Barclays celebrates 20 years as
a leading co-branded credit card
issuer in the United States

Twenty years ago this December, Barclays officially entered the United States credit card market with the acquisition of Juniper Financial Corporation. During the past two decades, Barclays US Consumer Bank (USCB) has grown to become a formidable competitor in the world’s largest credit card market, and now stands as one of Barclays’ five key divisions with strategic growth ambitions to help the bank deliver its three-year-plan.

A phenomenal growth story
When Barclays purchased Juniper in 2004, it saw the partnership model as a strategic opportunity to compete and grow in the world’s largest credit card market by tapping into well-known brands with large and loyal customer bases and their marketing channels without the significant investment typically needed to build a standalone consumer brand. At the time, the business had about 700,000 customers, $1.4b in credit card receivables and was the 18th largest issuer in the US. 

Today, it ranks as the 9th largest issuer in the US with 20m customers, approximately $32b in ending net receivables and goes to market primarily through co-branded cards issued on behalf of some of America’s best brands such as Gap, Microsoft Xbox, JetBlue Airways, Wyndham and General Motors, launching in 2025. In 2012, USCB started offering online savings accounts which now has nearly $20b in retail deposit balances, serving as an important funding mechanism for the bank while helping consumers work toward a better financial future. Over the years, USCB’s partnership approach has been the key to becoming a leading issuer in the US partner cards market.

“Our success is built on collaboration that deepens relationships with our partners, wins new business and develops market-leading products and capabilities to support America’s best brands. We’ve created award-winning co-branded, business, and private-label card programs across the travel, entertainment, retail, and affinity sectors and we continue to look for opportunities to differentiate our portfolio and expand our business in the future.”

Denny Nealon
CEO, Barclays US Consumer Bank

Colleagues create our success
The foundation of our success starts with our talented and dedicated colleagues who are at the center of everything we do. The business has grown from a few hundred colleagues in one building in Wilmington, Delaware to thousands in multiple locations across the United States and India. 

A force for good where colleagues live and work
Along with our colleagues' dedication to delivering for our partners and customers, USCB has a legacy of grassroots, colleague-led volunteerism and fundraising in the local communities where we live and work. Our colleagues’ commitment to building strong communities in Henderson and Wilmington helps businesses grow and enables people to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed now and in the future. Our colleagues have volunteered more than 170,000 hours over the past decade and have participated in more than 16,000 volunteering activities since 2019.

“Citizenship is part of our DNA and we’re proud of our colleagues’ engagement and involvement that makes a positive impact for so many of local community organizations.” 

Denny Nealon
CEO, Barclays US Consumer Bank