group’s operating results, cash flows or financial position.

Various individuals and corporates in a range of jurisdictions have threatened or brought civil actions against the Group and other banks in relation to 
alleged manipulation of Foreign Exchange markets.

FX opt out civil action 
In 2018, Barclays Bank PLC and BCI settled a consolidated action filed in the SDNY, alleging manipulation of Foreign Exchange markets (Consolidated FX 
Action), for a total amount of $384m. Also in 2018, a group of plaintiffs who opted out of the Consolidated FX Action filed a complaint in the SDNY against 
Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BCI and other defendants. Some of the plaintiff’s claims were dismissed in 2020.

Retail basis civil action 
In 2015, a putative class action was filed against several international banks, including Barclays PLC and BCI, on behalf of a proposed class of individuals 
who exchanged currencies on a retail basis at bank branches (Retail Basis Claims). The SDNY has ruled that the Retail Basis Claims are not covered by the 
settlement agreement in the Consolidated FX Action. The Court subsequently dismissed all Retail Basis Claims against the Group and all other 
defendants. The plaintiffs have filed an amended complaint.

State law FX civil action 
In 2017, the SDNY dismissed consolidated putative class actions brought under federal and various state laws on behalf of proposed classes of 
(i) stockholders of Exchange Traded Funds and others who purportedly were indirect investors in FX instruments, and (ii) investors who traded FX 
instruments through FX dealers or brokers not alleged to have manipulated Foreign Exchange Rates. Barclays Bank PLC and BCI have settled the claim, 
which has received final court approval. The financial impact of the settlement is not material to the Group’s operating results, cash flows or financial 
position. 

Non-US FX civil actions
Legal proceedings have been brought or are threatened against Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BCI and Barclays Execution Services Limited (BX) 
in connection with alleged manipulation of Foreign Exchange in the UK, a number of other jurisdictions in Europe, Israel and Australia and additional 
proceedings may be brought in the future.

These include two purported class actions filed against Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BX, BCI and other financial institutions in the UK Competition 
Appeal Tribunal in 2019 following the settlements with the European Commission described above. Also in 2019, a separate claim was filed in the UK in 
the High Court of Justice by various banks and asset management firms against Barclays Bank PLC and other financial institutions alleging breaches of 
European and UK competition laws related to FX trading.

Metals investigations and related civil actions 
Barclays Bank PLC previously provided information to the DoJ, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other authorities in connection with 
investigations into metals and metals-based financial instruments. 

A number of US civil complaints, each on behalf of a proposed class of plaintiffs, have been consolidated and transferred to the SDNY. The complaints 
allege that Barclays Bank PLC and other members of The London Gold Market Fixing Ltd. manipulated the prices of gold and gold derivative contracts in 
violation of the Antitrust Act and other federal laws. This consolidated putative class action remains pending. A separate US civil complaint by a proposed 
class of plaintiffs against a number of banks, including Barclays Bank PLC, BCI and BX, alleging manipulation of the price of silver in violation of the CEA, 
the Antitrust Act and state antitrust and consumer protection laws, has been dismissed as against the Barclays entities. The plaintiffs have the option to 
seek the court’s permission to appeal.

Civil actions have also been filed in Canadian courts against Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Canada Inc. and BCI on behalf of proposed 
classes of plaintiffs alleging manipulation of gold and silver prices. 

US residential mortgage related civil actions 
There are various pending civil actions relating to US Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS), including four actions arising from unresolved 
repurchase requests submitted by Trustees for certain RMBS, alleging breaches of various loan-level representations and warranties (R&Ws) made by 
Barclays Bank PLC and/or a subsidiary acquired in 2007 (the Acquired Subsidiary). The unresolved repurchase requests had an original principal balance of 
approximately $2.1bn. The Trustees have also alleged that the relevant R&Ws may have been breached with respect to a greater (but unspecified) 
amount of loans than previously stated in the unresolved repurchase requests. 

These repurchase actions are ongoing. In one repurchase action, the New York Court of Appeals held that claims related to certain R&Ws are time-
barred. Barclays Bank PLC has reached a settlement to resolve two of the repurchase actions, which is subject to final court approval. The financial impact 
of the settlement is not expected to be material to the Group’s operating results, cash flows or financial position. The remaining two repurchase actions 
are pending. 

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Notes to the financial statements 
Accruals, provisions, contingent liabilities and legal proceedings continued

26 Legal, competition and regulatory matters continued
In 2020, a civil litigation claim was filed in the New Mexico First Judicial District Court by the State of New Mexico against seven banks, including BCI, on 
behalf of two New Mexico state pension funds and the New Mexico State Investment Council relating to legacy RMBS purchases. As to BCI, the complaint 
alleges that the funds purchased approximately $22m in RMBS underwritten by BCI. The plaintiffs have asserted claims under New Mexico state law, 
which provides for the ability to claim treble damages and civil penalties. 

Government and agency securities civil actions and related matters
Certain governmental authorities have conducted investigations into activities relating to the trading of certain government and agency securities in 
various markets. The Group provided information in cooperation with such investigations. In January 2021, the Mexican Competition Authority concluded 
its investigation into activities relating to the trading of Mexican government bonds and granted Barclays Bank Mexico S.A. immunity from fines. 

Civil actions have also been filed on the basis of similar allegations, as described below.

Treasury auction securities civil actions
Consolidated putative class action complaints filed in US federal court against Barclays Bank PLC, BCI and other financial institutions under the Antitrust 
Act and state common law allege that the defendants (i) conspired to manipulate the US Treasury securities market and/or (ii) conspired to prevent the 
creation of certain platforms by boycotting or threatening to boycott such trading platforms. The defendants have filed a motion to dismiss.

In addition, certain plaintiffs have filed a related, direct action against BCI and certain other financial institutions, alleging that defendants conspired to fix 
and manipulate the US Treasury securities market in violation of the Antitrust Act, the CEA and state common law.

Supranational, Sovereign and Agency bonds civil actions
Civil antitrust actions have been filed in the SDNY and Federal Court of Canada in Toronto against Barclays Bank PLC, BCI, BX, Barclays Capital Securities 
Limited and, with respect to the civil action filed in Canada only, Barclays Capital Canada, Inc. and other financial institutions alleging that the defendants 
conspired to fix prices and restrain competition in the market for US dollar-denominated Supranational, Sovereign and Agency bonds. 

In one of the actions filed in the SDNY, the court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ complaint, which the plaintiffs have appealed. 
The plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed the other SDNY action. 

Variable Rate Demand Obligations civil actions
Civil actions have been filed against Barclays Bank PLC and BCI and other financial institutions alleging the defendants conspired or colluded to artificially 
inflate interest rates set for Variable Rate Demand Obligations (VRDOs). VRDOs are municipal bonds with interest rates that reset on a periodic basis, 
most commonly weekly. Two actions in state court have been filed by private plaintiffs on behalf of the states of Illinois and California. Two putative class 
action complaints, which have been consolidated, have been filed in the SDNY. In the SDNY class action, certain of the plaintiff’s claims were dismissed in 
November 2020.

Government bond civil actions
In a putative class action filed in the SDNY in 2019, plaintiffs alleged that BCI and certain other bond dealers conspired to fix the prices of US government 
sponsored entity bonds in violation of US antitrust law. BCI agreed to a settlement of $87m, which received final court approval in 2020. Separately, 
various entities in Louisiana, including the Louisiana Attorney General and the City of Baton Rouge, have commenced litigation against Barclays Bank PLC 
and other financial institutions making similar allegations as the SDNY class action plaintiffs.

In 2018, a separate putative class action against various financial institutions including Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BCI, Barclays Bank Mexico, S.A., 
and certain other subsidiaries of the Group was consolidated in the SDNY. The plaintiffs asserted antitrust and state law claims arising out of an alleged 
conspiracy to fix the prices of Mexican Government bonds. Barclays PLC has settled the claim for $5.7m, which is subject to final court approval. 

Odd-lot corporate bonds antitrust class action
In 2020, BCI, together with other financial institutions, were named as defendants in a putative class action. The complaint alleges a conspiracy to boycott 
developing electronic trading platforms for odd-lots and price fixing. Plaintiffs demand unspecified money damages. The defendants have filed a motion 
to dismiss. 

Interest rate swap and credit default swap US civil actions 
Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC and BCI, together with other financial institutions that act as market makers for interest rate swaps (IRS) are named as 
defendants in several antitrust class actions which were consolidated in the SDNY in 2016. The complaints allege the defendants conspired to prevent 
the development of exchanges for IRS and demand unspecified money damages. 

In 2018, trueEX LLC filed an antitrust class action in the SDNY against a number of financial institutions including Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC and BCI 
based on similar allegations with respect to trueEX LLC’s development of an IRS platform. In 2017, Tera Group Inc. filed a separate civil antitrust action in 
the SDNY claiming that certain conduct alleged in the IRS cases also caused the plaintiff to suffer harm with respect to the Credit Default Swaps market. 
In 2018 and 2019, respectively, the court dismissed certain claims in both cases for unjust enrichment and tortious interference but denied motions to 
dismiss the federal and state antitrust claims, which remain pending.

BDC Finance L.L.C. 
In 2008, BDC Finance L.L.C. (BDC) filed a complaint in the NY Supreme Court, demanding damages of $298m, alleging that Barclays Bank PLC had 
breached a contract in connection with a portfolio of total return swaps governed by an ISDA Master Agreement (collectively, the Agreement). Following 
a trial, the court ruled in 2018 that Barclays Bank PLC was not a defaulting party, which was affirmed on appeal. In October 2020, the trial court granted 
Barclays Bank PLC’s motion for summary judgment on its counterclaims against BDC. BDC has appealed.

In 2011, BDC’s investment advisor, BDCM Fund Adviser, L.L.C. and its parent company, Black Diamond Capital Holdings, L.L.C. also sued Barclays Bank 
PLC and BCI in Connecticut State Court for unspecified damages allegedly resulting from Barclays Bank PLC’s conduct relating to the Agreement, 
asserting claims for violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and tortious interference with business and prospective business relations. 
This case is currently stayed.

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26 Legal, competition and regulatory matters continued
Civil actions in respect of the US Anti-Terrorism Act 
There are a number of civil actions, on behalf of more than 4,000 plaintiffs, filed in US federal courts in the US District Court in the Eastern District of New 
York (EDNY) and SDNY against Barclays Bank PLC and a number of other banks. The complaints generally allege that Barclays Bank PLC and those banks 
engaged in a conspiracy to facilitate US dollar-denominated transactions for the Government of Iran and various Iranian banks, which in turn funded acts 
of terrorism that injured or killed plaintiffs or plaintiffs’ family members. The plaintiffs seek to recover damages for pain, suffering and mental anguish 
under the provisions of the US Anti-Terrorism Act, which allow for the trebling of any proven damages. 

The court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss three actions in the EDNY. Plaintiffs have appealed in one action. The court also granted the 
defendants’ motion to dismiss another action in the SDNY. The remaining actions are stayed pending decisions in these cases. 

Shareholder derivative action
A purported Barclays shareholder filed a putative derivative action in New York state court against BCI and a number of current and former members of 
the Board of Directors of Barclays PLC and senior executives or employees of the Group. The shareholder filed the claim on behalf of Barclays PLC, 
alleging that the individual defendants harmed the company through breaches of their duties under the Companies Act 2006. The plaintiff seeks 
damages for the losses that Barclays PLC allegedly suffered. 

2.  Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank UK PLC

Investigation into collections and recoveries relating to unsecured lending 
Since 2018, the FCA has been investigating whether the Group implemented effective systems and controls with respect to collections and recoveries 
and whether it paid due consideration to the interests of customers in default and arrears. In December 2020, Barclays Bank UK PLC and Barclays Bank 
PLC settled with the FCA and agreed to pay a total penalty of £26m.

Investigation into UK cards’ affordability
The FCA is investigating certain aspects of the affordability assessment process used by Barclays Bank UK PLC and Barclays Bank PLC for credit card 
applications made to Barclays’ UK credit card business. Barclays is providing information in cooperation with the investigation.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) assessments concerning UK Value Added Tax 
In 2018, HMRC issued notices that have the effect of removing certain overseas subsidiaries that have operations in the UK from Barclays’ UK VAT group, 
in which group supplies between members are generally free from VAT. The notices have retrospective effect and correspond to assessments of £181m 
(inclusive of interest), of which Barclays would expect to attribute an amount of approximately £128m to Barclays Bank UK PLC and £53m to Barclays 
Bank PLC. HMRC’s decision has been appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber).

Local authority civil actions concerning LIBOR 
Following settlement by Barclays Bank PLC of various governmental investigations concerning certain benchmark interest rate submissions referred to 
above in ‘Investigations into LIBOR and other benchmarks and related civil actions’, in the UK, certain local authorities have brought claims against 
Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank UK PLC asserting that they entered into loans in reliance on misrepresentations made by Barclays Bank PLC in 
respect of its conduct in relation to LIBOR. Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank UK PLC have applied to strike out the claims.

3.  Barclays PLC

Alternative trading systems
Barclays PLC has been named as a defendant in a claim brought in the UK in the High Court of Justice by various shareholders regarding Barclays PLC’s 
share price based on the allegations contained within a complaint by the New York State Attorney General (NYAG) in 2014. The NYAG complaint was filed 
against Barclays PLC and BCI in the Supreme Court of the State of New York alleging, among other things, that Barclays PLC and BCI engaged in fraud and 
deceptive practices in connection with LX, BCI’s SEC-registered alternative trading system. Such claim was settled in 2016, as previously disclosed. This 
new shareholder claim is seeking unquantified damages, although Barclays PLC has not yet been served. 

General
The Group is engaged in various other legal, competition and regulatory matters in the UK, the US and a number of other overseas jurisdictions. It is 
subject to legal proceedings brought by and against the Group which arise in the ordinary course of business from time to time, including (but not limited 
to) disputes in relation to contracts, securities, debt collection, consumer credit, fraud, trusts, client assets, competition, data management and 
protection, intellectual property, money laundering, financial crime, employment, environmental and other statutory and common law issues.

The Group is also subject to enquiries and examinations, requests for information, audits, investigations and legal and other proceedings by regulators, 
governmental and other public bodies in connection with (but not limited to) consumer protection measures, compliance with legislation and regulation, 
wholesale trading activity and other areas of banking and business activities in which the Group is or has been engaged. The Group is cooperating with 
the relevant authorities and keeping all relevant agencies briefed as appropriate in relation to these matters and others described in this note on an 
ongoing basis.

At the present time, Barclays PLC does not expect the ultimate resolution of any of these other matters to have a material adverse effect on the Group’s 
financial position. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters and the matters specifically described in this note, there can be no 
assurance that the outcome of a particular matter or matters (including formerly active matters or those matters arising after the date of this note) will 
not be material to Barclays PLC’s results, operations or cash flow for a particular period, depending on, among other things, the amount of the loss 
resulting from the matter(s) and the amount of profit otherwise reported for the reporting period.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Capital instruments, equity and reserves

The notes included in this section focus on the Group’s loan capital and shareholders’ equity including issued share capital, retained earnings, other 
equity balances and interests of minority shareholders in our subsidiary entities (non-controlling interests). For more information on capital 
management and how the Group maintains sufficient capital to meet our regulatory requirements refer to the Capital risk management section.

27 Subordinated liabilities

Accounting for subordinated liabilities
Subordinated liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method under IFRS 9.

As at 1 January
Issuances
Redemptions
Other
As at 31 December

2020
£m
18,156
1,438
(3,464)
211
16,341

2019
£m
20,559
1,352
(3,248)
(507)
18,156

Issuances of £1,438m comprise £782m USD 3.564% Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable Notes and £500m 3.75% Fixed Rate Resetting 
Subordinated Callable Notes, both issued externally by Barclays PLC and £156m USD Floating Rate Notes issued externally by a Barclays subsidiary.

Redemptions of £3,464m comprise a £1,126m partial redemption of USD 7.625% Contingent Capital Notes issued externally by Barclays Bank PLC and 
full redemptions of £1,124m EUR 2.625% Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes issued externally by Barclays PLC, £842m USD 5.14% Lower Tier 2 
Notes issued externally by Barclays Bank PLC and £342m USD Floating Rate Notes and £30m USD Fixed Rate Notes, both issued externally by Barclays 
subsidiaries.

Other movements predominantly include foreign exchange movements and fair value hedge adjustments.

Subordinated liabilities include accrued interest and comprise undated and dated subordinated liabilities as follows:

Undated subordinated liabilities
Dated subordinated liabilities
Total subordinated liabilities

None of the Group’s subordinated liabilities are secured.

Undated subordinated liabilitiesª

Barclays Bank PLC issued
Tier One Notes (TONs)
6% Callable Perpetual Core Tier One Notes
6.86% Callable Perpetual Core Tier One Notes (USD 179m)
Reserve Capital Instruments (RCIs)
5.3304% Step-up Callable Perpetual Reserve Capital Instruments
Undated Notes
Junior Undated Floating Rate Notes (USD 38m)
Total undated subordinated liabilities

Note
a 

Instrument values are disclosed to the nearest million.

2020
£m
308
16,033
16,341

2019
£m
303
17,853
18,156

2020
£m

17
205

56

28
308

2019
£m

16
203

53

29
303

Initial call date

2032
2032

2036

Any interest payment date

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Financial statements

27 Subordinated liabilities continued
Undated subordinated liabilities
Undated subordinated liabilities are issued by Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries for the development and expansion of the business and to 
strengthen the capital bases. The principal terms of the undated subordinated liabilities are described below:

Subordination
All undated subordinated liabilities rank behind the claims against the bank of depositors and other unsecured unsubordinated creditors and holders of 
dated subordinated liabilities in the following order: Junior Undated Floating Rate Notes; followed by TONs and RCIs ranking pari passu with each other.

Interest
The Junior Undated Notes are floating rate notes where rates are fixed periodically in advance based on the related market rate.

The TONs and RCIs bear a fixed rate of interest until the initial call date. After the initial call date, in the event that they are not redeemed, the TONs and 
RCIs will bear interest at rates fixed periodically in advance based on market rates.

Payment of interest
No payment of principal or any interest may be made in relation to the TONs and RCIs unless Barclays Bank PLC satisfies a specified solvency test.

