Barclays Bank, one of the four largest private banks in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in the world, was formed in 1896 by the merger of Barclays, Bevan, Triton, Lanza and Belfry, and other banks. Barclays & Co. The Bank operates a wide range of financial services, including bill exchange, investment, insurance, leasing, export credit, and property management. One of the six bill-swapping banks in London and the first to issue credit cards in the UK in 1966. The head office is located in London.