Bloomberg Talks Barclays CEO Talks Banking
Oct 22, 2025
CS Venkatakrishnan, CEO of Barclays and an expert in risk management, shares insights on the bank's recent performance and challenges. He expresses dissatisfaction with Barclays' exposure to Tricolor Holdings after its bankruptcy, emphasizing lessons learned. The discussion touches on the need for disciplined credit selection amidst market risks, the pressures in the equities sector, and the importance of due diligence. Venkatakrishnan also highlights the link between private credit growth and trends in the UK IPO market, calling for a stronger equity risk culture.
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Broad Performance And Shareholder Confidence
- Barclays delivered broad performance with top-line growth and rising NII guidance, showing sustained momentum across divisions.
- Management accelerated a £500m buyback and will revisit targets a year early, signalling confidence to investors.
Investment Bank Momentum With Equities Lag
- The investment bank has shown consistent top-line growth and improved profitability over several quarters.
- Equities lagged this quarter, and management says they will deepen client franchises and broaden products to improve results.
Tricolor Exposure And Internal Review
- Barclays had exposure to Tricolor and Venkatakrishnan said he was "not happy" about it.
- The bank reviewed lessons from that exposure and applied them across its portfolio.