Barclays Bank PLC may elect to defer any payment of interest on the RCIs. Any such deferred payment of interest must be paid on the earlier of: (i) the 
date of redemption of the RCIs, and (ii) the coupon payment date falling on or nearest to the tenth anniversary of the date of deferral of such payment. 
Whilst such deferral is continuing, (i) neither Barclays Bank PLC nor Barclays PLC may declare or pay a dividend, subject to certain exceptions, on any of its 
ordinary shares or preference shares and (ii) certain restrictions on the redemption, purchase or reduction of their respective share capital and certain 
other securities also apply.

Barclays Bank PLC may elect to defer any payment of interest on the TONs if it determines that it is, or such payment would result in it being, in non-
compliance with capital adequacy requirements and policies of the PRA. Any such deferred payment of interest will only be payable on a redemption of 
the TONs. Until such time as Barclays Bank PLC next makes a payment of interest on the TONs, (i) neither Barclays Bank PLC nor Barclays PLC may 
declare or pay a dividend, subject to certain exceptions, on any of their respective ordinary shares or preference shares, or make payments of interest in 
respect of Barclays Bank PLC’s Reserve Capital Instruments and (ii) certain restrictions on the redemption, purchase or reduction of their respective 
share capital and certain other securities also apply. 

Repayment
All undated subordinated liabilities are repayable at the option of Barclays Bank PLC, generally in whole, at the initial call date and on any subsequent 
coupon or interest payment date. In addition, each issue of undated subordinated liabilities is repayable, at the option of Barclays Bank PLC in whole for 
certain tax reasons, either at any time, or on an interest payment date. There are no events of default except non-payment of principal or mandatory 
interest. Any repayments require the prior consent of the PRA.

Other
All issues of undated subordinated liabilities are non-convertible.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Capital instruments, equity and reserves continued

27 Subordinated liabilities continued

Dated subordinated liabilitiesª  

Barclays PLC issued
2.625% Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes (EUR 1,250m)
2% Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes (EUR 1,500m)
4.375% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes (USD 1,250m) 
3.75% Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable Notes (SGD 200m)
3.75% Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable Notes (GBP 500m)
5.20% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes (USD 2,050m)
4.836% Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes (USD 2,000m)
5.088% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Callable Notes (USD 1,500m)
3.564% Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable Notes (USD 1,000m)
Barclays Bank PLC issued
5.14% Lower Tier 2 Notes (USD 1,094m)
6% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes (EUR 1,500m)
9.5% Subordinated Bonds (ex-Woolwich Plc)
Subordinated Floating Rate Notes (EUR 100m)
10% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes 
10.179% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes (USD 1,521m)
Subordinated Floating Rate Notes (EUR 50m)
6.625% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes (EUR 1,000m)
7.625% Contingent Capital Notes (USD 3,000m)
Subordinated Floating Rate Notes (EUR 50m)
5.75% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes
5.4% Reverse Dual Currency Subordinated Loan (JPY 15,000m)
6.33% Subordinated Notes 
Subordinated Floating Rate Notes (EUR 68m)
External issuances by other subsidiaries
Total dated subordinated liabilities

Note
a 

Instrument values are disclosed to the nearest million.

Initial call date Maturity date

2020
2023

2025
2025

2027
2029
2030

2025
2028
2024
2030
2030
2026
2028
2030
2035

2020
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
2022
2022
2022
2023
2026
2027
2032
2040
2025

2020
£m

–
1,384
990
119
504
1,610
1,627
1,213
703

–
1,427
221
90
2,108
1,101
45
982
1,132
45
351
108
64
61
146
16,033

2019
£m

1,072
1,309
995
116
–
1,561
1,578
1,152
–

832
1,375
239
85
2,157
1,123
43
957
2,284
42
350
105
62
58
358
17,853

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27 Subordinated liabilities continued
Dated subordinated liabilities
Dated subordinated liabilities are issued by Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries for the development and expansion of their business and 
to strengthen their respective capital bases. The principal terms of the dated subordinated liabilities are described below:

Subordination
Dated subordinated liabilities issued by Barclays PLC ranks behind the claims against Barclays PLC of unsecured unsubordinated creditors but before the 
claims of the holders of its equity.

All dated subordinated liabilities externally issued by Barclays Bank PLC rank behind the claims against the bank of depositors and other unsecured 
unsubordinated creditors but before the claims of the undated subordinated liabilities and the holders of its equity. The dated subordinated liabilities 
externally issued by other subsidiaries are similarly subordinated as the external subordinated liabilities issued by Barclays Bank PLC.

Interest
Interest on the Floating Rate Notes is fixed periodically in advance, based on the related market rates. 

Interest on Fixed Rate Notes is set by reference to market rates at the time of issuance and fixed until maturity.

Interest on the 4.836% Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes, 2% Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes 3.75% SGD Fixed Rate Resetting 
Subordinated Callable Notes, 3.75% GBP Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable Notes and the 3.564% Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable 
Notes are fixed until the call date. After the respective call dates, in the event that they are not redeemed, the interest rates will be reset and fixed until 
maturity based on a market rate. Interest on the 5.088% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Callable Notes are fixed until the call date. After the call 
date, in the event that they are not redeemed, the interest rate will reset periodically in advance based on market rates.

Repayment
Those subordinated liabilities with a call date are repayable at the option of the issuer, on conditions governing the respective debt obligations, some in 
whole or in part, and some only in whole. The remaining dated subordinated liabilities outstanding at 31 December 2020 are redeemable only on maturity, 
subject in particular cases to provisions allowing an early redemption in the event of certain changes in tax law, or to certain changes in legislation or 
regulations. 

Any repayments prior to maturity require, in the case of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC, the prior consent of the PRA, or in the case of the overseas 
issues, the approval of the local regulator for that jurisdiction and of the PRA in certain circumstances.

There are no committed facilities in existence at the balance sheet date which permit the refinancing of debt beyond the date of maturity.

Other
The 7.625% Contingent Capital Notes will be automatically transferred from investors to Barclays PLC (or another entity within the Group) for nil 
consideration in the event the Barclays PLC transitional CET1 ratio falls below 7%.

28 Ordinary shares, share premium, and other equity

Called up share capital, allotted and fully paid

As at 1 January 2020
Issued to staff under share incentive plans
AT1 securities issuance
AT1 securities redemption
Other movements
As at 31 December 2020

As at 1 January 2019
Issued to staff under share incentive plans
Issuances relating to Scrip Dividend Programme
AT1 securities issuance
AT1 securities redemption
Other movements
As at 31 December 2019

Number 
of shares
m
17,322
37
–
–
–
17,359

17,133
76
113
–
–
–
17,322

Ordinary 
share capital
£m
4,331
9
–
–
–
4,340

4,283
19
29
–
–
–
4,331

Ordinary 
share 
premium
£m
263
34
–
–
–
297

28
82
153
–
–
–
263

Total share
 capital 
and share 
premium 
£m
4,594
43
–
–
–
4,637

Other
equity
 instruments
£m
10,871
–
1,142
(831)
(10)
11,172

4,311
101
182
–
–
–
4,594

9,632
–
–
3,500
(2,262)
1
10,871

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Notes to the financial statements 
Capital instruments, equity and reserves continued

28 Ordinary shares, share premium, and other equity continued
Called up share capital
Called up share capital comprises 17,359m (2019: 17,322m) ordinary shares of 25p each. 

Share repurchase
At the 2020 AGM on 7 May 2020, Barclays PLC was authorised to repurchase up to an aggregate of 1,733m of its ordinary shares of 25p. The 
authorisation is effective until the AGM in 2021 or the close of business on 30 June 2021, whichever is the earlier. No share repurchases were made 
during either 2020 or 2019. 

Other equity instruments
Other equity instruments of £11,172m (2019: £10,871m) include AT1 securities issued by Barclays PLC. The AT1 securities are perpetual securities with 
no fixed maturity and are structured to qualify as AT1 instruments under prevailing capital rules applicable as at the relevant issue date.

In 2020, there was one issuance of AT1 instruments, in the form of Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (2019: 
three issuances), totalling £1,142m (2019: £3,500m) which includes issuance costs of £4m (2019: £11m). There was also one redemption in 2020 (2019: 
three redemptions), totalling £831m (2019: £2,262m).

AT1 equity instruments

AT1 equity instruments - Barclays PLC
8.0% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (EUR 1,000m)
7.875% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securitiesa
7.875% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (USD 1,500m)
7.25% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities
7.75% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (USD 2,500m)
5.875% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities
8% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (USD 2,000m)
7.125% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securitiesa
6.375% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities
6.125% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (USD 1,500m)
Total AT1 equity instruments

Note
a  Reported net of securities held by the Group.

Initial call date

2020
£m

2019
£m

2020
2022
2022
2023
2023
2024
2024
2025
2025
2025

–
986
1,131
1,245
1,925
1,244
1,509
994
996
1,142
11,172

830
995
1,131
1,245
1,925
1,244
1,509
996
996
–
10,871

The principal terms of the AT1 securities are described below:
■■ AT1 securities rank behind the claims against Barclays PLC of 1) unsubordinated creditors; 2) claims which are expressed to be subordinated to the 

claims of unsubordinated creditors of Barclays PLC but not further or otherwise; or 3) claims which are, or are expressed to be, junior to the claims of 
other creditors of Barclays PLC, whether subordinated or unsubordinated, other than claims which rank, or are expressed to rank, pari passu with, or 
junior to, the claims of holders of the AT1 securities.

■■ AT1 securities are undated and are redeemable, at the option of Barclays PLC, in whole on (i) the initial call date, or on any fifth anniversary after the 
initial call date or (ii) any day falling in a named period ending on the initial reset date, or on any fifth anniversary after the initial reset date. In addition, 
the AT1 securities are redeemable, at the option of Barclays PLC, in whole in the event of certain changes in the tax or regulatory treatment of the 
securities. Any redemptions require the prior consent of the PRA.

■■ AT1 securities bear a fixed rate of interest until the initial call date or the initial reset date, as the case may be. After the initial call date or the initial reset 

date, as the case may be, in the event that they are not redeemed, the AT1 securities will bear interest at rates fixed periodically in advance for 
five-year periods based on market rates.

■■ Interest on the AT1 securities will be due and payable only at the sole discretion of Barclays PLC, and Barclays PLC has sole and absolute discretion at 

all times and for any reason to cancel (in whole or in part) any interest payment that would otherwise be payable on any interest payment date.

All AT1 securities will be converted into ordinary shares of Barclays PLC, at a pre-determined price, should the fully loaded CET1 ratio of the Group fall 
below 7%.

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29 Reserves
Currency translation reserve 
The currency translation reserve represents the cumulative gains and losses on the retranslation of the Group’s net investment in foreign operations, net 
of the effects of hedging.

Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve 
The fair value through other comprehensive income reserve represents the changes in the fair value of fair value through other comprehensive income 
investments since initial recognition.

Cash flow hedging reserve
The cash flow hedging reserve represents the cumulative gains and losses on effective cash flow hedging instruments that will be recycled to profit or 
loss when the hedged transactions affect profit or loss.

Own credit reserve
The own credit reserve reflects the cumulative own credit gains and losses on financial liabilities at fair value. Amounts in the own credit reserve are not 
recycled to profit or loss in future periods.

Other reserves and treasury shares
Other reserves relate to redeemed ordinary and preference shares issued by the Group. 

Treasury shares relate to Barclays PLC shares held in relation to the Group’s various share schemes. These schemes are described in Note 32. Treasury 
shares are deducted from shareholders’ equity within other reserves. A transfer is made to retained earnings in line with the vesting of treasury shares 
held for the purposes of share-based payments.

Currency translation reserve
Fair value through other comprehensive income reserve
Cash flow hedging reserve
Own credit reserve
Other reserves and treasury shares
Total

30 Non-controlling interests

Barclays Bank PLC issued:
– Preference shares
– Upper Tier 2 instruments
Other non-controlling interests
Total

2020
£m
2,871
5
1,575
(954)
964
4,461

2019
£m
3,344
(187)
1,002
(373)
974
4,760

Profit attributable to 
non-controlling interest

Equity attributable to 
non-controlling interest

Dividends paid to  
non-controlling interest

2020
£m

42
37
(1)
78

2019
£m

41
39
–
80

2020
£m

529
533
23
1,085

2019
£m

529
691
11
1,231

2020
£m

42
37
–
79

2019
£m

41
39
–
80

In 2020, there were no issuances (2019: none) and one redemption of £158m (2019: none) relating to the 7.125% Undated Subordinated Notes.

Barclays Bank PLC and protective rights of non-controlling interests
Barclays PLC holds 100% of the voting rights of Barclays Bank PLC. As at 31 December 2020, Barclays Bank PLC has in issue preference shares and Upper 
Tier 2 instruments. These are non-controlling interests to the Group.

A fixed coupon rate is attached to all Upper Tier 2 instruments until the initial call date, with the exception of the 9% Bonds, which are fixed for the life of 
the issue and the Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 Undated Notes, which are floating rate at rates fixed periodically in advance based on market rates.

After the initial call date, in the event they are not redeemed, coupon payments in relation to the 6.125% Undated Notes, and the 9.25% Bonds are fixed 
periodically in advance for five-year periods based on market rates. Coupon payments for all other Upper Tier 2 instruments are at rates fixed periodically 
in advance based on market rates.

The payment of preference share dividends and Upper Tier 2 coupons are typically at the discretion of Barclays Bank PLC, except for coupon payments 
that become compulsory where Barclays PLC has declared or paid a dividend on ordinary shares, or in certain cases, any class of preference shares, in the 
preceding six-month period. Barclays Bank PLC is not obliged to make a payment of interest on its 9.25% Perpetual Subordinated Bonds if, in the 
immediately preceding 12-month interest period, a dividend has not been paid on any class of its share capital. Coupons not paid becomes payable in 
each case if such a dividend is subsequently paid or in certain other circumstances. No dividend or coupon payments may be made unless Barclays Bank 
PLC satisfies a specified solvency test. Under the terms of these instruments, Barclays PLC may not pay dividends on ordinary shares until a dividend or 
coupon is next paid on these instruments or the instruments are redeemed or purchased by Barclays Bank PLC. There are no restrictions on Barclays 
Bank PLC’s ability to remit capital to the Parent as a result of these issued instruments.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Capital instruments, equity and reserves continued

30 Non-controlling interests continued
Preference share redemptions are typically at the discretion of Barclays Bank PLC. Upper Tier 2 instruments are repayable, at the option of Barclays Bank 
PLC generally in whole at the initial call date and on any subsequent coupon payment date or, in the case of the 6.125% Undated Notes and the 9.25% 
Perpetual Bonds, on any fifth anniversary after the initial call date. In addition, each issue of Upper Tier 2 instruments is repayable, at the option of Barclays 
Bank PLC, in whole for certain tax reasons, either at any time, or on an interest payment date. There are no events of default except non-payment of 
principal or mandatory interest. Any repayments or redemptions require the prior consent of the PRA, and in respect of the preference shares, any such 
redemption will be subject to the Companies Act 2006 and the Articles of Barclays Bank PLC.

Instrument
Preference Shares:
US Dollar Preference Shares
Euro Preference Shares
Total Barclays Bank PLC Preference Shares

Upper Tier 2 Instruments:
Undated Floating Rate Primary Capital Notes Series 1
Undated Floating Rate Primary Capital Notes Series 2
5.03% Undated Reverse Dual Currency Subordinated Loan (JPY8bn)
5.0% Reverse Dual Currency Undated Subordinated Loan (JPY12bn)
Undated Floating Rate Primary Capital Notes Series 3 (£145m)
9% Permanent Interest Bearing Capital Bonds (£100m)
7.125% Undated Subordinated Notes (£525m)
6.125% Undated Subordinated Notes (£550m)
9.25% Perpetual Subordinated Bonds (ex Woolwich) (£150m)
Total Upper Tier 2 Instruments

2020
£m

318
211
529

93
179
39
53
20
40
–
34
75
533

2019
£m

318
211
529

93
179
39
53
20
40
158
34
75
691

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Notes to the financial statements 
Employee benefits

The notes included in this section focus on the costs and commitments associated with employing our staff.

31 Staff costs

Accounting for staff costs
The Group applies IAS 19 Employee benefits in its accounting for most of the components of staff costs.

Short-term employee benefits – salaries, accrued performance costs and social security are recognised over the period in which the employees 
provide the services to which the payments relate.

Performance costs – recognised to the extent that the Group has a present obligation to its employees that can be measured reliably and are 
recognised over the period of service that employees are required to work to qualify for the payments.

Deferred cash and share awards are made to employees to incentivise performance over the period employees provide services. To receive payment 
under an award, employees must provide service over the vesting period. The period over which the expense for deferred cash and share awards is 
recognised is based upon the period employees consider their services contribute to the awards. For past awards, the Group considers that it is 
appropriate to recognise the awards over the period from the date of grant to the date that the awards vest. In relation to awards granted from 2017, 
the Group, taking into account the changing employee understanding surrounding those awards, considered it appropriate for expense to be 
recognised over the vesting period including the financial year prior to the grant date. 

The accounting policies for share-based payments, and pensions and other post-retirement benefits are included in Note 32 and Note 33 
respectively.

Incentive awards granted:
Current year bonus
Deferred bonus
Total incentive awards granted

Reconciliation of incentive awards granted to income statement charge:
Less: deferred bonuses granted but not charged in current year
Add: current year charges for deferred bonuses from previous years
Other differences between incentive awards granted and income statement charge
Income statement charge for performance costs

Other income statement charges:
Salaries
Social security costs
Post-retirement benefitsª
Other compensation costs
Total compensation costsb

Other resourcing costs:
Outsourcing
Redundancy and restructuring
Temporary staff costs
Other
Total other resourcing costs

Total staff costs

2020
£m

1,090
490
1,580

(335)
293
(34)
1,504

4,322
613
519
479
7,437

342
102
102
114
660

2019
£m

1,058
432
1,490

(293)
308
(48)
1,457

4,332
573
501
480
7,343

433
132
256
151
972

2018
£m

1,131
518
1,649

(359)
299
(33)
1,556

4,200
558
619
413
7,346

594
133
386
170
1,283

8,097

8,315

8,629

Notes
a  Post-retirement benefits charge includes £279m (2019: £270m; 2018: £236m) in respect of defined contribution schemes and £240m (2019: £231m; 2018: £383m) in respect of 

defined benefit schemes. 

b  £451m (2019: £439m; 2018: £296m) of Group compensation was capitalised as internally generated software.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Employee benefits continued

32 Share-based payments

Accounting for share-based payments
The Group applies IFRS 2 Share-based Payments in accounting for employee remuneration in the form of shares. 

