Barclays US Consumer Bank Tuesday announced investments aimed at supporting its continued presence in Delaware and elsewhere in the U.S.
“We’ve demonstrated a strong track record of growth in the past 20 years from our anchor in Wilmington, expanding from a small startup to the ninth-largest card issuer in the United States,” said Denny Nealon, CEO, Barclays US Consumer Bank. “As we continue to innovate and grow, we want to strengthen our relationships with our colleagues and partners in Delaware who have helped make this possible.”
Barclays US Consumer Bank plans to hire 1,000 new employees nationwide over 18 months, including more than 300 Wilmington-based positions.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 125 South West Street near the Wilmington Riverfront highlighted the renovations to the company’s newly acquired building, which was purchased in October after leasing it for 13 years.
The building was put on the market by its Delaware owner, Pettinaro.
A recently developed Partner Center will allow the bank to host collaborative meetings with numerous business and community partners. The building also features a renovated lobby and an area designed “to offer colleagues curated, experiential opportunities focused on health and wellness like exercise and cooking classes, a release stated.
Other updates include a new tech bar for improved IT support, open collaboration workspaces, an updated cafeteria dining area, and upgrades to the building’s technology infrastructure.
“We’ve created a modern, world-class environment featuring a variety of new amenities designed to help our colleagues do their best work in support of our partners, customers, and community,” said Nealon.
At the event, Barclays announced a $1 million donation to support Delaware State University’s newly established Global Institute for Equity, Inclusion and Civil Rights, a network designed to develop and share proven pathways for transforming communities of color and closing the gap to an inclusive economy.
“This donation to the Global Institute for Equity, Inclusion and Civil Rights will help us address systemic issues plaguing our society,” said Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University. “Barclays has been a steadfast supporter of ours for ten years, and their unwavering commitment to supporting our students and programs has had a tremendous impact on our mission.”
Barclays has announced several transactions recently, including the renewal of its partnership with JetBlue, the planned acquisition of Gap Inc.’s $4 billion credit card portfolio, and a partnership with Amount, a technology provider for financial institutions, to enter the buy now, pay later space. Barclays also launched a new suite of co-branded credit cards for AARP members earlier this year.
Barclays US Consumer Bank offers co-branded credit cards, small business credit cards, installment loans, POS Finance, online savings accounts, and CDs. For more information, please visit www.BarclaysUS.com.
After announcing a move of some of its operations to a site in New Jersey a few years ago, Barclays has since announced plans to beef up operations in Delaware.
Barclays’ Delaware roots date back to the purchase of Juniper, a credit card bank founded by former executives of First USA, now Chase.
Barclays is an international financial services company based in the United Kingdom.
