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Barclays History

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27th August 2005, Accra Microbanking scheme turns a traditional Ghanaian money collector into a venture capitalist.

11th October 2005, Elvington Aerodrome Mike Newman breaking his own World Blind Landspeed Record.

27th June 1967, North London Reg Varney withdrawns £10 from the world's first cashpoint transaction.

9th September 1986, New York Barclays is the first British bank to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

29th June 1966, Birmingham The launch of Europe's first credit card sparks a revolution in banking.

1st December 1958, Hanover Street, London Britain's first woman bank manager poses for an incredulous press.

9th September 1986, New York

Our Chairman buys 100 Barclays shares, making us the first British bank to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

For all the firsts that have been pioneered at Barclays, there are some that stand out more than others. They have championed groundbreaking banking practices and technologies in the UK, but an international breakthrough in 1986 opened up the global market for Barclays like never before.

On the 9th of September, the Chairman bought 100 shares in Barclays on the New York Stock Exchange. And this wasn’t just a groundbreaking move for Barclays, it was a huge step for banking as a whole. The first British bank to be traded on the NYSE, it underlined a growing global status and ambition to expand on the biggest possible stage.

Having also listed on the Tokyo stock exchange a few weeks earlier, this was one of the most progressive periods in Barclays history and one that has underpinned its modern day success. With Barclays now operating across 50 countries, looking after the finances of 27 million customers and planning to continue championing innovation in banking, I’d quite like to have bought those 100 shares myself.

© 2007 Barclays Group PLC