Employee incentives include awards in the form of shares and share options, as well as offering employees the opportunity to purchase shares on 
favourable terms. The cost of the employee services received in respect of the shares or share options granted is recognised in the income statement 
over the period that employees provide services. The overall cost of the award is calculated using the number of shares and options expected to vest 
and the fair value of the shares or options at the date of grant. 

The number of shares and options expected to vest takes into account the likelihood that performance and service conditions included in the terms 
of the awards will be met. Failure to meet the non-vesting condition is treated as a cancellation, resulting in an acceleration of recognition of the cost 
of the employee services.

The fair value of shares is the market price ruling on the grant date, in some cases adjusted to reflect restrictions on transferability. The fair value of 
options granted is determined using option pricing models to estimate the numbers of shares likely to vest. These take into account the exercise price 
of the option, the current share price, the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility of the share price over the life of the option and other relevant 
factors. Market conditions that must be met in order for the award to vest are also reflected in the fair value of the award, as are any other non-vesting 
conditions – such as continuing to make payments into a share-based savings scheme. 

The charge for the year arising from share-based payment schemes was as follows:

Deferred Share Value Plan and Share Value Plan
Others
Total equity settled
Cash settled
Total share-based payments 

The terms of the main current plans are as follows:

Charge for the year

2020
£m
245
184
429
2
431

2019
£m
272
206
478
3
481

2018
£m
262
187
449
1
450

Share Value Plan (SVP)
The SVP was introduced in March 2010. SVP awards have been granted to participants in the form of a conditional right to receive Barclays PLC shares or 
provisional allocations of Barclays PLC shares which vest or are considered for release over a period of three, five or seven years. Participants do not pay 
to receive an award or to receive a release of shares. For awards granted before December 2017, the grantor may also make a dividend equivalent 
payment to participants on release of a SVP award. SVP awards are also made to eligible employees for recruitment purposes. All awards are subject to 
potential forfeiture in certain leaver scenarios.

Deferred Share Value Plan (DSVP)
The DSVP was introduced in February 2017. The terms of the DSVP are materially the same as the terms of the SVP as described above, save that 
Executive Directors are not eligible to participate in the DSVP and the DSVP operates over market purchase shares only.

Other schemes 
In addition to the SVP and DSVP, the Barclays Group operates a number of other schemes settled in Barclays PLC Shares including Sharesave (both UK 
and Ireland), Sharepurchase (both UK and overseas), and the Barclays Group Long Term Incentive Plan. A delivery of upfront shares to ‘Material Risk 
Takers’ can be made as a Share Incentive Award (Holding Period).

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32 Share-based payments continued
Share option and award plans
The weighted average fair value per award granted, weighted average share price at the date of exercise/release of shares during the year, weighted 
average contractual remaining life and number of options and awards outstanding (including those exercisable) at the balance sheet date were as follows:

2020

2019

Weighted
 average fair
 value per 
award granted 
in year 
£
1.06

Weighted 
average share
 price at
 exercise/
release during
 year 
£
1.24
0.23-1.24 1.04-1.68

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
in years
1
0-3

Number of
options/
awards
outstanding
(000s)
416,941
356,033

Weighted
 average fair
 value per 
award granted 
in year 
£
1.43
0.40-1.60

Weighted 
average share
 price at
 exercise/
release during
 year 
£
1.60
1.57-1.70

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
in years
1
0-3

Number of
options/
awards
outstanding
(000s)
331,491
232,259

DSVP and SVPa,b
Othersa

Notes
a  Options/award granted over Barclays PLC shares. 
b  Weighted average exercise price is not applicable for SVP and DSVP awards as these are not share option schemes.

SVP and DSVP are nil cost awards on which the performance conditions are substantially completed at the date of grant. Consequently, the fair value of 
these awards is based on the market value at that date.

Sharesave has a contractual life of 3 and 5 years, the expected volatility is 32.17% for 3 years and 30.32% for 5 years. The risk free interest rates used for 
valuations are 0.02% and 0.08% for 3 and 5 years respectively.

Movements in options and awards
The movement in the number of options and awards for the major schemes and the weighted average exercise price of options was:

Outstanding at beginning of year/acquisition date 
Granted in the year
Exercised/released in the year
Less: forfeited in the year
Less: expired in the year
Outstanding at end of year
Of which exercisable:

DSVP and SVPa,b

Othersa,c

Number (000s)
2020
331,491
232,379
(132,376)
(14,553)
–
416,941
–

2019
274,469
219,392
(145,324)
(17,046)
–
331,491
–

Number (000s)
2020
232,259
365,166
(123,042)
(105,068)
(13,282)
356,033
30,833

2019
217,952
215,694
(151,827)
(42,331)
(7,229)
232,259
32,376

Weighted average ex. price (£)
2019
1.41
1.19
1.21
1.51
2.08
1.29
1.32

2020
1.29
0.84
1.22
1.24
1.35
0.96
1.66

Notes
a  Options/award granted over Barclays PLC shares. 
b  Weighted average exercise price is not applicable for SVP and DSVP awards as these are not share option schemes.
c  The number of awards within Others at the end of the year principally relates to Sharesave (number of awards exercisable at end of year was 11,677,049). The weighted average exercise 

price relates to Sharesave.

Awards and options granted under the Group’s share plans may be satisfied using new issue shares, treasury shares and market purchase shares. Awards 
granted under the DSVP may be satisfied using market purchase shares only.

There were no significant modifications to the share-based payments arrangements in 2020 and 2019.

As at 31 December 2020, the total liability arising from cash-settled share-based payments transactions was £2m (2019: £3m).

Holdings of Barclays PLC shares and hedges
Various employee benefit trusts established by the Group hold shares in Barclays PLC to meet obligations under the Barclays share-based payment 
schemes. The total number of Barclays shares held in these employee benefit trusts at 31 December 2020 was 17.1m (2019: 13.1m). Dividend rights 
have been waived on all these shares. The total market value of the shares held in trust based on the year end share price of £1.27 (2019: £1.80) was 
£22m (2019: £24m). For accounting of treasury shares, see Note 29.

The Group has entered into physically settled forward contracts to hedge the settlement of certain share-based payment schemes. The fixed forward 
price to be paid under these contracts is £126m and has been recorded in retained earnings.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Employee benefits continued

33 Pensions and post-retirement benefits

Accounting for pensions and post-retirement benefits
The Group operates a number of pension schemes and post-employment benefit schemes.

Defined contribution schemes – the Group recognises contributions due in respect of the accounting period in the income statement. Any 
contributions unpaid at the balance sheet date are included as a liability.

Defined benefit schemes – the Group recognises its obligations to members of each scheme at the period end, less the fair value of the scheme 
assets after applying the asset ceiling test. 

Each scheme’s obligations are calculated using the projected unit credit method. Scheme assets are stated at fair value as at the period end.

Changes in pension scheme liabilities or assets (remeasurements) that do not arise from regular pension cost, net interest on net defined benefit 
liabilities or assets, past service costs, settlements or contributions to the scheme, are recognised in other comprehensive income. Remeasurements 
comprise experience adjustments (differences between previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually occurred), the effects of changes in 
actuarial assumptions, return on scheme assets (excluding amounts included in the interest on the assets) and any changes in the effect of the asset 
ceiling restriction (excluding amounts included in the interest on the restriction).

Post-employment benefit schemes – the cost of providing healthcare benefits to retired employees is accrued as a liability in the financial statements 
over the period that the employees provide services to the Group, using a methodology similar to that for defined benefit pension schemes.

Pension schemes
UK Retirement Fund (UKRF)
The UKRF is the Group’s main scheme, representing 97% of the Group’s total retirement benefit obligations. Barclays Bank PLC is the principal employer 
of the UKRF. The UKRF was closed to new entrants on 1 October 2012, and comprises 10 sections, the two most significant of which are: 
■■ Afterwork, which comprises a contributory cash balance defined benefit element, and a voluntary defined contribution element. The cash balance 
element is accrued each year and revalued until Normal Retirement Age in line with the increase in Retail Price Index (RPI) (up to a maximum of 5% 
p.a.). An increase of up to 2% a year may also be added at Barclays’ discretion. The costs of ill-health retirements and death in service benefits for 
Afterwork members are borne by the UKRF. The main risks that Barclays runs in relation to Afterwork are limited although additional contributions are 
required if pre-retirement investment returns are not sufficient to provide for the benefits.

■■ The 1964 Pension Scheme. Most employees recruited before July 1997 built up benefits in this non-contributory defined benefit scheme in respect 

of service up to 31 March 2010. Pensions were calculated by reference to service and pensionable salary. From 1 April 2010, members became eligible 
to accrue future service benefits in either Afterwork or the Pension Investment Plan (PIP), a historic defined contribution section which is now closed 
to future contributions. The risks that Barclays runs in relation to the 1964 section are typical of final salary pension schemes, principally that 
investment returns fall short of expectations, that inflation exceeds expectations, and that retirees live longer than expected.

Barclays Pension Savings Plan (BPSP)
The BPSP is a defined contribution scheme providing benefits for all new UK hires from 1 October 2012, BPSP is not subject to the same investment 
return, inflation or life expectancy risks for Barclays that defined benefit schemes are. Members’ benefits reflect contributions paid and the level of 
investment returns achieved. 

Other
Apart from the UKRF and the BPSP, Barclays operates a number of smaller pension and long-term employee benefits and post-retirement healthcare 
plans globally, the largest of which are the US defined benefit schemes. Many of the schemes are funded, with assets backing the obligations held in 
separate legal vehicles such as trusts. Others are operated on an unfunded basis. The benefits provided, the approach to funding, and the legal basis of 
the schemes, reflect local environments. 

Governance
The UKRF operates under trust law and is managed and administered on behalf of the members in accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed and 
Rules and all relevant legislation. The Corporate Trustee is Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, a private limited company and a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC. The Trustee is the legal owner of the assets of the UKRF which are held separately from the assets of the Group.

The Trustee Board comprises six Management Directors selected by Barclays, of whom three are independent Directors with no relationship with 
Barclays (and who are not members of the UKRF), plus three Member Nominated Directors selected from eligible active staff, deferred and pensioner 
members who apply for the role.

The BPSP is a Group Personal Pension arrangement which operates as a collection of personal pension plans. Each personal pension plan is a direct 
contract between the employee and the BPSP provider (Legal & General Assurance Society Limited), and is regulated by the FCA.

Similar principles of pension governance apply to the Group’s other pension schemes, depending on local legislation.

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Financial statements

33 Pensions and post-retirement benefits continued
Amounts recognised
The following tables include amounts recognised in the income statement and an analysis of benefit obligations and scheme assets for all Group defined 
benefit schemes. The net position is reconciled to the assets and liabilities recognised on the balance sheet. The tables include funded and unfunded 
post-retirement benefits. 

Income statement charge

Current service cost
Net finance cost
Past service cost
Other movements
Total

Balance sheet reconciliation

Benefit obligation at beginning of the year
Current service cost
Interest costs on scheme liabilities
Past service cost
Remeasurement (loss)/gain – financial
Remeasurement (loss)/gain – demographic
Remeasurement (loss)/gain – experience
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
Exchange and other movements
Benefit obligation at end of the year
Fair value of scheme assets at beginning of the year
Interest income on scheme assets
Employer contribution
Remeasurement – return on scheme assets greater than discount rate
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
Exchange and other movements
Fair value of scheme assets at end of the year
Net surplus
Retirement benefit assets
Retirement benefit liabilities
Net retirement benefit assets

2020
£m
243
(40)
(4)
1
200

2019
£m
231
(48)
–
2
185

2020

2019

Total
£m
(30,333)
(243)
(573)
4
(3,439)
(281)
244
(5)
1,406
30
(33,190)
32,093
613
265
3,411
5
(1,406)
(268)
34,713
1,523
1,814
(291)
1,523

Of which
 relates
 to UKRF
£m
(29,304)
(217)
(549)
–
(3,358)
(286)
237
(1)
1,370
–
(32,108)
31,362
595
248
3,328
1
(1,370)
(249)
33,915
1,807
1,807
–
1,807

Total
£m
(28,269)
(231)
(747)
–
(3,087)
223
277
(5)
1,459
47
(30,333)
29,722
795
755
2,312
5
(1,459)
(37)
32,093
1,760
2,108
(348)
1,760

2018
£m
243
(24)
134
5
358

Of which 
relates 
to UKRF
£m
(27,301)
(210)
(718)
–
(2,964)
214
266
(1)
1,410
–
(29,304)
29,036
774
731
2,230
1
(1,410)
–
31,362
2,058
2,058
–
2,058

Included within the benefit obligation was £867m (2019: £759m) relating to overseas pensions and £215m (2019: £202m) relating to other post-
employment benefits. 

As at 31 December 2020, the UKRF’s scheme assets were in surplus versus IAS 19 obligations by £1,807m (2019: £2,058m). The movement for the 
UKRF was driven by a net decrease in the discount rate and changes to pension increase assumptions, offset partially by higher than assumed asset 
returns. During the year the UKRF invested in non-transferable listed senior gilt-backed notes for £750m, partially financed by £500m deficit 
contributions (the “Heron 2” transaction). The net impact of £250m on plan assets is shown as an outflow under “Exchange and other movements”; 
further details of Heron 2 can be found on page 356.

The weighted average duration of the benefit payments reflected in the defined benefit obligation for the UKRF is 17 years. The UKRF expected benefits 
are projected to be paid out for in excess of 50 years, although 25% of the total benefits are expected to be paid in the next 10 years; 30% in years 11 to 
20 and 25% in years 20 to 30. The remainder of the benefits are expected to be paid beyond 30 years.

Of the £1,370m (2019: £1,410m) UKRF benefits paid out, £520m (2019: £580m) related to transfers out of the fund.

Where a scheme’s assets exceed its obligation, an asset is recognised to the extent that it does not exceed the present value of future contribution 
holidays or refunds of contributions (the asset ceiling). In the case of the UKRF the asset ceiling is not applied as, in certain specified circumstances such 
as wind-up, the Group expects to be able to recover any surplus. Similarly, a liability in respect of future minimum funding requirements is not recognised. 
The Trustee does not have a substantive right to augment benefits, nor do they have the right to wind up the plan except in the dissolution of the Group 
or termination of contributions by the Group. The application of the asset ceiling to other plans and recognition of additional liabilities in respect of future 
minimum funding requirements are considered on an individual plan basis.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Employee benefits continued

33 Pensions and post-retirement benefits continued
Critical accounting estimates and judgements
Actuarial valuation of the schemes’ obligation is dependent upon a series of assumptions. Below is a summary of the main financial and demographic 
assumptions adopted for the UKRF.

Key UKRF financial assumptions
Discount rate
Inflation rate (RPI)

2020
% p.a.
1.29
2.99

2019
% p.a.
1.92
3.02

The UKRF discount rate assumption for 2020 was based on a standard Willis Towers Watson RATE Link model. The UKRF discount rate assumption for 
2019 was based on a variant of the standard Willis Towers Watson RATE Link model that included all bonds rated AA by at least one of the four major 
ratings agencies, and assumed that forward rates after year 30 were flat. The change in discount rate methodology as at 31 December 2020 led to a 
remeasurement gain of £1.2bn. The RPI inflation assumption for 2020 was set by reference to the Bank of England’s implied inflation curve. The inflation 
assumption incorporates a deduction of 20 basis points as an allowance for an inflation risk premium. The methodology used to derive the inflation 
assumptions is consistent with that used at the prior year end.

The UKRF’s post-retirement mortality assumptions are based on a best estimate assumption derived from an analysis in 2019 of the UKRF’s own 
post-retirement mortality experience, and taking account of recent evidence from published mortality surveys. An allowance has been made for future 
mortality improvements based on the 2019 core projection model published by the Continuous Mortality Investigation Bureau subject to a long-term 
trend of 1.5% per annum in future improvements. The methodology used is consistent with the prior year end, except that the 2018 core projection 
model was used at 2019. The table below shows how the assumed life expectancy at 60, for members of the UKRF, has varied over the past three years:

Assumed life expectancy
Life expectancy at 60 for current pensioners (years)
– Males
– Females
Life expectancy at 60 for future pensioners currently aged 40 (years)
– Males
– Females

2020

2019

2018

27.2
29.4

29.0
31.2

27.1
29.3

28.9
31.1

27.7
29.4

29.2
31.0

On 11 December 2020, the UKRF entered into a £5bn longevity swap to hedge around a quarter of current pensioner liabilities against unexpected 
increases in life expectancy. The swap will form part of the UKRF’s investment portfolio and provide income in the event that pensions are paid out for 
longer than expected. The UKRF Trustee established a Guernsey-based captive insurer (Barclays UKRF No.1 IC Limited) to act as an insurance 
intermediary between the UKRF and swap provider. The swap is not included directly within the balance sheet of Barclays PLC as it is an asset of the UKRF. 
At 31 December 2020, the swap is valued at nil fair value as it is considered to remain at fair market value for both parties over the very limited period from 
11 December 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Sensitivity analysis on actuarial assumptions
The sensitivity analysis has been calculated by valuing the UKRF liabilities using the amended assumptions shown in the table below and keeping the 
remaining assumptions the same as disclosed in the table above, except in the case of the inflation sensitivity where other assumptions that depend on 
assumed inflation have also been amended correspondingly. The difference between the recalculated liability figure and that stated in the balance sheet 
reconciliation table above is the figure shown. The selection of these movements to illustrate the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to key 
assumptions should not be interpreted as Barclays expressing any specific view of the probability of such movements happening.

