Page 26 - Barclays Bank (B)

activities within their groups, such as
investment and international banking. These

requirements are known as structural reform or
ring-fencing.

The aim of structural reform is to protect UK

retail banking from shocks originating

elsewhere in the group and in global financial

markets. Structural reform is a key part of the

Government’s package of banking reforms

designed to increase the stability of the UK

financial system and prevent the costs of failing

banks falling on taxpayers.” (4)

If there is a shock to the banking sector, the part of the

bank that provides everyday banking services will be

protected. Banks that have been separated (or "ring-

fenced") from the rest of their groups in this way are

known as ring-fenced bodies. (4)

2016 saw Barclays embark on one of its largest

restructurings designed to make the bank smaller, better
capitalised, and less leveraged and more geographically

focussed on its core UK and US markets. Barclays aims to

be compliant by 2019.