Barclays vs Visa: Founders, CEOs and History
Barclays was founded in 1690 by John Freame, Thomas Gould and is led by C.S. Venkatakrishnan. Visa was founded in 1958 by Dee Hock and is led by Ryan McInerney.
Company facts
Founders
Barclays
John Freame
The founding of Barclays is not a single event, but an aristocratic consolidation of historic Quaker banking families in the heart of London.
Thomas Gould
Thomas Gould (1663 to 1731) was a respected Quaker goldsmith and the indispensable co-founder of the partnership that laid the genesis of Barclays PLC.
Visa
Dee Hock
Dee Hock (1929-2022) was the founding CEO of National BankAmericard Inc., the bank-owned company that took over the BankAmericard licensing system from Bank of America in 1970 and adopted the Visa name in 1976.
CEOs and their tenures
Barclays
- John Varley2004–2011
Group Chief Executive
He retired in 2011 and Bob Diamond succeeded him.
Source - Bob Diamond2011–2012
Former Chief Executive Officer
Diamond, the architect of the 2008 Lehman Brothers acquisition, was the who built Barclays' top investment banking franchise into a global leader.
Source - Antony Jenkins2012–2015
Former Chief Executive Officer
Jenkins was tasked with the challenge of overhauling Barclays' toxic corporate culture in the aftermath of the LIBOR scandal.
Source - C.S. Venkatakrishnan2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Venkatakrishnan, a former head of the bank's credit trading desk, assumed the CEO role during a period of intense macroeconomic headwinds and regulatory scrutiny.
Source
Visa
- Alfred F. Kelly Jr.2016–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2016 to 2023, he heavily modernized the massive legacy network, aggressively integrating fintechs and preparing the network to process highly complex cryptocurrency transactions.
Source - Ryan McInerney2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
McInerney joined Visa in 2013 as president after senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and became chief executive on February 1, 2023, succeeding Alfred F. Kelly Jr.
Source
Timeline: Barclays and Visa side by side
1690Barclays
Founding on Lombard Street
Quaker goldsmiths John Freame and Thomas Gould open their banking partnership on Lombard Street in the City of London, laying the foundational bedrock of modern commercial banking by issuing promissory notes and safeguarding merchant wealth.
1736Barclays
Adoption of the Barclays Name
James Barclay, the son-in-law of John Freame, is admitted to the partnership, and the firm officially adopts the Barclays name, setting the stage for its future dominance and expansion into financing the British industrial revolution.
1896Barclays
Transition to a Joint-Stock Bank
In a cultural and legal shift for the conservative Quaker leadership, Barclays transitions from a private partnership with unlimited liability to a joint-stock company, allowing it to raise the capital required to expand its branch network across the UK.
1958Visa
BankAmericard launched
Bank of America launched BankAmericard, the direct predecessor to Visa.
1960Barclays
International Expansion and Credit Cards
Barclays expands its international footprint, opening branches across Europe and the Americas, and becomes a pioneer in the UK consumer credit market by launching one of the first bank-issued credit cards, altering British consumer spending habits.
1976Visa
Visa name adopted
The network adopted the Visa name to support international acceptance and brand consistency.
1986Barclays
The 'Big Bang' and Investment Banking
Following the deregulation of the London Stock Exchange, Barclays expands its securities trading and corporate advisory capabilities, transitioning from a traditional commercial bank into a strong player in the global capital markets.
2000Barclays
Acquisition of The Woolwich
Barclays acquires The Woolwich, the UK's second-largest building society, in a $5.7 billion deal, instantly cementing its dominance in the British mortgage market and significantly expanding its retail deposit base.
2008Barclays
The Lehman Brothers Acquisition
In a frantic weekend rescue during the height of the global financial crisis, Barclays acquires the North American operations of the collapsed Lehman Brothers, instantly transforming the bank into a global bulge-bracket investment bank.
2008Visa
Visa IPO
Visa became a public company, changing the economics from a bank association structure to a shareholder-owned company.
2012Barclays
The LIBOR Manipulation Scandal
Barclays is hit with nearly $500 million in fines by global regulators for its role in manipulating the LIBOR benchmark interest rate, leading to the resignation of the CEO and Chairman and forcing a complete overhaul of the bank's compliance culture.
2016Visa
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. becomes CEO
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. became CEO of Visa in 2016. Chief executive of Visa from December 2016 to January 2023, when Ryan McInerney succeeded him; Kelly then served as executive chairman.
2017Barclays
Spin-off of African Operations
Barclays completes the demerger of its African retail banking operations into the independent Absa Group, retreating from emerging market retail banking to focus on its core UK and global corporate franchises.
2020Visa
Acquired Plaid (abandoned)
Visa acquired Plaid (abandoned) for $5.3 billion. Visa agreed in January 2020 to buy US data-connectivity fintech Plaid for USD 5.3 billion.
2022Visa
Tink acquisition
Visa completed its purchase of Stockholm-based open banking platform Tink in March 2022.
2023Visa
Ryan McInerney becomes CEO
Ryan McInerney became Visa's CEO after serving as president.
2024Barclays
Sale of US Consumer Bank to Equifax
Barclays executes an effective strategic purification by selling its US consumer credit card portfolio to Equifax, shedding low-return, capital-intensive assets to focus on high-yielding corporate lending and top fixed-income trading.
2025Visa
Revenue reaches $40.0B
Visa reported $40.0 billion in fiscal 2025 net revenue.
Acquisitions
Barclays
- ING Direct UK2012$1.2B
- Lehman Brothers North America2008$1.4B
- Absa Group (Majority Stake)2005$5.5B
- The Woolwich2000$8B
Questions about Barclays vs Visa
Who is the CEO of Barclays PLC and Visa Inc.?
Barclays PLC is led by C.S. Venkatakrishnan and Visa Inc. is led by Ryan McInerney. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Barclays PLC founded vs Visa Inc.?
Barclays PLC was founded in 1690 — 268 years before Visa Inc., which was founded in 1958. Barclays PLC's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Visa Inc..
How many employees does Barclays PLC have compared to Visa Inc.?
Barclays PLC employs approximately 83,000 people, while Visa Inc. employs approximately 34,100. Barclays PLC has the larger workforce at 83,000 employees, compared to Visa Inc.'s 34,100. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Barclays PLC and Visa Inc. headquartered?
Barclays PLC is headquartered in United Kingdom and Visa Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Barclays PLC and Visa Inc.?
Barclays PLC was founded by John Freame, Thomas Gould. Visa Inc. was founded by Dee Hock.
Which company has a longer operating history — Barclays PLC or Visa Inc.?
Barclays PLC has been operating for approximately 336 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Visa Inc. has been in operation for around 68 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Barclays vs Visa overview