Change in key assumptions 

Discount rate
0.5% p.a. increase
0.25% p.a. increase
0.25% p.a. decrease
0.5% p.a. decrease
Assumed RPI
0.5% p.a. increase
0.25% p.a. increase
0.25% p.a. decrease
0.5% p.a. decrease
Life expectancy at 60
One year increase
One year decrease

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2020
(Decrease)/
 Increase in 
UKRF defined
 benefit
 obligation
£bn

2019
(Decrease)/ 
Increase in 
UKRF defined
 benefit 
obligation
£bn

(2.5)
(1.3)
1.4
2.9

1.8
0.9
(0.9)
(1.8)

1.2
(1.2)

(2.3)
(1.2)
1.2
2.6

1.5
0.8
(0.7)
(1.4)

1.0
(1.0)

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33 Pensions and post-retirement benefits continued
Assets
A long-term investment strategy has been set for the UKRF, with its asset allocation comprising a mixture of equities, bonds, property and other 
appropriate assets. This recognises that different asset classes are likely to produce different long-term returns and some asset classes may be more 
volatile than others. The long-term investment strategy ensures, among other aims, that investments are adequately diversified.

The UKRF also employs derivative instruments, where appropriate, to achieve a desired exposure or return, or to match assets more closely to liabilities. 
The value of assets shown reflects the assets held by the scheme, with any derivative holdings reflected on a fair value basis. 

The value of the assets of the schemes and their percentage in relation to total scheme assets were as follows:

Analysis of scheme assets

As at 31 December 2020
Equities 
Private equities
Bonds – fixed government
Bonds – index-linked government
Bonds – corporate and other
Property
Infrastructure
Cash and liquid assets
Mixed investment funds
Other
Fair value of scheme assets 

As at 31 December 2019b
Equities 
Private equities
Bonds – fixed government
Bonds – index-linked government
Bonds – corporate and other
Property
Infrastructure
Cash and liquid assets
Mixed investment funds
Other
Fair value of scheme assets 

Total

Of which relates to UKRF

Quoteda
£m

Unquoteda
£m

Value
£m

% of total fair 
value of 
scheme 
assets
%

Quoteda
£m

Unquoteda
£m

Value
£m

% of total fair 
value of 
scheme 
assets
%

567
–
4,205
10,706
7,439
10
–
64
9
14
23,014

942
–
3,574
10,355
6,260
11
–
596
–
–
21,738

1,498
2,233
110
1,014
1,678
1,416
1,812
1,830
–
108
11,699

1,568
2,083
300
681
2,297
1,633
1,558
170
–
65
10,355

2,065
2,233
4,315
11,720
9,117
1,426
1,812
1,894
9
122
34,713

2,510
2,083
3,874
11,036
8,557
1,644
1,558
766
–
65
32,093

5.9
6.4
12.4
33.8
26.3
4.1
5.2
5.5
–
0.4
100.0

7.8
6.5
12.1
34.4
26.6
5.1
4.9
2.4
–
0.2
100.0

378
–
3,932
10,697
7,214
–
–
46
–
–
22,267

768
–
3,303
10,345
6,069
–
–
576
–
–
21,061

1,498
2,233
110
1,014
1,678
1,416
1,812
1,830
–
57
11,648

1,568
2,083
299
682
2,295
1,633
1,558
169
–
14
10,301

1,876
2,233
4,042
11,711
8,892
1,416
1,812
1,876
–
57
33,915

2,336
2,083
3,602
11,027
8,364
1,633
1,558
745
–
14
31,362

5.5
6.6
11.9
34.6
26.2
4.2
5.3
5.5
–
0.2
100.0

7.4
6.6
11.5
35.2
26.7
5.2
5.0
2.4
–
–
100.0

Notes
a  Valuations on unquoted assets are provided by the underlying managers or qualified independent valuers. Valuations on complex instruments are based on UKRF custodian valuations. All 

valuations are determined in accordance with relevant industry guidance.
b  Analysis of scheme assets for 2019 is restated with a quoted/unquoted split.

Included within the fair value of scheme assets were nil (2019: nil) relating to shares in Barclays PLC and nil (2019: nil) relating to bonds issued by Barclays 
PLC. The UKRF also invests in pooled investment vehicles which may hold shares or debt issued by Barclays PLC.

The UKRF assets above do not include the Senior Notes asset referred to in the section below on Triennial Valuation, as these are non-transferable 
instruments and not recognised under IAS 19.

Approximately 45% of the UKRF assets are invested in liability-driven investment strategies; primarily UK gilts as well as interest rate and inflation swaps. 
These are used to better match the assets to its liabilities. The swaps are used to reduce the scheme’s inflation and duration risks against its liabilities.

Triennial valuation
The latest annual update as at 30 September 2020 showed the funding deficit had improved to £0.9bn from the £2.3bn shown at the 30 September 2019 
triennial valuation. The improvement was mainly due to £1.0bn of deficit reduction contributions paid over the year.

The main differences between the funding and accounting assumptions are a different approach to setting the discount rate and a more conservative 
longevity assumption for funding.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Employee benefits continued

33 Pensions and post-retirement benefits continued
The deficit reduction contributions agreed with the UKRF Trustee as part of the 30 September 2019 triennial valuation recovery plan are shown in the 
table below. 

Year
Cash paid:
2020
Future commitments:
2021
2022
2023
2024 to 2026

Deficit reduction  contributions
under the 30 September 2019 valuation
£m

500

700
294
286
–

On 12 June 2020, Barclays Bank PLC paid the £500m deficit reduction contribution agreed for 2020 and at the same time the UKRF subscribed for 
non-transferable listed senior fixed rate notes for £750m, backed by UK gilts (the Senior Notes). These Senior Notes entitle the UKRF to semi-annual 
coupon payments for five years, and full repayment in cash in three equal tranches in 2023, 2024, and at final maturity in 2025. The Senior Notes were 
issued by Heron Issuer Number 2 Limited (Heron 2), an entity that is consolidated within the Group under IFRS 10. As a result of the investment in Senior 
Notes, the regulatory capital impact of the £500m deficit reduction contribution paid on 12 June 2020 takes effect in 2023, 2024 and 2025 on maturity of 
the notes. As the UKRF’s investment in the Senior Notes does not qualify as a plan asset under IAS 19, the £500m deficit reduction contribution does not 
appear in the IAS19 plan assets nor as an employer contribution as at 31 December 2020, and the additional £250m scheme investment appears as an 
outflow in the balance sheet reconciliation under ‘Exchange and other movements’. The £250m additional investment by the UKRF in the Senior Notes 
has a positive capital impact in 2020 which is reduced equally in 2023, 2024 and 2025 on the maturity of the notes. Heron 2 acquired a total of £750m of 
gilts from Barclays Bank PLC for cash to support payments on the senior notes. A transaction with a similar structure was agreed as part of the 2019 
triennial actuarial valuation. On 11 December 2019, Barclays Bank PLC paid the £500m deficit reduction contribution agreed for 2019 and at the same 
time the UKRF subscribed for non-transferrable listed senior fixed rate notes for £500m, backed by UK gilts (the Senior Notes). These Senior Notes 
entitle the UKRF to semi-annual coupon payments for five years, and full repayment in cash at maturity in 2024. As the UKRF’s investment in these Senior 
Notes does not qualify as a plan asset under IAS 19, the 2019 £500m deficit reduction contribution does not appear in the IAS 19 plan assets. No liability 
is recognised under IAS 19 for the obligation to make deficit reduction contributions or to repay the Senior Notes, as settlement gives rise to both a 
reduction in cash and a corresponding increase in net defined benefit assets.

The deficit reduction contributions are in addition to the regular contributions to meet the Group’s share of the cost of benefits accruing over each year. 
The next funding valuation of the UKRF is due to be completed in 2023 with an effective date of 30 September 2022.

Other support measures agreed which remain in place
Collateral – The UKRF Trustee and Barclays Bank PLC have entered into an arrangement whereby a collateral pool has been put in place to provide security 
for the UKRF funding deficit as it increases or decreases over time. The collateral pool is currently made up of government securities, and agreement was 
made with the Trustee to cover at least 100% of the funding deficit with an overall cap of £9bn. The arrangement provides the UKRF Trustee with 
dedicated access to the pool of assets in the event of Barclays Bank PLC not paying a deficit reduction contribution to the UKRF or in the event of 
Barclays Bank PLC’s insolvency. These assets are included within Note 38 Assets pledged, collateral received and assets transferred.

Support from Barclays PLC – In the event of Barclays Bank PLC not paying a deficit reduction contribution payment required by a specified pre-payment 
date, Barclays PLC has entered into an arrangement whereby it will be required to use, in first priority, dividends received from Barclays Bank UK PLC (if 
any) to invest the proceeds in Barclays Bank PLC (up to the maximum amount of the deficit reduction contribution unpaid by Barclays Bank PLC). The 
proceeds of the investment will be used to discharge Barclays Bank PLC’s unpaid deficit reduction contribution.

Participation – As permitted under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Banking Reform) (Pensions) Regulations 2015, Barclays Bank UK PLC is a 
participating employer in the UKRF and will remain so during a transitional phase until September 2025 as set out in a deed of participation. Barclays Bank UK 
PLC will make contributions for the future service of its employees who are currently Afterwork members and, in the event of Barclays Bank PLC’s insolvency 
during this period provision has been made to require Barclays Bank UK PLC to become the principal employer of the UKRF. Barclays Bank PLC’s Section 75 
debt would be triggered by the insolvency (the debt would be calculated after allowing for the payment to the UKRF of the collateral above).

Defined benefit contributions paid with respect to the UKRF were as follows:

Contributions paid

2020
2019
2018

£m
748
1,231
741

There were nil (2019: nil; 2018: nil) Section 75 contributions included within the Group’s contributions paid as no participating employers left the UKRF 
in 2020.

The Group’s expected contribution to the UKRF in respect of defined benefits in 2021 is £959m (2020: £743m). In addition, the expected contributions to 
UK defined contribution schemes in 2021 is £35m (2020: £33m) to the UKRF and £209m (2020: £185m) to the BPSP. 

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Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements 
Scope of consolidation

The notes included in this section present information on the Group’s investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates and its interests in 
structured entities. Detail is also given on securitisation transactions the Group has entered into and arrangements that are held off-balance sheet.

34 Principal subsidiaries

The Group applies IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements combine the financial statements of the Group 
and all its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has control. Under IFRS 10, this is when the Group is exposed or has rights to 
variable returns from its involvement in the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

The Group reassesses whether it controls an entity if facts and circumstances indicate that there have been changes to its power, its rights to variable 
returns or its ability to use its power to affect the amount of its returns.

Intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation and consistent accounting policies are used throughout the Group for the 
purposes of the consolidation. Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries are accounted for as equity transactions if they occur after control has 
been obtained and they do not result in loss of control.

The significant judgements used in applying this policy are set out below.

Accounting for investment in subsidiaries
In the individual financial statements of Barclays PLC, investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost less impairment.

Principal subsidiaries for the Group are set out below. This includes those subsidiaries that are most significant in the context of the Group’s business, 
results or financial position.

Company name
Barclays Bank PLC
Barclays Bank UK PLC
Barclays Bank Ireland PLC
Barclays Execution Services Limited
Barclays Capital Inc.
Barclays Capital Securities Limited
Barclays Securities Japan Limited
Barclays US LLC
Barclays Bank Delaware

Principal place of business or incorporation
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Ireland
United Kingdom
United States
United Kingdom
Japan
United States
United States

Nature of business
Banking, holding company
Banking, holding company
Banking
Service company
Securities dealing
Securities dealing
Securities dealing
Holding company
Credit card issuer 

Non-
controlling 
interests – 
proportion 
of ownership 
interests
%
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Percentage 
of voting 
rights
 held
%
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Non-
controlling
 interests
 proportion 
of voting 
interests
%
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

The country of registration or incorporation is also the principal area of operation of each of the above subsidiaries. 

Ownership interests are in some cases different to voting interests due to the existence of non-voting equity interests, such as preference shares. Refer 
to Note 30 for more information. 

Determining whether the Group has control of an entity is generally straightforward based on ownership of the majority of the voting capital. However, in 
certain instances, this determination will involve judgement, particularly in the case of structured entities where voting rights are often not the 
determining factor in decisions over the relevant activities. This judgement will involve assessing the purpose and design of the entity. It will also often be 
necessary to consider whether the Group, or another involved party with power over the relevant activities, is acting as a principal in its own right or as an 
agent on behalf of others. 

There is also often considerable judgement involved in the ongoing assessment of control over structured entities. In this regard, where market 
conditions have deteriorated such that the other investors’ exposures to the structure’s variable returns have been substantively eliminated, the Group 
may conclude that the managers of the structured entity are acting as its agent and therefore will consolidate the structured entity. 

An interest in equity voting rights exceeding 50% would typically indicate that the Group has control of an entity. However, the entity set out below is 
excluded from consolidation because the Group does not have exposure to its variable returns. 

Country of registration or incorporation
Cayman Islands

Company name
Palomino Limited

Percentage 
of voting 
rights held
%
100

Equity 
shareholders’
funds
£m
–

Retained 
profit for 
the year
£m
–

This entity is managed by an external counterparty and consequently is not controlled by the Group. Interests relating to this entity are included in Note 35.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Scope of consolidation continued

34 Principal subsidiaries continued
Significant restrictions
As is typical for a group of its size and international scope, there are restrictions on the ability of Barclays PLC to obtain distributions of capital, access the 
assets or repay the liabilities of members of its Group due to the statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements of its subsidiaries and due to the 
protective rights of non-controlling interests. These are considered below.

Regulatory requirements
Barclays’ principal subsidiary companies have assets and liabilities before intercompany eliminations of £1,795bn (2019: £1,474bn) and £1,703bn (2019: 
£1,388bn) respectively. Certain of these assets and liabilities are subject to prudential regulation and regulatory capital requirements in the countries in 
which they are regulated. These require entities to maintain minimum capital levels which cannot be returned to the parent company, Barclays PLC, on a 
going concern basis. 

In order to meet capital requirements, subsidiaries may issue certain equity-accounted and debt-accounted financial instruments and non-equity 
instruments such as Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital instruments and other forms of subordinated liabilities. Refer to Note 27 and Note 28 for particulars of these 
instruments. These instruments may be subject to cancellation clauses or preference share restrictions that would limit the ability of the entity to 
repatriate the capital on a timely basis.

Liquidity requirements
Regulated subsidiaries of the Group are required to meet applicable PRA or local regulatory requirements pertaining to liquidity. Some of the regulated 
subsidiaries include Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Capital Securities Limited (which are regulated on a combined basis under a Domestic Liquidity 
Sub-Group (DoLSub) arrangement), Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Barclays Bank Delaware. Refer to the 
Liquidity risk section for further details of liquidity requirements, including those of the Group’s significant subsidiaries.

Statutory requirements 
The Group’s subsidiaries are subject to statutory requirements not to make distributions of capital and unrealised profits and generally to maintain 
solvency. These requirements restrict the ability of subsidiaries to make remittances of dividends to Barclays PLC, the ultimate parent, except in the event 
of a legal capital reduction or liquidation. In most cases, the regulatory restrictions referred to above exceed the statutory restrictions.

Asset encumbrance
The Group uses its financial assets to raise finance in the form of securitisations and through the liquidity schemes of central banks, as well as to provide 
security to the UK Retirement Fund. Once encumbered, the assets are not available for transfer around the Group. The assets typically affected are 
disclosed in Note 38.

Other restrictions
The Group is required to maintain balances with central banks and other regulatory authorities, and these amounted to £3,392m (2019: £4,893m).

35 Structured entities
A structured entity is an entity in which voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding control. Structured entities are generally created to 
achieve a narrow and well-defined objective with restrictions around their ongoing activities. 

Depending on the Group’s power over the activities of the entity and its exposure to and ability to influence its own returns, it may consolidate the entity. 
In other cases, it may sponsor or have exposure to such an entity but not consolidate it.

Consolidated structured entities
The Group has contractual arrangements which may require it to provide financial support to the following types of consolidated structured entities:
■■ Securitisation vehicles: The Group uses securitisation as a source of financing and a means of risk transfer. Refer to Note 37 for further detail.
■■ Commercial paper (CP) and medium-term conduits: The Group provided £11.7bn (2019: £8.3bn) in undrawn contractual backstop liquidity facilities to 

CP conduits.

■■ Employee benefit trusts: The Group provides capital contributions to employee benefit trusts to enable them to meet obligations to employees in 

relation to share-based remuneration arrangements.

■■ Other trusts: During 2020, the Group provided undrawn liquidity facilities of £2.9bn (2019: £2.5bn) to certain trusts.

Unconsolidated structured entities in which the Group has an interest
An interest in a structured entity is any form of contractual or non-contractual involvement which creates variability in returns arising from the 
performance of the entity for the Group. Such interests include holdings of debt or equity securities, derivatives that transfer financial risks from the 
entity to the Group, lending, loan commitments, financial guarantees and investment management agreements.

Interest rate swaps, foreign exchange derivatives that are not complex and which expose the Group to insignificant credit risk by being senior in the 
payment waterfall of a securitisation and derivatives that are determined to introduce risk or variability to a structured entity are not considered to be an 
interest in an entity and have been excluded from the disclosures below.

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35 Structured entities continued
The nature and extent of the Group’s interests in structured entities is summarised below:

Summary of interests in unconsolidated structured entities

As at 31 December 2020
Assets
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments

As at 31 December 2019
Assets
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Derivative financial instruments
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments

Secured
 financing
£m

Short-term
 traded
 interests
£m

Traded
 derivatives
£m

Other
 interests
£m

Total
£m

–
56,265
–
–
–
10
–
56,275

11,361
–
–
–
–
–
–
11,361

–
–
2,968
–
–
–
–
2,968

–
2,864
–
153
20,946
–
16
23,979

11,361
59,129
2,968
153
20,946
10
16
94,583

–

–

7,075

–

7,075

–
32,859
–
–
–
77
–
32,936

9,585
–
–
–
–
–
–
9,585

–
–
2,369
–
–
–
–
2,369

76
2,659
–
391
19,061
–
28
22,215

9,661
35,518
2,369
391
19,061
77
28
67,105

–

–

3,171

2,437

5,608

Secured financing arrangements, short-term traded interests and traded derivatives are typically managed under market risk management policies 
described in the Market risk management section which includes an indication of the change of risk measures compared to last year. For this reason, the 
total assets of these entities are not considered meaningful for the purposes of understanding the related risks and so have not been presented. Other 
interests include conduits and lending where the interest is driven by normal customer demand.

