Barclays is a leading multinational financial services company headquartered in London, with origins dating back to 1690 when John Freame and Thomas Gould began trading as goldsmith bankers in the City of London[1][5][6]. The name Barclays was adopted in 1736 when James Barclay, Freame’s son-in-law, became a partner, marking the start of the Barclays legacy[1][6]. The bank’s iconic Black Spread Eagle symbol, first associated with their Lombard Street premises in 1728, remains a key part of its brand identity[1][4]. Barclays evolved through numerous mergers, notably in 1896 when twelve banks united to form Barclays and Co., becoming a joint-stock bank and one of England's largest banks by deposits[1][3]. Throughout the 20th century, Barclays expanded its operations globally, entering markets in the Caribbean, South Africa, and Europe, and innovating in retail and investment banking[3][5]. It was floated on the stock exchange in 1902 and renamed Barclays Bank Limited in 1917[3]. Today, Barclays operates across multiple financial sectors including retail banking, investment banking, wealth management, and credit cards. It organizes its operations into business units such as Barclays Africa, Barclaycard, Barclays Capital, and UK Banking, serving millions of customers worldwide[2][5]. It has a significant global presence with over 2,000 domestic branches and nearly 850 international branches in more than 60 countries[2]. Barclays is recognized for technological innovation in banking and digital services, boasting over 4.5 million registered online banking users and more than 10.6 million Barclaycard customers in the UK alone[2]. Under CEO Coimbatore Sundararajan Venkatakrishnan, Barclays continues to focus on modernization, sustainability, and adapting to the evolving financial landscape while maintaining its historic commitment to financial services excellence[5]. The bank’s ric