Barclays PLC

Barclays traces its history to 1690 and is headquartered in London. Today it operates as a universal bank spanning UK retail banking, UK corporate banking, private banking and wealth management, US consumer banking, and an international investment bank.

Its Investment Bank combines global markets, investment banking, and international corporate banking for corporate and institutional clients. The business is particularly relevant for students interested in capital markets, financing, M&A advisory, sales and trading, and corporate banking.

Barclays is a large, diversified employer rather than a pure-play investment bank: the 2025 annual report records 93,000 full-time-equivalent employees across the Group, with the Investment Bank generating £13.055 billion of income.