Secured financing 
The Group routinely enters into reverse repurchase contracts, stock borrowing and similar arrangements on normal commercial terms where the 
counterparty to the arrangement is a structured entity. Due to the nature of these arrangements, especially the transfer of collateral and ongoing 
margining, the Group has minimal exposure to the performance of the structured entity counterparty. This includes margin lending which is presented 
under financial assets at fair value through the income statement to align to the balance sheet presentation. 

Short-term traded interests
The Group buys and sells interests in structured entities as part of its trading activities, for example, retail mortgage-backed securities, collateralised debt 
obligations and similar interests. Such interests are typically held individually or as part of a larger portfolio for no more than 90 days. In such cases, the 
Group typically has no other involvement with the structured entity other than the securities it holds as part of trading activities and its maximum 
exposure to loss is restricted to the carrying value of the asset.

As at 31 December 2020, £10,682m (2019: £8,903m) of the Group’s £11,361m (2019: £9,585m) short-term traded interests were comprised of debt 
securities issued by asset securitisation vehicles.

Traded derivatives
The Group enters into a variety of derivative contracts with structured entities which reference market risk variables such as interest rates, foreign 
exchange rates and credit indices among other things. The main derivative types which are considered interests in structured entities include index-
based and entity specific credit default swaps, balance guaranteed swaps, total return swaps, commodities swaps, and equity swaps. A description of the 
types of derivatives and the risk management practices are detailed in Note 14. The risk of loss may be mitigated through ongoing margining 
requirements as well as a right to cash flows from the structured entity which are senior in the payment waterfall. Such margining requirements are 
consistent with market practice for many derivative arrangements and in line with the Group’s normal credit policies.

Derivative transactions require the counterparty to provide cash or other collateral under margining agreements to mitigate counterparty credit risk. The 
Group is mainly exposed to settlement risk on these derivatives which is mitigated through daily margining. Total notional contract amounts were 
£153,894m (2019: £314,170m).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Scope of consolidation continued

35 Structured entities continued
Except for credit default swaps where the maximum exposure to loss is the swap notional amount, it is not possible to estimate the maximum exposure 
to loss in respect of derivative positions as the fair value of derivatives is subject to changes in market rates of interest, exchange rates and credit indices 
which by their nature are uncertain. In addition, the Group’s losses would be subject to mitigating action under its traded market risk and credit risk 
policies that require the counterparty to provide collateral in cash or other assets in most cases.

Other interests in unconsolidated structured entities
The Group’s interests in structured entities not held for the purposes of short-term trading activities are set out below, summarised by the purpose of 
the entities and limited to significant categories, based on maximum exposure to loss.

Nature of interest

As at 31 December 2020
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet exposures
Total off-balance sheet notional amounts
Maximum exposure to loss
Total assets of the entity

As at 31 December 2019
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Other assets
Total on-balance sheet exposures
Total off-balance sheet notional amounts
Maximum exposure to loss
Total assets of the entity

Multi-seller 
conduit 
programmes
£m

Lending
£m

Other
£m

Total
£m

– 
– 
– 
5,146
8
5,154
11,750
16,904
87,004

– 
– 
– 
5,930
17
5,947
8,649
14,596
78,716

– 
98
106
12,721
3
12,928
7,555
20,483
159,804

– 
159
– 
8,132
4
8,295
3,751
12,046
145,181

– 
2,766
47
3,079
5
5,897
– 
5,897
36,083

76
2,500
391
4,999
7
7,973
1,621
9,594
34,099

– 
2,864
153
20,946
16
23,979
19,305
43,284
282,891

76
2,659
391
19,061
28
22,215
14,021
36,236
257,996

Maximum exposure to loss
Unless specified otherwise below, the Group’s maximum exposure to loss is the total of its on-balance sheet positions and its off-balance sheet 
arrangements, being loan commitments and financial guarantees. Exposure to loss is mitigated through collateral, financial guarantees, the availability of 
netting and credit protection held.

Multi-seller conduit programme
The multi-seller conduit engages in providing financing to various clients and holds whole or partial interests in pools of receivables or similar obligations. 
These instruments are protected from loss through overcollateralisation, seller guarantees, or other credit enhancements provided to the conduit. The 
Group’s off-balance sheet exposure included in the table above represents liquidity facilities that are provided to the conduit for the benefit of the holders 
of the commercial paper issued by the conduit and will only be drawn where the conduit is unable to access the commercial paper market. If these liquidity 
facilities are drawn, the Group is protected from loss through overcollateralisation, seller guarantees, or other credit enhancements provided to the 
conduit.

Lending
The portfolio includes lending provided by the Group to unconsolidated structured entities in the normal course of its lending business to earn income in 
the form of interest and lending fees and includes loans to structured entities that are generally collateralised by property, equipment or other assets. All 
loans are subject to the Group’s credit sanctioning process. Collateral arrangements are specific to the circumstances of each loan with additional 
guarantees and collateral sought from the sponsor of the structured entity for certain arrangements. During the period the Group incurred an 
impairment of £23m (2019: £7m) against such facilities.

Other
This includes fair value loans with structured entities where the market risk is materially hedged with corresponding derivative contracts, interests in debt 
securities issued by securitisation vehicles and drawn and undrawn loan facilities to these entities. In addition, other includes investment funds with 
interests restricted to management fees based on performance of the fund and trusts held on behalf of beneficiaries with interests restricted to unpaid 
fees.

Assets transferred to sponsored unconsolidated structured entities
Assets transferred to sponsored unconsolidated structured entities were £730m (2019: £471m).

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36 Investments in associates and joint ventures

Accounting for associates and joint ventures
The Group applies IAS 28 Investments in Associates and IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements. Associates are entities in which the Group has significant 
influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies. Generally the Group holds more than 20%, but less than 50%, of their voting 
shares. Joint ventures are arrangements where the Group has joint control and rights to the net assets of the entity. 

The Group’s investments in associates and joint ventures are initially recorded at cost and increased (or decreased) each year by the Group’s share of 
the post acquisition profit/(loss). The Group ceases to recognise its share of the losses of equity accounted associates when its share of the net 
assets and amounts due from the entity have been written off in full, unless it has a contractual or constructive obligation to make good its share of 
the losses. In some cases, investments in these entities may be held at fair value through profit or loss, for example, those held by private equity 
businesses. 

There are no individually significant investments in joint ventures or associates held by the Group. 

Equity accounted
Held at fair value through profit or loss
Total

Associates
£m
464
–
464

2020
Joint ventures
£m
317
437
754

Total
£m
781
437
1,218

Associates
£m
457
–
457

2019
Joint ventures
£m
264
516
780

Total
£m
721
516
1,237

Summarised financial information for the Group’s equity accounted associates and joint ventures is set out below. The amounts shown are the Group’s 
share of the net income of the investees for the year ended 31 December 2020, with the exception of certain undertakings for which the amounts are 
based on accounts made up to dates not earlier than three months before the balance sheet date.

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) from continuing operations

Associates
2020
£m
(24)
(3)
(27)

2019
£m
10
–
10

Joint ventures
2020
£m
24
(6)
18

2019
£m
43
2
45

Unrecognised shares of the losses of individually immaterial associates and joint ventures were nil (2019: nil).

The Barclays commitments and contingencies to its associates and joint ventures comprised unutilised credit facilities provided to customers of 
£1,897m (2019: £1,726m). In addition, the Group has made commitments to finance or otherwise provide resources to its joint ventures and associates 
of £443m (2019: £403m).

37 Securitisations

Accounting for securitisations
The Group uses securitisations as a source of finance and a means of risk transfer. Such transactions generally result in the transfer of contractual 
cash flows from portfolios of financial assets to holders of issued debt securities.

Securitisations may, depending on the individual arrangement, result in continued recognition of the securitised assets and the recognition of the 
debt securities issued in the transaction; lead to partial continued recognition of the assets to the extent of the Group’s continuing involvement in 
those assets or lead to derecognition of the assets and the separate recognition, as assets or liabilities, of any rights and obligations created or 
retained in the transfer. Full derecognition only occurs when the Group transfers both its contractual right to receive cash flows from the financial 
assets, or retains the contractual rights to receive the cash flows, but assumes a contractual obligation to pay the cash flows to another party without 
material delay or reinvestment, and also transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership, including credit risk, prepayment risk and interest 
rate risk.

In the course of its normal banking activities, the Group makes transfers of financial assets, either where legal rights to the cash flows from the asset are 
passed to the counterparty or beneficially, where the Group retains the rights to the cash flows but assumes a responsibility to transfer them to the 
counterparty. Depending on the nature of the transaction, this may result in derecognition of the assets in their entirety, partial derecognition or no 
derecognition of the assets subject to the transfer. 

A summary of the main transactions, and the assets and liabilities and the financial risks arising from these transactions, is set out below:

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Notes to the financial statements 
Scope of consolidation continued

37 Securitisations continued
Transfers of financial assets that do not result in derecognition
Securitisations
The Group was party to securitisation transactions involving its credit card balances and other personal lending. In these transactions, the assets, 
interests in the assets, or beneficial interests in the cash flows arising from the assets, are transferred to a special purpose entity, which then issues 
interest bearing debt securities to third party investors. 

Securitisations may, depending on the individual arrangement, result in continued recognition of the securitised assets and the recognition of the debt 
securities issued in the transaction. Partial continued recognition of the assets to the extent of the Group’s continuing involvement in those assets can 
also occur or derecognition of the assets and the separate recognition, as assets or liabilities, of any rights and obligations created or retained in the 
transfer. 

The following table shows the carrying amount of securitised assets that have not resulted in full derecognition, together with the associated liabilities, 
for each category of asset on the balance sheet:

2020

2019

Assets

Liabilities 

Assets

Liabilities 

Carrying 
amount 
£m

Fair value
£m

Carrying 
amount 
£m

Fair value
£m

Carrying 
amount 
£m

Fair value
£m

Carrying 
amount 
£m

Fair value
£m

Loans and advances at amortised cost
Credit cards, unsecured and other retail lending

1,033

1,121

(1,019)

(1,033)

3,516

3,678

(2,918)

(2,922)

Balances included within loans and advances at amortised cost represent securitisations where substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset have 
been retained by the Group.

The relationship between the transferred assets and the associated liabilities is that holders of notes may only look to cash flows from the securitised 
assets for payments of principal and interest due to them under the terms of their notes, although the contractual terms of their notes may be different 
to the maturity and interest of the transferred assets. For transfers of assets in relation to repurchase agreements, refer to Note 38.

Continuing involvement in financial assets that have been derecognised
In some cases, the Group may have transferred a financial asset in its entirety but may have continuing involvement in it. This arises in asset 
securitisations where loans and asset backed securities were derecognised as a result of the Group’s involvement with asset backed securities, 
residential mortgage backed securities and commercial mortgage backed securities. Continuing involvement largely arises from providing financing into 
these structures in the form of retained notes, which do not bear first losses.

The table below shows the potential financial implications of such continuing involvement:

Type of transfer
2020
Asset backed securities
Residential mortgage backed securities
Commercial mortgage backed securities
Total

2019
Commercial mortgage backed securities
Total

Continuing involvementª

Carrying
 amount 
£m

Fair value
£m

Maximum
 exposure to 
loss
£m

Gain/(loss) from continuing 
involvement

For the 
year ended
£m

Cumulative to
 31 December
£m

56
49
243
348

189
189

56
49
237
342

188
188

56
49
243
348

189
189

1
1
2
4

1
1

1
1
6
8

4
4

Note
a   Assets which represent the Group’s continuing involvement in derecognised assets are recorded in Loans and advances at amortised cost and Debt securities at FVTP&L.

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38 Assets pledged, collateral received and assets transferred
Assets are pledged or transferred as collateral to secure liabilities under repurchase agreements, securitisations and stock lending agreements or as 
security deposits relating to derivatives. Assets transferred are non-cash assets transferred to a third party that do not qualify for derecognition from the 
Group balance sheet, for example because Barclays retains substantially all the exposure to those assets under an agreement to repurchase them in the 
future for a fixed price.

Assets pledged or transferred as collateral include all assets categorised as encumbered in the disclosure on pages 222 to 223 of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 
Report 2020 (unaudited), other than those held in commercial paper conduits. In these transactions, the Group will be required to step in to provide 
financing itself under a liquidity facility if the vehicle cannot access the commercial paper market.

Where non-cash assets are pledged or transferred as collateral for cash received, the asset continues to be recognised in full, and a related liability is also 
recognised on the balance sheet. Where non-cash assets are pledged or transferred as collateral in an exchange for non-cash assets, the transferred 
asset continues to be recognised in full, and there is no associated liability as the non-cash collateral received is not recognised on the balance sheet. The 
Group is unable to use, sell or pledge the transferred assets for the duration of the transaction and remains exposed to interest rate risk and credit risk on 
these pledged assets. Unless stated, the counterparty’s recourse is not limited to the transferred assets.

The following table summarises the nature and carrying amount of the assets pledged as security against these liabilities:

Cash collateral and settlements
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Trading portfolio assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Assets pledged

The following table summarises the transferred financial assets and the associated liabilities:

At 31 December 2020
Derivatives
Repurchase agreements
Securities lending arrangements
Other

At 31 December 2019
Derivatives
Repurchase agreements
Securities lending arrangements
Other

2020
£m
72,042
37,257
77,198
5,584
22,185
214,266

2019
£m
64,400
39,354
65,532
10,104
9,278
188,668

Transferred
 assets
£m

Associated 
liabilities
£m

77,574
65,673
61,183
9,836
214,266

(77,574)
(44,076)
–
(7,408)
(129,058)

68,609
52,840
49,106
18,113
188,668

(68,609)
(35,708)
–
(12,005)
(116,322)

Included within Other are agreements where a counterparty’s recourse is limited to the transferred assets. The relationship between the transferred 
assets and the associated liabilities is that holders of notes may only look to cash flows from the securitised assets for payments of principal and interest 
due to them under the terms of their notes. 

2020
Recourse to transferred assets only
2019
Recourse to transferred assets only

Carrying value

Transferred 
assets
£m

Associated
 liabilities
£m

Transferred
 assets
£m

Fair value
Associated
 liabilities
£m

Net position
£m

1,033

(1,019)

1,121

(1,033)

88

3,516

(2,918)

3,678

(2,922)

756

The Group has an additional £6.3bn (2019: £12bn) of loans and advances within its asset backed funding programmes that can readily be used to raise 
additional secured funding and are available to support future issuances. 

Total assets pledged includes a collateral pool put in place to provide security for the UKRF funding deficit. Refer to Note 33 for further details.

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Notes to the financial statements 
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38 Assets pledged, collateral received and assets transferred continued
Collateral held as security for assets
Under certain transactions, including reverse repurchase agreements and stock borrowing transactions, the Group is allowed to resell or re-pledge the 
collateral held. The fair value at the balance sheet date of collateral accepted and re-pledged or transferred to others was as follows:

Fair value of securities accepted as collateral
Of which fair value of securities re-pledged/transferred to others

2020
£m
793,573
685,300

2019
£m
656,598
554,988

Additional disclosure has been included in collateral and other credit enhancements in the Risk review section. Assets pledged as collateral include all 
assets categorised as encumbered in the disclosure on pages 222 to 223 of the Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020 (unaudited).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters

The notes included in this section focus on related party transactions, Auditors’ remuneration and Directors’ remuneration. Related parties include 
any subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures and Key Management Personnel.

39 Related party transactions and Directors’ remuneration 
Related party transactions
Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making 
financial or operational decisions, or one other party controls both.

Subsidiaries
Transactions between Barclays PLC and its subsidiaries meet the definition of related party transactions. Where these are eliminated on consolidation, 
they are not disclosed in the Group’s financial statements. Transactions between Barclays PLC and its subsidiaries are fully disclosed in Barclays PLC’s 
financial statements. A list of the Group’s principal subsidiaries is shown in Note 34.

Associates, joint ventures and other entities
The Group provides banking services to its associates, joint ventures and the Group pension funds (principally the UK Retirement Fund), providing loans, 
overdrafts, interest and non-interest bearing deposits and current accounts to these entities as well as other services. Group companies also provide 
investment management and custodian services to the Group pension schemes. All of these transactions are conducted on the same terms as third 
party transactions. Summarised financial information for the Group’s investments in associates and joint ventures is set out in Note 36.

Amounts included in the Group’s financial statements, in aggregate, by category of related party entity are as follows:

For the year ended and as at 31 December 2020
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Operating expenses
Total assets
Total liabilities
For the year ended and as at 31 December 2019
Total income
Credit impairment charges
Operating expenses
Total assets
Total liabilities

Associates
£m

Joint ventures
£m

Pension funds
£m

–
–
(26)
–
66

–
–
(46)
–
–

10
–
–
1,388
–

12
–
–
1,303
–

5
–
(1)
4
69

5
–
–
3
75

Total liabilities includes derivatives transacted on behalf of the pension funds of £13m (2019: £6m).

Key Management Personnel
Key Management Personnel are defined as those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of 
Barclays PLC (directly or indirectly) and comprise the Directors and Officers of Barclays PLC, certain direct reports of the Group Chief Executive and the 
heads of major business units and functions.

The Group provides banking services to Key Management Personnel and persons connected to them. Transactions during the year and the balances 
outstanding were as follows:

Loans outstanding

As at 1 January
Loans issued during the yearª
Loan repayments during the yearb
As at 31 December 

2020
£m
7.2
2.3
(0.3)
9.2

2019
£m
7.2
4.8
(4.8)
7.2

Notes
a 
b 

Includes loans issued to existing Key Management Personnel and new or existing loans issued to newly appointed Key Management Personnel.
Includes loan repayments by existing Key Management Personnel and loans to former Key Management Personnel.

