Barclays is unifying its banking and investment services as part of an overhaul of its stockbroking operation. Barclays said the new platform, which will be open to all customers to manage savings, current accounts and investments, would be the first combined service of its kind. However, a similar service is now being offered to customers of wealth services. The bank said existing Barclays Stockbrokers customers would be transferred across to the site – Barclays Direct Investing – in 2017, marking the end of three decades of the Stockbrokers brand. It will be open to customers of other banks. Rupert Dickinson, MD, Direct Investing, said most of the staff supporting stockbrokers would continue to work for the new service, although some might be redeployed within the bank. The Barclays service is aimed at helping less experienced investors and address the advice gap. It provides tools designed to help people learn about investing, set long-term goals and execute investments.
