BARCLAYS Wealth Intermediaries, a division of Barclays Wealth, formally launches its new proposition to the local intermediary and corporate market today.
To commemorate the launch of a top-of-the-league line-up of niche banking products and online services, Barclays Wealth has also brought the Barclays Premier League trophy to the island for the first time, for clients to see at an event hosted at the Four Seasons hotel in Limassol.
Accompanying the trophy will be one of the English game’s most enduring names, former Liverpool and Wales striker Ian Rush MBE.
Cyprus’ only AA-rated bank, Barclays has been a major player on the island for more than 90 years and operates under Barclays Wealth, Barclays Bank plc’s wealth management division.
The business has relaunched today following the substantial investment into its banking information systems in Cyprus and an investment of tens of millions of pounds in the development of Barclays Wealth Intermediairies overall platform and services such as ICeB.
ICeB is linked up to Barclays UK banking platform, but has been designed specifically for the intermediary market.
It will enable local intermediaries to manage a large number of accounts on behalf of their clients, thus providing a virtual branch within their office.
The business will target local intermediaries and corporates, including large law practices, insurers and accountancy firms.
Barclays Wealth Intermediaries will draw on its links with Barclays Capital and Barclays Global Investors to provide clients with world class investments and research.
Commenting, Peter Horrell, Managing Director, Barclays Wealth Intermediaries said: “We are delighted to be extending our offering in Cyprus, which is an important focus for Barclays Wealth and we plan to expand our business here significantly in the future. In line with this, we have invested heavily in our online capability so that local corporates and intermediaries can benefit from a state of the art banking platform.
This will provide them with access to Barclays world-class investment expertise, which combined with the excellent local knowledge of our extended team here, will see existing and future clients benefit from a market leading service.”
Lee Francis, Country Director of Barclays Wealth Intermediaries in Cyprus added: “The business community in Cyprus is going from strength to strength. Barclays Wealth Intermediaries provides intermediaries and corporates with access to the world class treasury, cash management and investment expertise which, combined with the local knowledge offered by our expanded team, will enable businesses to capitalise on this growth. I am delighted that we have been able to bring the Barclays Premier League trophy and to welcome Ian Rush to the island, as we celebrate offering current and future clients the best team in the field and a superior product suite to match.”
Rush himself said that it is, “a great pleasure to be here with the Barclays Wealth Intermediaries team, and to share the Barclays Premier League trophy with the people of Cyprus. This is the first time the trophy has been to Cyprus and it is a fitting occasion that it marks the launch of the business here, as Barclays Wealth has recruited a premier team to drive their expansion plans.”
Since November 2005, Rush has been involved in media work within the game, including a stint as an analyst with ESPN. He also appears as a pundit and reporter for Sky Sports.
He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006 due to his achievements in the game.
On September 7 last year, it was announced that Rush had been appointed Elite Performance Director for the Welsh Football Trust, a part-time role in which he will help develop the next generation of players for Wales’ national teams.