No allowances for impairment were recognised in respect of loans to Key Management Personnel (or any connected person).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters continued

39 Related party transactions and Directors’ remuneration continued

Deposits outstanding

As at 1 January
Deposits received during the yeara
Deposits repaid during the yearb
As at 31 December 

2020
£m
12.1
41.6
(43.3)
10.4

2019
£m
6.9
36.0
(30.8)
12.1

Notes
a 
b 

Includes deposits received from existing Key Management Personnel and new or existing deposits received from newly appointed Key Management Personnel.
Includes deposits repaid by existing Key Management Personnel and deposits of former Key Management Personnel.

Total commitments outstanding
Total commitments outstanding refers to the total of any undrawn amounts on credit cards and/or overdraft facilities provided to Key Management 
Personnel. Total commitments outstanding as at 31 December 2020 were £0.9m (2019: £0.8m).

All loans to Key Management Personnel (and persons connected to them) were made in the ordinary course of business; were made on substantially the 
same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with other persons; and did not 
involve more than a normal risk of collectability or present other unfavourable features.

Remuneration of Key Management Personnel
Total remuneration awarded to Key Management Personnel below represents the awards made to individuals that have been approved by the Board 
Remuneration Committee as part of the latest remuneration decisions, and is consistent with the approach adopted for disclosures set out in the 
Directors’ Remuneration report. Costs recognised in the income statement reflect the accounting charge for the year included within operating 
expenses. The difference between the values awarded and the recognised income statement charge principally relates to the recognition of deferred 
costs for prior year awards. Figures are provided for the period that individuals met the definition of Key Management Personnel.

Salaries and other short-term benefits
Pension costs
Other long-term benefits
Share-based payments
Employer social security charges on emoluments
Costs recognised for accounting purposes
Employer social security charges on emoluments
Other long-term benefits – difference between awards granted and costs recognised
Share-based payments – difference between awards granted and costs recognised
Total remuneration awarded

Disclosure required by the Companies Act 2006
The following information regarding the Barclays PLC Board of Directors is presented in accordance with the Companies Act 2006:

Aggregate emolumentsa
Amounts paid under LTIPsb

2020
£m
41.6
–
8.2
13.2
7.2
70.2
(7.2)
-
1.1
64.1

2020
£m
8.4
-
8.4

2019
£m
38.5
0.1
8.7
13.4
7.4
68.1
(7.4)
(0.6)
2.2
62.3

2019
£m
8.5
0.8
9.3

Notes
a   The aggregate emoluments include amounts paid for the 2020 year. In addition, deferred share awards for 2020 with a total value at grant of £0.6m (2019: £2m) will be made to James E 

Staley and Tushar Morzaria which will only vest subject to meeting certain conditions.

b   No LTIP amounts were received by the Executive Directors in 2020 as the release of the first tranche of the 2017-2019 LTIP was delayed from June 2020 to March 2021. The LTIP figure 

in the single total figure table for Executive Directors’ 2020 remuneration in the Directors’ Remuneration report relates to the 2018-2020 LTIP cycle.

There were no pension contributions paid to defined contribution schemes on behalf of Directors (2019: nil). There were no notional pension 
contributions to defined contribution schemes.

As at 31 December 2020, there were no Directors accruing benefits under a defined benefit scheme (2019: nil).

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39 Related party transactions and Directors’ remuneration continued
Directors’ and Officers’ shareholdings and options
The beneficial ownership of ordinary share capital of Barclays PLC by all Directors and Officers of Barclays PLC (involving 26 persons) at 31 December 
2020 amounted to 27,470,067 (2019: 22,789,126) ordinary shares of 25p each (0.16% of the ordinary share capital outstanding).

As at 31 December 2020, Executive Directors and Officers of Barclays PLC (involving 16 persons) held options to purchase a total of 78,495 (2019: 
40,428) Barclays PLC ordinary shares of 25p each at a weighted average price of 101p under Sharesave.

Advances and credit to Directors and guarantees on behalf of Directors
In accordance with Section 413 of the Companies Act 2006, the total amount of advances and credits made available in 2020 to persons who served as 
Directors during the year was £0.1m (2019: £0.3m). The total value of guarantees entered into on behalf of Directors during 2020 was nil (2019: nil).

40 Auditor’s remuneration
Auditor’s remuneration is included within consultancy, legal and professional fees in administration and general expenses and comprises:

Audit of the Barclays Group’s annual accounts
Other services:
Audit of the Company’s subsidiariesa
Other audit related feesb
Other services
Total Auditor’s remuneration

2020
£m
9

38
10
2
59

2019
£m
10

35
9
2
56

2018
£m
8

32
9
2
51

Notes
a  Comprises the fees for the statutory audit of subsidiaries both inside and outside the UK and fees for work performed by associates of KPMG in respect of the consolidated financial 

statements of the Company.

b  Comprises services in relation to statutory and regulatory filings. These include audit services for the review of the interim financial information under the Listing Rules of the UK listing 

authority.

41 Interest rate benchmark reform
Following the financial crisis, the reform and replacement of benchmark interest rates such as IBOR has become a priority for global regulators. The UK’s 
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other global regulators have instructed market participants to prepare for the cessation of LIBOR after the end of 
2021, and to adopt ‘near Risk-Free Rates’ (RFRs). While it is expected that most reforms affecting the Group will be completed by the end of 2021, 
consultations and possible regulatory changes are in progress. This may mean that some LIBORs continue to be published beyond that date.

The Group’s risk exposure is predominately to GBP, USD, JPY and CHF LIBOR and Euro Overnight Index Average (EONIA) with the vast majority 
concentrated in derivatives within the Corporate and Investment Bank. Some additional exposure resides on floating rate loans and advances, repurchase 
agreements and debt securities held and issued within the Corporate and Investment Bank. Retail lending and mortgage exposure in Barclays UK is 
minimal.

The Group does not consider there to be risk in respect of the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) arising from IBOR reform as at 31 December 2020. 
This is because the calculation methodology of EURIBOR changed during 2019 and the reform of EURIBOR is complete. In July 2019, the Belgian 
Financial Services and Markets Authority (as the administrator of EURIBOR) granted authorisation with respect to EURIBOR under the European Union 
Benchmarks Regulation. This allows market participants to continue to use EURIBOR after 1 January 2021 for both existing and new contracts. The EUR 
Risk Free Rate Working Group has not contemplated the cessation of EURIBOR. The Group expects that EURIBOR will continue to exist as a benchmark 
rate for the foreseeable future.

There are key differences between IBORs and RFRs. IBORs are ‘term rates’, which means that they are published for a borrowing period (for example three 
months), and they are ‘forward-looking’, because they are published at the beginning of a borrowing period, based upon an estimated inter-bank 
borrowing cost for the period. RFRs are based upon overnight rates from actual transactions, and are therefore published after the end of the overnight 
borrowing period. Furthermore, IBORs include a credit spread over the RFRs. Therefore, to transition existing contracts and agreements to RFRs, 
adjustments for term and credit differences may need to be applied to RFR-linked rates. The methodologies for determining these adjustments are 
undergoing in-depth consultations by industry working groups, on behalf of the respective global regulators and related market participants.

How the Group is managing the transition to alternative benchmark rates 
Barclays has established a Group-wide LIBOR Transition Programme, with oversight from the Group Finance Director. The Programme spans all business 
lines and has cross-functional governance which includes Legal, Conduct Risk, Client Engagement and Communications, Risk, and Finance. The 
Transition Programme aims to drive strategic execution, and identify, manage and resolve key risks and issues as they arise. Accountable Executives are in 
place within key working groups across businesses and work streams. Barclays’ transition plans primarily focus on G5 currencies while providing quarterly 
updates on progress and exposures to the PRA/FCA and other regulators as required.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters continued

41 Interest rate benchmark reform continued
The Transition Programme follows a risk based approach, using recognised ‘change delivery’ control standards, to drive strategic execution, and identify, 
manage and resolve key risks and issues as they arise. Accountable Executives are in place within key working groups, with overall Board oversight 
delegated to the Board Risk Committee and the Group Finance Director. Barclays performs a prominent stewardship role to drive orderly transition via our 
representation on official sector and industry working groups across all major jurisdictions and product classes. Additionally, the Group Finance Director is 
Chair of the UK’s ‘Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates’, whose mandate is to catalyse a broad-based transition to using SONIA (‘Sterling 
Overnight Index Average’) as the primary sterling interest rate benchmark in bond, loan and derivatives markets. 

Approaches to transition exposure expiring post the expected end dates for LIBOR vary by product and nature of counterparty. The Group is actively 
engaging with the counterparties to transition or include appropriate fallback provisions and transition mechanisms in its floating rate assets and liabilities 
with maturities after 2021, when most IBORs are expected to cease to be published. For the derivative population, adherence to the ISDA IBOR Fallbacks 
Protocol now provides Barclays with an efficient mechanism to amend outstanding trades to incorporate fallbacks. Beyond the ISDA IBOR Fallbacks 
Protocol, there will be options to terminate or bilaterally agree new terms with counterparties. Barclays expects derivative contracts facing central clearing 
counterparties to follow a market-wide, standardised approach to reform.

Market participants are currently awaiting publication of the results of ICE Benchmark Administration’s consultation on plans to cease publication of most 
LIBORs at end 2021, with certain, actively used USD LIBOR tenors continuing to be provided until end June 2023. The FCA expects to enable publication 
of a synthetic LIBOR rate for at least certain actively used GBP LIBOR tenors to facilitate roll-off of relevant contracts that cannot be actively transitioned 
by end 2021.

Progress made during 2020
During 2020, the Group has successfully delivered Alternative RFR product capabilities and alternatives to LIBOR across loans, bonds and derivatives. 
Good progress has been made in relation to client outreach and we have been actively engaging with customers and counterparties to transition or 
include the appropriate fallback provisions. The Group has in place detailed plans, processes and procedures to support the transition of the remainder 
during 2021. Barclays has adhered to the ISDA IBOR Fallbacks Protocol for its major derivative dealing entities and we continue to track progress and 
engage with clients on their own adherence. Following the progress made during 2020, the Group continues to deliver technology and business process 
changes to ensure operational readiness in preparation for LIBOR cessation and transitions to RFRs that will be necessary during 2021 in line with official 
sector expectations and milestones.

Risks to which the Group is exposed as a result of the transition 
IBOR reform exposes the Group to various risks, which are being managed through the LIBOR Transition Programme. The material risks identified include 
those set out below: 
■■ Conduct and Litigation Risk: This is the risk that poor customer outcomes are brought about as a direct result of inappropriate or negligent conduct 

on the part of Barclays, in connection with IBOR transition. 

■■ Operational Risk: The LIBOR Transition Programme cuts across all businesses and functions. There are a number of implementation challenges 

arising from transition, including technology, operations, client communication and the measurement of valuation, giving rise to additional operational 
risks.

■■ Market Risk: Changes to Barclays Market Risk profile are expected due to IBOR transition. These changes are expected to be managed within risk 

appetite. IBOR transition will also impact the basis risk profile both at the cessation event (when broadly all LIBOR contracts fall back to alternatives) as 
well as in the interim period when alternative rates are referenced in contracts.

■■ Counterparty Credit Risk: LIBOR replacement presents an increased risk of clients wishing to renegotiate the terms of existing transactions. This is 

dependent on client behaviour and the outcome of resulting negotiations and could change the credit risk profile of client exposure. 

■■ Financial Risk: There is a risk to Barclays and its clients that markets are disrupted due to IBOR reform. This could give rise to financial losses should 

Barclays be unable to operate effectively in financial markets.

■■ Accounting Risk: This would occur if the hedged items and hedging instruments of Barclays hedging relationships were to transition away from 

IBORs: at different times; to different benchmarks; or using divergent methodologies resulting in significant volatility to the income statement either 
through hedge accounting ineffectiveness or failure of the hedge accounting relationships.

A disorderly cessation of LIBOR would carry substantial economic, legal, regulatory, reputational and operational risks for Barclays and the industry in 
general. Barclays’ expectation is that the transition away from LIBOR will be carefully managed and that measures including the broad adoption of ISDA 
IBOR Fallbacks Protocol, the approach the Central Clearing Counterparties are expected to follow, proactive client engagement, regulatory action and/or 
terminating or bilaterally amending contracts where clients do not wish to adopt new conventions (e.g. ISDA IBOR Fallbacks Protocol), can mitigate the 
risks associated with a disorderly cessation.

The Group does not expect material changes to its risk management approach and strategy as a result of interest rate benchmark reform.

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41 Interest rate benchmark reform continued
The following table summarises the significant exposures impacted by interest rate benchmark reform as at 31 December 2020:

Non-derivative financial assets
Loans and advances at amortised cost
Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Non-derivative financial assets
Non-derivative financial liabilities
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities
Financial liabilities designated at fair value
Non-derivative financial liabilities
Equity
Other equity instruments
Standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments

GBP LIBOR
£m

USD LIBOR
£m

JPY LIBOR 
£m

CHF LIBOR
£m

30,179
–
3,496
186
33,861

18,109
334
6,373
114
24,930

173
–
–
–
173

(1,023)
(71)
(149)
(1,243)

(10,718)
(1,592)
(1,273)
(13,583)

(1,201)
–
(759)
(1,960)

(3,500)
18,944

(3,131)
74,011

–
–

18
–
283
–
301

–
–
–
–

–
74

Others
£m

1,725
–
209
8
1,942

Total
£m

50,204
334
10,361
308
61,207

–
–
(139)
(139)

(12,942)
(1,663)
(2,320)
(16,925)

–
15,951

(6,631)
108,980

The table above represents the exposures to interest rate benchmark reform by balance sheet account, which have yet to transition. The exposure 
disclosed is for positions with contractual maturities after 31 December 2021. Balances reported at amortised cost are disclosed at their gross carrying 
value and do not include any expected credit losses that may be held against them. Balances reported at fair value are disclosed at their fair value on the 
balance sheet date. 

The Group also has exposure to interest rate benchmark reform in respect of its cash collateral balances across some of its Credit Support Annex 
agreements, predominantly in EONIA. This exposure is not included within the table above due to its short dated nature.

GBP LIBOR
£m

USD LIBOR
£m

EONIA
£m

JPY LIBOR 
£m

CHF LIBOR
£m

Others
£m

Total
£m

Derivative notional contract amount
OTC interest rate derivatives
592,827 2,832,802
OTC interest rate derivatives – cleared by central counterparty 1,684,553 2,891,029
333,705
Exchange traded interest rate derivatives
589,334
OTC foreign exchange derivatives
7,946
OTC equity and stock index derivatives
Derivative notional contract amount

457,844
754,206
638,202 1,091,479
–
93,108
1,929
2,734,692 6,654,816 1,096,590 1,940,722

300,182
155,285
1,845

–
–
544

25,681
119,382
2,494
31,257
491
179,305

41,782 4,705,142
198,113 6,622,758
636,381
870,905
14,896
243,957 12,850,082

–
1,921
2,141

The table above represents the derivative exposures to interest rate benchmark reform, which have yet to transition. The exposure disclosed is for 
positions with contractual maturities after 31 December 2021. Derivatives are reported by using the notional contract amount and where derivatives 
have both pay and receive legs with exposure to benchmark reform such as cross currency swaps, the notional contract amount is disclosed for both 
legs. As at 31 December 2020, there were £264bn of cross currency swaps where both the pay and receive legs are impacted by interest rate benchmark 
reform.

The Group also had £28bn of Barclays issued debt retained by the group, impacted by the interest rate benchmark reform, predominately in GBP and 
USD LIBOR.

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Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters continued

41 Interest rate benchmark reform continued
The table below provides detail on the contractual maturity of the above exposures:

Current benchmark rate
Non-derivative financial assets
GBP LIBOR
USD LIBOR
JPY LIBOR
CHF LIBOR
Other
Non-derivative financial assets
Non-derivative financial liabilities
GBP LIBOR
USD LIBOR
JPY LIBOR
CHF LIBOR
Other
Non-derivative financial liabilities
Equity
GBP LIBOR
USD LIBOR
Equity
Derivative notional contract amount
GBP LIBOR
USD LIBOR
EONIA
JPY LIBOR
CHF LIBOR
Other
Derivative notional contract amount
Standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments
GBP LIBOR
USD LIBOR
CHF LIBOR
Other
Standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments

Over one
 year but not 
more than 
two years
£m

Over two 
years but not
 more than 
five years
£m

Over five 
years but not
 more than 
ten years
£m

Over 
ten years
£m

15,372
172
18
116
238
15,916

(72)
(257)
(285)
–
(122)
(736)

2,409
1,715
–
90
60
4,274

–
(4,174)
(241)
–
–
(4,415)

–
–
-

(3,500)
(3,131)
(6,631)

Total
£m

33,861
24,930
173
301
1,942
61,207

(1,243)
(13,583)
(1,960)
–
(139)
(16,925)

(3,500)
(3,131)
(6,631)

4,771
8,389
11
22
931
14,124

(1,055)
(5,529)
(1,289)
–
(12)
(7,885)

–
–
-

11,309
14,654
144
73
713
26,893

(116)
(3,623)
(145)
–
(5)
(3,889)

–
–
-

890,497

491,063
767,769
2,020,529 2,572,716 1,350,762
212,185
421,460
731,942
582,200
46,010
73,792
72,127
96,657

585,363 2,734,692
710,809 6,654,816
64,956 1,096,590
298,911 1,940,722
179,305
243,957
3,734,327 4,514,594 2,904,089 1,697,072 12,850,082

397,989
327,669
46,868
50,775

12,635
24,398

5,134
15,368
–
2,897
23,399

12,016
56,300
74
12,170
80,560

505
735
–
862
2,102

1,289
1,608
–
22
2,919

18,944
74,011
74
15,951
108,980

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42 Barclays PLC (the Parent company)
Total income
Dividends received from subsidiaries
Dividends received from subsidiaries of £763m (2019: £1,560m, 2018: £15,360m) largely relates to dividends received from Barclays Bank PLC £263m, 
Barclays Execution Services Limited £250m and Barclays Bank UK PLC £220m. The dividends received in 2018 included both a dividend in specie, 
representing the transfer of the holding in Barclays Bank UK PLC from Barclays Bank PLC to Barclays PLC, and ordinary dividends from subsidiaries.

The dividends received from its banking subsidiaries were paid up to Barclays PLC prior to the announcement made by the PRA on 31 March 2020 that 
capital be preserved for use in serving Barclays customers and clients through the extraordinary challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As 
part of a response to this announcement, Barclays PLC took steps to provide additional capital to its banking subsidiaries. Further detail can be found in 
the notes below.

