Barclays Bank has announced a record pre-tax profit of £7.14bn in 2006 - up by 35% on the previous year.
Barclays Bank has announced a record pre-tax profit of £7.14bn in 2006 - up by 35% on the previous year.
Barclays - the first of the Big Five UK banks to report 2006 profits - said it was helped by growth in its investment banking and fund management businesses.
Barclays - the first of the Big Five UK banks to report 2006 profits - said it was helped by growth in its investment banking and fund management businesses.
Bad debt was £2.15bn - up 37% as UK borrowers struggled to pay back loans at its Barclaycard business, it said.
Bad debt was £2.15bn - up 37% as UK borrowers struggled to pay back loans at its Barclaycard business, it said.
The credit card unit saw profit fall 40% but the bank said it felt Barclaycard had now "passed the worst".
The credit card unit saw profit fall 40% but the bank said it felt Barclaycard had now "passed the worst".
In the UK, its High Street banking division saw pre-tax profits rise 17% to £1.2bn - partly thanks to mortgages and savings accounts.
In the UK, its High Street banking division saw pre-tax profits rise 17% to £1.2bn - partly thanks to mortgages and savings accounts.
Barclays chief executive John Varley said 2006 had been an "excellent year" and that it was "well-positioned for future growth".
Barclays chief executive John Varley said 2006 had been an "excellent year" and that it was "well-positioned for future growth".
He said that in the second half of the year, the number of people not paying Barclaycard bills had fallen and that balances on both cards and loans also fell.
He said that in the second half of the year, the number of people not paying Barclaycard bills had fallen and that balances on both cards and loans also fell.
Criticism
Criticism
The UK's top five banks are forecast to report combined profits of £38bn for the past year.
The UK's top five banks are forecast to report combined profits of £38bn for the past year.
This is despite continuing fears about their exposure to bad debts.
This is despite continuing fears about their exposure to bad debts.
As well as investment banking and fund management, the surge in takeover activity on global stock markets and the growth of private client banking for wealthy customers has also boosted the Big Five.
As well as investment banking and fund management, the surge in takeover activity on global stock markets and the growth of private client banking for wealthy customers has also boosted the Big Five.
HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland have still to report their 2006 profits.
HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland have still to report their 2006 profits.
The size of the profits have attracted criticism from some groups who point to overdraft charges - which are currently being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.
The size of the profits have attracted criticism from some groups who point to overdraft charges - which are currently being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.
Liberal Democrats Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the rise in profits per customer was unjustified and was being made partly through unjustifiably high fees.
Liberal Democrats Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the rise in profits per customer was unjustified and was being made partly through unjustifiably high fees.
However incoming boss of the British Bankers' Association, Angela Knight, hinted that any crackdown on fees could spend the end of free banking in the UK.
However incoming boss of the British Bankers' Association, Angela Knight, hinted that any crackdown on fees could spend the end of free banking in the UK.Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