Other income
Other income of £1,192m (2019: £1,760m, 2018: £923m) includes £857m (2019: £813m, 2018: £752m) of income received from gross coupon 
payments on Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank UK PLC issued AT1 securities and £248m (2019: £947m) of fair value and foreign exchange losses on 
other positions with subsidiaries. 

Total assets and liabilities
Investment in subsidiaries
The investment in subsidiaries of £58,886m (2019: £59,546m) predominantly relates to investments in Barclays Bank PLC of £44,015m (2019: 
£42,363m) and Barclays Bank UK PLC of £14,245m (2019: 16,595m) which includes holdings of their AT1 securities of £10,995m (2019: £10,843m). 
The decrease of £660m during the year was predominantly driven by a £2,573m impairment in the cost of investment of Barclays Bank UK PLC and the 
redemption of AT1 holdings of €1,000m, partially offset by capital contributions to Barclays Bank PLC totalling £1,500m and Barclays Bank UK PLC 
totalling £220m, as well as additional AT1 holdings of $1,500m in Barclays Bank PLC.

At the end of each reporting period an impairment review is undertaken in respect of investment in the ordinary shares of subsidiaries. Impairment is 
indicated where the investment exceeds the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is calculated as a value in use (VIU) which is derived from the 
present value of future cash flows expected to be received from the investment. The VIU calculations use forecast attributable profit based on financial 
budgets approved by management, covering a five-year period as an approximation of future cash flows discounted using a pre-tax discount rate 
appropriate to the subsidiary being tested. A terminal growth rate has then been applied to the cash flows thereafter which is based upon expectations of 
future inflation rates. The review identified an impairment in the investment in Barclays Bank UK PLC (see below). For the other investment in subsidiaries 
the value in use calculated was higher than the carrying value.

Impairment in subsidiaries
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the macroeconomic environment, the review identified impairment of the investment in Barclays Bank 
UK PLC of £2,573m, reducing its carrying value to £11,672m. The VIU calculation uses five-year profit before tax forecasts based on the formally agreed 
medium term plans approved by the Board as an approximation of future cash flows. The Personal Banking cash flows specific to Barclays Bank UK PLC 
contained in the calculation have been extended to a sixth year (prior to the calculation of terminal values) to reflect an observed 15bp inflexion point in 
the yield curve which was beyond the period of the medium term plan.

A discount rate of 13.8% (2019: 13.7%) has been applied to the cash flow forecast. In determining the discount rate, management have identified a cost 
of equity associated with a market participant that closely resemble the subsidiary and adjusted for tax to arrive at the pre-tax equivalent rate. A terminal 
growth rate of 2.0% (2019: 1.6%) has been used to calculate a terminal value for the investment. In prior years the terminal growth rate used has been 
based on estimated economic growth rates (GDP). Due to the macroeconomic uncertainties management now consider inflation rates to provide a 
better approximation of future long-term growth.

A 1% increase in the discount rate or terminal growth rate would increase the impairment amount in Barclays Bank UK by £1,056m and £714m 
respectively. A reduction in the forecasted cash flows by 10% per annum would increase impairment by £1,061m.

Loans and advances in subsidiaries
During the year, loans and advances to subsidiaries decreased by £4,140m to £24,710m (2019: £28,850m). The decrease was driven by the maturity of 
£1,200m dated subordinated loans and waiving £1,000m of dated subordinated loans in relation to Barclays Bank PLC, the maturity of £1,100m dated 
subordinated notes in relation to Barclays Bank UK PLC, the £900m partial buy back of dated subordinated loans from Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays 
Bank UK PLC and a £220m reduction used to fund a capital contribution to Barclays Bank UK PLC. This was partially offset by c.£1,300m new issuances of 
dated subordinated notes by Barclays Bank UK PLC to Barclays PLC.

Financial assets and liabilities designated at fair value
Financial liabilities designated at fair value of £9,507m (2019: £3,498m) includes new issuances during the year of $2,500m Fixed Rate Resetting Senior 
Callable Notes, $1,750m Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Callable Notes, €2,000m Reset Notes, £400m Reset Notes and $300m Zero Coupon Callable 
Notes. The proceeds raised through these transactions were used to invest in subsidiaries of Barclays PLC and are included within the financial assets 
designated at fair value through the income statement balance of £17,521m (2019: £10,348m). The effect of changes in the liabilities’ fair value, including 
those due to credit risk, is expected to offset the changes in the fair value of the related financial asset in the income statement The difference between 
the financial liabilities’ carrying amount and the contractual amount on maturity is £324m (2019: £174m).

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Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters continued

42 Barclays PLC (the Parent company) continued
Subordinated liabilities and debt securities in issue
During the year, Barclays PLC issued £500m and $1,000m of Fixed Rate Resetting Subordinated Callable Notes, which are included within the 
subordinated liabilities balance of £7,724m (2019: £7,656m) and redeemed €1,250m Fixed Rate Subordinated Callable Notes. Debt securities in issue of 
£28,428m (2019: £30,564m) have reduced in the year due to the maturity of positions with subsidiaries as well as the partial buy back of Senior Fixed Rate 
Notes of €330m and Senior Floating Rate Notes of $776m.

Management of internal investments, loans and advances
Barclays PLC retains the discretion to manage the nature of its internal investments in subsidiaries according to their regulatory and business needs. 
Barclays PLC may invest capital and funding into Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC and other Group subsidiaries such as Barclays Execution 
Services Limited and the US Intermediate Holding Company (IHC).

Total equity
Called up share capital and share premium
Called up share capital and share premium of Barclays PLC is £4,637m (2019: £4,594m). The increase in the year is primarily due to shares issued under 
employee share schemes.

Other equity instruments 
Other equity instruments of £11,169m (2019: £10,865m) comprises AT1 securities issued by Barclays PLC. AT1 securities are perpetual subordinated 
contingent convertible securities structured to qualify as AT1 instruments under prevailing capital rules applicable as at the relevant issue date. During the 
year there has been a new AT1 issuance with principal amount totalling $1,500m (£1,142m) and a redemption of principal amount €1,000m (£831m). 
For further details, please refer to Note 28.

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43 Related undertakings
The Group’s corporate structure consists of a 
number of related undertakings, comprising 
subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and 
significant other interests. A full list of these 
undertakings, the country of incorporation and 
the ownership of each share class is set out 
below. The information is provided as at 31 
December 2020. 

The entities are grouped by the countries in 
which they are incorporated. The profits earned 
by the activities of these entities are in some 
cases taxed in countries other than the country 
of incorporation. Barclays’ 2020 Country 
Snapshot provides details of where the Group 
carries on its business, where its profits are 
subject to tax and the taxes it pays in each 
country it operates in.

Wholly owned subsidiaries 
Unless otherwise stated the undertakings below 
are wholly owned and consolidated by Barclays 
and the share capital disclosed comprises 
ordinary and/or common shares, 100% of the 
nominal value of which is held by the Group 
subsidiaries.  

Wholly owned subsidiaries

Note

United Kingdom
– 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP
Aequor Investments Limited
Ardencroft Investments Limited
B D & B Investments Limited
B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited
Barclay Leasing Limited
Barclays (Barley) Limited (In Liquidation)
Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited
Barclays Asset Management Limited
Barclays Bank PLC
Barclays Bank UK PLC
Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited
Barclays Capital Finance Limited
Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings 
Limited
Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited
Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited
Barclays Capital Nominees Limited
Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee 
Limited 
Barclays Capital Securities Limited
Barclays CCP Funding LLP
Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) 
Limited
Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited
Barclays Directors Limited
Barclays Equity Holdings Limited
Barclays Execution Services Limited
Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited
Barclays Financial Planning Nominee 
Company Limited
Barclays Funds Investments Limited
Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited
Barclays Group Holdings Limited
Barclays Group Operations Limited
Barclays Industrial Development Limited
Barclays Industrial Investments Limited
Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

J, K

A, F, I
A

F, I
B

A

Notes

A Directly held by Barclays PLC

B Partnership Interest

C Membership Interest

D Trust Interest

E Guarantor

F

Preference Shares

G A Preference Shares

H B Preference Shares

I Ordinary/Common Shares in addition to other 

shares

J A Ordinary Shares

K B Ordinary Shares

L C Ordinary Shares

M F Ordinary Shares

N W Ordinary Shares

O First Preference Shares, Second Preference Shares

P Registered Address not in country of incorporation

Q Core Shares, Insurance (Classified) Shares 

R B, C, D, E (94.36%), F (94.36%), G (94.36%), H 

(94.36%), I (94.36%), J (95.23%) and K Class Shares

S A Unit Shares, B Unit Shares

T Non-Redeemable Ordinary Shares

U C Preference Shares, D Preference Shares

V Class A Ordinary Shares, Class B Ordinary Shares, 

Class C Ordinary Shares, Class C Preference Shares, 
Class D Ordinary Shares, Class D 
Preference Shares, Class E Ordinary shares 
Class E Preference Shares, Class F Ordinary  
Shares, Class F Preference Shares, Class H 2012, 
Ordinary Shares, Class H 2012 Preference Shares, 
Class H Ordinary Shares, Class H Preference Shares, 
Class I Preference Shares,Class J Ordinary Shares, 
Class J Preference Shares

W First Class Common Shares, Second Class Common 

Shares

X PEF Carry Shares

Y EUR Tracker 1 Shares, GBP Tracker 1 Shares, USD 

Tracker 1 Shares, USD Tracker 2 Shares, USD Tracker 
3 Shares

Z Not Consolidated (see Note 35 Structured entities)

AA USD Linked Ordinary Shares

BB Redeemable Class B Shares

CC Capital Contribution Shares

DD Nominal Shares

EE Class A Redeemable Preference Shares

FF Class B Redeemable Preference Shares

GG A Shares – Tranche I, Premium – Tranche I, C Shares 

– Tranche II, Premium – Tranche II 

II D Ordinary Shares

Wholly owned subsidiaries
Barclays International Holdings Limited
Barclays Investment Management Limited
Barclays Investment Solutions Limited
Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited
Barclays Long Island Limited
Barclays Marlist Limited
Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited
Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited
Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited
Barclays Principal Investments Limited
Barclays Private Bank
Barclays SAMS Limited 
Barclays Security Trustee Limited 
Barclays Services (Japan) Limited
Barclays Shea Limited
Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans 
Nominee Limited
Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability 
Partnership
Barclays UK Investments Limited
Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited
Barclays Unquoted Property Investments 
Limited
Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited
Barclayshare Nominees Limited
Barcosec Limited
Barsec Nominees Limited
BB Client Nominees Limited
BMBF (No.24) Limited
BMI (No.9) Limited
BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership
BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership
BNRI ENG GP LLP
BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership
BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership
BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership
Carnegie Holdings Limited
Chapelcrest Investments Limited
Clydesdale Financial Services Limited

Note

Z

A, J, K

A

B

B
B
B
B
B
B
I, J, K

Wholly owned subsidiaries
Cobalt Investments Limited
Cornwall Homes Loans Limited
CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited (In 
Liquidation)
CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership
CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership
DMW Realty Limited
Dorset Home Loans Limited
Durlacher Nominees Limited
Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) 
Limited
Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited
Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited
Finpart Nominees Limited
FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited
Foltus Investments Limited
Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private 
Equity Limited Partnership
Globe Nominees Limited
Hawkins Funding Limited
Heraldglen Limited
Isle of Wight Home Loans Limited
J.V. Estates Limited 
Kirsche Investments Limited
Long Island Assets Limited
Maloney Investments Limited
Menlo Investments Limited
Mercantile Credit Company Limited
Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) 
Limited 
MK Opportunities LP
Murray House Investment Management 
Limited (In Liquidation)
Naxos Investments Limited
North Colonnade Investments Limited
Northwharf Investments Limited
Northwharf Nominees Limited
Radbroke Mortgages UK Limited

Note

E
B
B

B

 I, O

B

I, X

Barclays PLC 
home.barclays/annualreport

373

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters continued

43 Related undertakings continued

Wholly owned subsidiaries
Real Estate Participation Management 
Limited
Real Estate Participation Services Limited
Relative Value Investments UK Limited 
Liability Partnership
Relative Value Trading Limited
Roder Investments No. 1 Limited
Roder Investments No. 2 Limited
RVT CLO Investments LLP
Solution Personal Finance Limited
Surety Trust Limited
Sustainable Impact Capital Limited
Swan Lane Investments Limited
US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited
US Real Estate Holdings No.2 Limited
US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited
US Real Estate Holdings No.4 Limited 
Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited
Westferry Investments Limited
Woolwich Homes Limited
Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share 
Ownership Trustee Limited
Zeban Nominees Limited
– Hill House, 1 Little New Street,  
London, EC4A 3TR
Barclays Nominees (Branches) Limited  
(In Liquidation)
Gerrard Management Services Limited  
(In Liquidation) 
Lombard Street Nominees Limited  
(In Liquidation)
Ruthenium Investments Limited  
(In Liquidation)
Woolwich Plan Managers Limited  
(In Liquidation)
Woolwich Surveying Services Limited  
(In Liquidation)
– 5 The North Colonnade, London, E14 4BB
Leonis Investments LLP
– Aurora Building, 120 Bothwell Street,  
Glasgow, G2 7JS
R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited
– 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ
BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited
BNRI Scots GP, LLP
Pecan Aggregator LP
– Logic House, Waterfront Business Park, 
Fleet Road, Fleet, GU51 3SB
The Logic Group Enterprises Limited
The Logic Group Holdings Limited
– 9, allée Scheffer, L-2520, Luxembourg
Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership
Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited 
Partnership
Barclays Blossom Finance General 
Partnership 

Argentina
– 855 Leandro N.Alem Avenue, 8th Floor, 
Buenos Aires
Compañía Sudamerica S.A.
– Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, Av. Leandro N. 
Alem 882, Buenos Aires, C1001AAQ
Compañia Regional del Sur S.A.

374

Barclays PLC 
home.barclays/annualreport

Note

Wholly owned subsidiaries

Note

Wholly owned subsidiaries

Note

B

I, Y
I, Y
B

B

B
B

J

B, P
B, P

B, P

Brazil
– Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, No. 4.440, 12th 
Floor, Bairro Itaim Bibi, Sao Paulo, CEP, 
04538-132
Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda
BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda

Canada
– 333 Bay Street, Suite 4910, Toronto  
ON M5H 2R2
Barclays Capital Canada Inc.
– Stikeman Elliot LLP, 199 Bay Street, 5300 
Commerce Court West, Toronto  
ON M5L 1B9
Barclays Corporation Limited
– 5 The North Colonnade London, E14 4BB
CPIA Canada Holdings

Cayman Islands
– Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO 
Box 309, Ugland House, George Town, 
Grand Cayman, KY1-1104
Alymere Investments Limited
Analytical Trade UK Limited
Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited
Barclays Securities Financing Limited
Braven Investments No.1 Limited
Calthorpe Investments Limited
Capton Investments Limited
Claudas Investments Limited
Claudas Investments Two Limited
CPIA Investments No.1 Limited
CPIA Investments No.2 Limited
Gallen Investments Limited
Hurley Investments No.1 Limited
JV Assets Limited
Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited
OGP Leasing Limited
Palomino Limited
Pelleas Investments Limited
Pippin Island Investments Limited
Razzoli Investments Limited
RVH Limited
Wessex Investments Limited

– Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman 
Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, 
George Town, KY1-9008
Long Island Holding B Limited

China
– Room 213, Building 1, No. 1000 Chenhui 
Rvh Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, 
Shanghai
Barclays Technology Centre (Shanghai)
Company Limited (In Liquidation)

Germany
– TaunusTurm, Taunustor 1, 60310, 
Frankfurt
 Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH
– Stuttgarter Straße 55-57, 73033 
Göppingen
Holding Stuttgarter Straße GmbH 
(In Liquidation) 

B, P

G, H, I

F, I

I,E E,F F

V
F, I

L

Z

 F, I 
 F, I

Z
Z
Q 

F, I

J, K

Guernsey
– P.O. Box 33, Dorey Court, Admiral Park,  
St. Peter Port, GY1 4AT
Barclays UKRF No.1 IC Limited
Barclays UKRF ICC Limited
Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited
– PO BOX 41, Floor 2, Le Marchant House, 
 Le Truchot, St Peter Port, GY1 3BE
Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited  
(In Liquidation)

Hong Kong
– 42nd floor Citibank Tower, Citibank Plaza, 
3 Garden Road
Barclays Bank (Hong Kong Nominees) Limited 
(in Liquidation) 
Barclays Capital Asia Nominees Limited  
(In Liquidation)
– Level 41, Cheung Kong Center, 
 2 Queen’s Road, Central 
Barclays Capital Asia Limited

India
– 208 Ceejay House, Shivsagar Estate, Dr A 
Beasant Road, Worli, Mumbai, 400 018
Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited
Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private 
Limited
– 5th to 12th Floor (Part), Building G2, Gera 
Commerzone SEZ, Survey No.65, Kharadi, 
Pune, 411014
Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited
– Level 10, Block B6, Nirlon Knowledge Park, 
Off Western Express Highway, Goregaon 
(East), Mumbai, 40063
Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Private 
Limited

Ireland
– One Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, 
D02RF29
Barclaycard International Payments Limited
Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company
Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated 
Activity Company
Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated 
Activity Company
Barclays Europe Nominees Designated 
Activity Company
– 25-28 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, 
D01H104
Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited
–70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2
Barclays Finance Ireland Limited 

Isle of Man
– P O Box 9, Victoria Street, Douglas,  
IM99 1AJ
Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited
Barclays Private Clients International Limited
–2nd Floor, St Georges Court, Upper 
Church Street, Douglas, IM1 1EE
Barclays Holdings (isle of Man) Limited  
(In Liquidation) 

Japan
– 10-1, Roppongi 6-chome, Minato-ku, 
Tokyo
Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited
Barclays Securities Japan Limited
Barclays Wealth Services Limited

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
 
Strategic report

Shareholder information

Governance

Risk review

Financial review

Financial statements

43 Related undertakings continued

Wholly owned subsidiaries

Note

Wholly owned subsidiaries

Note

Jersey
– 2nd Floor, Gaspé House, 66-72 Esplanade, 
St. Helier, JE1 1GH
Barclays Services Jersey Limited
– 5 Espalanade, St Helier, JE2 3QA
Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited
BIFML PTC Limited
– 13 Castle Street, St. Helier, JE4 5UT
Barclays Index Finance Trust
– Lime Grove House, Green Street,  
St Helier, JE1 2ST
Barbridge Limited (In Liquidation)
– 13 Library Place, St Helier, JE4 8NE
Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited
Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited
– Estera Trust (Jersey) Limited, 13-14 
Esplanade, St Helier, JE1 1EE
MK Opportunities GP Ltd

Korea, Republic of
– A-1705 Yeouido Park Center, 28-3 
Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Barclays Korea GP Limited

Luxembourg
– 9, allée Scheffer, L-2520
Barclays Alzin Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Bayard Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Bedivere Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Bordang Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays BR Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Cantal Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.à r.l.
Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.à r.l.
Barclays Claudas Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Equity Index Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar 
Holdings S.à r.l.
Barclays Lamorak Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Leto Investments S.à r.l.
Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.à r.l
Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.à r.l.
Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.à r.l.
Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.à r.l.
Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.à r.l.
Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC
Barclays Pelleas Investments S.à r.l.
– 68-70 Boulevard de la Petrusse, L-2320
Adler Toy Holding Sarl

Mauritius
– C/O Rogers Capital Corporate Services 
Limited, 3rd Floor, Rogers House, No.5
President John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited  
(In Liquidation)
Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited
– Fifth Floor, Ebene Esplanade, 24 
Cyber-city, Ebene
Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited

Mexico
– Paseo de la Reforma 505, 41 Floor, Torre 
Mayor, Col. Cuauhtemoc, CP 06500
Barclays Bank Mexico, S.A.
Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa, S.A. de C.V.
Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
Servicios Barclays, S.A. de C.V.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

Monaco
– 31 Avenue de la Costa, Monte Carlo BP 
339
Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) 
S.A.M

Philippines
– 21/F, Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de 
Roxas, Makati City, 1226
Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation

Saudi Arabia
– 3rd Floor Al Dahna Center, 114 Al-Ahsa 
Street, PO Box 1454, Riyadh 11431
Barclays Saudi Arabia (In Liquidation)

Singapore
– 10 Marina Boulevard, #24-01 Marina Bay 
Financial Centre, Tower 2, 018983
Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private 
Limited
Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private 
Limited
Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd.

Spain
– Calle Jose, Abascal 51, 28003, Madrid
Barclays Tenedora De Inmuebles SL.
BVP Galvani Global, S.A.U.

Switzerland
– Chemin de Grange Canal 18-20, PO Box 
3941, 1211, Geneva
Barclays Bank (Suisse) SA
Barclays Switzerland Services SA
BPB Holdings SA

United States
 – Corporation Service Company, 251 Little
Falls Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808
Analytical Trade Holdings LLC
Analytical Trade Investments LLC
Archstone Equity Holdings Inc
Barclays Bank Delaware
Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC
Barclays Capital Energy Inc.
Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP
Barclays Capital Holdings Inc.
Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc.
Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc.
Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc.
Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities 
LLC
Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC
Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc.
Barclays Financial LLC
Barclays Group US Inc.
Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc.
Barclays Oversight Management Inc.
Barclays Receivables LLC
Barclays Services Corporation
Barclays Services LLC
Barclays US CCP Funding LLC
Barclays US Funding LLC
Barclays US Investments Inc.
Barclays US LLC
BCAP LLC
Crescent Real Estate Member LLC
Curve Investments GP

S

I, DD 

J, K

J, K

T

T

T

I, AA
B

K, M
K, M 
K, M 

Note

C
C

J
C 
C

C
C
CC

J, K

B

Wholly owned subsidiaries
Gracechurch Services Corporation
Lagalla Investments LLC
Long Island Holding A LLC
LTDL Holdings LLC
Marbury Holdings LLC
Preferred Liquidity, LLC
Procella Investments No.2 LLC
Procella Investments No.3 LLC
Relative Value Holdings, LLC
Surrey Funding Corporation
Sussex Purchasing Corporation
Sutton Funding LLC
TPProperty LLC
US Secured Investments LLC
Verain Investments LLC
Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC
– Corporation Service Company, 80 State 
Street, Albany, NY, 12207-2543
Barclays Payment Solutions Inc.
– Corporation Service Company, 100 Pearl 
Street, 17th Floor, MC-CSC1, Hartford,  
CT 06103
Barclays Capital Inc.
– 745 Seventh Avenue, New York NY 10019
Alynore Investments Limited Partnership
Glenwood Ave, Suite 550, Raleigh, NC, 
27608
Barclays US GPF Inc.
Equifirst Corporation (In Liquidation)

Zimbabwe
– 2 Premium Close, Mount Pleasant 
Business Park, Mount Pleasant, Harare
Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited

BB

F, I
C

B
G, H, I

C
C

C
G, I

C

C
C
C
J, K
 G,H,I, U
C
C
B

Other Related Undertakings
Unless otherwise stated, the undertakings 
below are consolidated and the share capital 
disclosed comprises ordinary and/or common 
shares which are held by subsidiaries of the 
Group. The Group’s overall ownership 
percentage is provided for each undertaking.

Other Related Undertakings

%

Note 

United Kingdom
– 1 Churchill Place,  
London, E14 5HP
Barclaycard Funding PLC
PSA Credit Company Limited  
(In Liquidation)
Barclays Covered Bond Funding LLP 
(In Liquidation)
Barclays Covered Bonds Limited
Liability Partnership
– St Helen’s, 1 Undershaft, 
London, EC3P 3DQ
Igloo Regeneration (General 
Partner) Limited
– 3-5 London Road, Rainham, 
Kent, ME8 7RG
Trade Ideas Limited
– 50 Lothian Road, Festival 
Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ
Equistone Founder Partner II L.P.
Equistone Founder Partner III L.P.

Barclays PLC 
home.barclays/annualreport

75.00

J

50.00

J, L

50.00
50.00

B
B

25.00

L, Z

20.00

Z

20.00
35.00

B, Z
B, Z

375

  
 
 
 
 
Joint management factors
The Joint Venture Board comprises two Barclays 
representative Directors, two JV partner 
Directors and three non-JV partner Directors. 
The Board are responsible for setting the 
Company strategy and budgets.

Notes to the financial statements 
Other disclosure matters continued

43 Related undertakings continued

Other Related Undertakings
– Enigma, Wavendon Business 
Park Milton Keynes, MK17 8LX
Intelligent Processing Solutions 
Limited
– 65A Basinghall Street, London, 
EC2V 5DZ
Cyber Defence Alliance Limited
– Gate House, Turnpike Road, 
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  
HP12 3NR
GW City Ventures Limited
GN Tower Limited
– 55 Baker Street, London,  
W1U 7EU
Formerly H Limited (In Liquidation)
– Haberfield Old Moor Road, 
Wennington, Lancaster, LA2 8PD
Full House Holdings Limited
– 6th Floor 60 Gracechurch Street, 
London, EC3V 0HR
BMC (UK) Limited
– 13-15 York Buildings, London, 
WC2N 6JU
BGF Group PLC
– Aurora Building, 120 Bothwell 
Street, Glasgow, G2 7JS
Buchanan Wharf (Glasgow) 
Management Limited

Cayman Islands
– PO Box 309GT, Ugland House, 
South Church Street, Grand 
Cayman, KY1-1104
Barclays US Holdings Limited 
Third Energy Holdings Limited

Korea, Republic of
– 18th Floor, Daishin Finance 
Centre, 343, Samil-daero, 
Jung-go, Seoul
Woori BC Pegasus Securitization
Specialty Co., Limited

Luxembourg
– 9, allée Scheffer, L-2520
BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl
Preferred Funding S.à r.l.
Preferred Investments S.à r.l.

Malta
– RS2 Buildings, Fort Road, Mosta 
MST 1859 
RS2 Software PLC

Monaco
– 31 Avenue de la Costa,  
Monte Carlo
Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 
Avenue de la Costa

Netherlands
– Alexanderstraat 18, 2514 JM, 
The Hague
Tulip Oil Holding BV

%

Note 

Other Related Undertakings

%

Note 

19.50

Z

25.00

E, Z

50.00
50.00

K, Z
Z

70.32  J,Z,K,L,II

67.42  J,Z,K.L,II

40.18

 F, J

24.58

 Z

78.00

E

90

J
78.94  F, J, K, Z 

70.00

W

96.30
33.33
33.33

R
FF
FF, I

18.25

Z

Portugal
Av. Manuel Júlio Carvalho e Costa, 
no. 15-A, 2750-423 Cascais
Projepolska, S.A. (In Liquidation)

South Africa
– 9 Elektron Road, Techno Park, 
Stellenbosch 7600
Imalivest Mineral Resources LP

Sweden
– c/o ForeningsSparbanken AB, 
105 34 Stockholm
EnterCard Group AB

United States of America
– Corporation Services Company, 
251 Little Falls, Drive Wilmington, 
DE, 19808
DG Solar Lessee II, LLC
DG Solar Lessee, LLC
– Corporation Trust Company, 
Corporation Trust Centre, 1209 
Orange Street, Wilmington DE 
19801
VS BC Solar Lessee I LLC

24.50

Z

66.63

J, K, Z

40.00

K, Z

75.00
75.00

C, Z
C, Z

50.00

C, Z

Subsidiaries by virtue of control
The related undertakings below are Subsidiaries 
in accordance with s.1162 Companies Act 2006 
as Barclays can exercise dominant influence or 
control over them.

Subsidiaries by virtue of control

%

Note 

United Kingdom
– 1 Churchill Place,  
London, E14 5HP
Oak Pension Asset Management 
Limited
Water Street Investments Limited

Cayman Islands
– PO Box 309GT, Ugland House, 
South Church Street, Grand 
Cayman, KY1-1104
Hornbeam Limited

00.00
00.00

Z
Z

00.00

Z

Joint Ventures
The related undertakings below are Joint 
Ventures in accordance with s. 18, Schedule 4, 
The Large and Medium-sized Companies and 
Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 
2008 and are proportionally consolidated.

75.00

Joint Ventures

%

Note 

United Kingdom
– All Saints Triangle, Caledonian 
Road, London, N1 9UT
Vaultex UK Limited

50.00

30.36

GG, Z

376

Barclays PLC 
home.barclays/annualreport

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020

 
This report is printed on Revive 100 Offset, made from 
100% FSC® Recycled certified fibre sourced from de-inked 
post-consumer waste. The printer and the manufacturing mill  
are both credited with ISO 14001 Environmental Management 
Systems Standard and both are FSC® certified. The mill also 
holds EMAS, the EU Eco-label. Revive 100 Offset is a Carbon 
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associated with its manufacture have been measured and 
offset using the World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced scheme.

Notes
The terms Barclays or Group refer to Barclays PLC together 
with its subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated, the income 
statement analysis compares the year ended 31 December 
2020 to the corresponding twelve months of 2019 and balance 
sheet analysis as at 31 December 2020 with comparatives 
relating to 31 December 2019. The abbreviations ‘£m’ and ‘£bn’ 
represent millions and thousands of millions of Pounds Sterling 
respectively; the abbreviations ‘$m’ and ‘$bn’ represent millions 
and thousands of millions of US Dollars respectively; and the 
abbreviations ‘€m’ and ‘€bn’ represent millions and thousands 
of millions of Euros respectively.
There are a number of key judgement areas, for example 
impairment calculations, which are based on models and which 
are subject to ongoing adjustment and modifications. Reported 
numbers reflect best estimates and judgements at the given 
point in time.
Relevant terms that are used in this document but are not 
defined under applicable regulatory guidance or International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are explained in the 
results glossary that can be accessed at home.barclays/
investor-relations/reports-and-events/latest-financial-results.
The information in this announcement, which was approved by 
the Board of Directors on 17 February 2021, does not comprise 
statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 
31 December 2020, which contain an unmodified audit report 
under Section 495 of the Companies Act 2006 (which does not 
make any statements under Section 498 of the Companies Act 
2006), will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies in 
accordance with Section 441 of the Companies Act 2006.
These results will be filed on a Form 20-F with the US Securities 
and Exchange Commission (SEC) as soon as practicable 
following their publication. Once filed with the SEC, a copy 
of the Form 20-F will be available from the Barclays Investor 
Relations website at home.barclays/annualreport and from 
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Barclays is a frequent issuer in the debt capital markets and 
regularly meets with investors via formal road-shows and other 
ad hoc meetings. Consistent with its usual practice, Barclays 
expects that from time to time over the coming quarter it will 
meet with investors globally to discuss these results and other 
matters relating to the Group.

Non-IFRS performance measures 
Barclays management believes that the non-IFRS performance 
measures included in this document provide valuable 
information to the readers of the financial statements as 
they enable the reader to identify a more consistent basis for 
comparing the businesses’ performance between financial 
periods and provide more detail concerning the elements of 
performance which the managers of these businesses are 
most directly able to influence or are relevant for an assessment 
of the Group. They also reflect an important aspect of the way 
in which operating targets are defined and performance is 
monitored by Barclays management. However, any non-IFRS 
performance measures in this document are not a substitute for 
IFRS measures and readers should consider the IFRS measures 
as well. Refer to pages 253 to 258 for further information and 
calculations of non-IFRS performance measures included 
throughout this document, and the most directly comparable 
IFRS measures. 

Forward-looking statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements 
within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the US Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Group. Barclays 
cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a 
guarantee of future performance and that actual results or 
other financial condition or performance measures could 
differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking 
statements. These forward-looking statements can be 
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical 
or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes 
use words such as ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘seek’, ‘continue’, ‘aim’, ‘anticipate’, 
‘target’, ‘projected’, ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘goal’, 
‘believe’, ‘achieve’ or other words of similar meaning. 
Forward-looking statements can be made in writing but also may 
be made verbally by members of the management of the Group 
(including, without limitation, during management presentations 
to financial analysts) in connection with this document. 
Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, 
statements or guidance regarding or relating to the Group’s 
future financial position, income growth, assets, impairment 
charges, provisions, business strategy, capital, leverage and 
other regulatory ratios, capital distributions (including dividend 
payout ratios and expected payment strategies), projected 
levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projected 
costs or savings, any commitments and targets, estimates of 
capital expenditures, plans and objectives for future operations, 
projected employee numbers, IFRS impacts and other 
statements that are not historical fact. By their nature, 
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty 
because they relate to future events and circumstances. 
The forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on 
which they are made. Forward-looking statements may be 
affected by: changes in legislation; the development of standards 
and interpretations under IFRS, including evolving practices with 
regard to the interpretation and application of accounting and 
regulatory standards; the outcome of current and future legal 
proceedings and regulatory investigations; future levels of 
conduct provisions; the policies and actions of governmental and 
regulatory authorities; the Group’s ability along with government 
and other stakeholders to manage and mitigate the impacts 
of climate change effectively; geopolitical risks; and the impact 
of competition. In addition, factors including (but not limited to) 
the following may have an effect: capital, leverage and other 
regulatory rules applicable to past, current and future periods; 
UK, US, Eurozone and global macroeconomic and business 
conditions; the effects of any volatility in credit markets; market 
related risks such as changes in interest rates and foreign 
exchange rates; effects of changes in valuation of credit market 
exposures; changes in valuation of issued securities; volatility 
in capital markets; changes in credit ratings of any entity within 
the Group or any securities issued by such entities; direct and 
indirect impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; 
instability as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union 
(EU), the effects of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation 
Agreement and the disruption that may subsequently result 
in the UK and globally; the risk of cyber-attacks, information or 
security breaches or technology failures on the Group’s business 
or operations; and the success of future acquisitions, disposals 
and other strategic transactions. A number of these influences 
and factors are beyond the Group’s control. As a result, the 
Group’s actual financial position, future results, capital 
distributions, capital, leverage or other regulatory ratios or other 
financial and non-financial metrics or performance measures 
may differ materially from the statements or guidance set forth 
in the Group’s forward-looking statements. Additional risks and 
factors which may impact the Group’s future financial condition 
and performance are identified in our filings with the SEC 
(including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 20-F 
for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2020), which are available 
on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Subject to our obligations under the applicable laws and 
regulations of any relevant jurisdiction, (including, without 
limitation, the UK and the US), in relation to disclosure and 
ongoing information, we undertake no obligation to update 
publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether 
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Barclays is a British universal bank. We deploy 
finance responsibly to support people and 
businesses, acting with empathy and integrity, 
championing innovation and sustainability,  
for the common good and the long term.

Barclays PLC Annual Report 2020
A detailed review of Barclays’ 2020 performance 
with disclosures that provide useful insight 
and go beyond reporting requirements.

Barclays PLC Environmental Social 
Governance Report 2020
An overview of our ESG strategic priorities 
and performance, reported against a range 
of quantitative and qualitative indicators.

Barclays PLC Climate-related
Financial Disclosures 2020
An enhanced report aligning to the Task Force 
on Climate-related Financial Disclosures 
(TCFD) recommendations in this, the fourth 
year of disclosure.

Barclays PLC Fair Pay Report 2020
An overview of our approach to pay-fairness 
and how we implement this in our principles 
and policies through the themes of our 
Fair Pay agenda.

Barclays PLC Diversity and Inclusion 
Report 2020
An overview of the Group’s approach to  
building a more inclusive company, including 
a progress report on each of our five pillars 
of diversity and inclusion.

Barclays PLC Country Snapshot 2020
An overview of our global tax contribution as well 
as our approach to tax, including our UK tax strategy, 
together with our country-by-country data.

Barclays PLC Pillar 3 Report 2020
A summary of our risk profile, its interaction with 
the Group’s risk appetite, and risk management.

Our Purpose and Values ensure  
we are able to deliver for all our 
stakeholders: for our customers 
and clients, for our colleagues,  
for society and for our investors. 
We’re proud to feature some of 
their stories inside this Report.

For further information and a fuller understanding of the  
results and the state of affairs of the Group, please refer  
to the Barclays PLC suite of annual reports available at  
home.barclays/annualreport

Registered office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP
© Barclays PLC 2021  
Registered in England. Registered No: 48839

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