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barclays It has revealed lower earnings after saying it was setting aside an extra £235 million to cover the costs of compensating historic car loan customers.
The banking group also revealed it took a £110m hit from the collapse of US subprime lender Tricolor, as its boss insisted he was reviewing its loan book amid concerns about the private credit market.
Barclays made a pre-tax profit of £2.1 billion in the third quarter between July and September, down 7% on the previous year.
This took into account the impact of requiring higher provision for the motor finance issue.
After reviewing the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposed resolution plan, Barclays said it did not believe its previous £90 million reserves would be enough to cover the costs.
The additional £235 million takes the Group’s total provision to £325 million, which represents a reasonable estimate of compensation costs.
However, like other lenders lloydsBarclays challenged the regulator’s proposals, saying it did not think the terms “accurately address the actual harm (if any) to clients and do not achieve a proportionate or appropriate outcome”.
The bank said its pre-tax profit, excluding the impact of car finance provision, rose 4% year-on-year.
Its UK bank reported a 16% rise in earnings in recent months following the acquisition tesco bank Last year.
Its corporate and investment banking divisions also got a boost, while income from its consumer bank in the US rose 19% in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Barclays told investors it took a £600 million credit impairment charge for the third quarter, including about a £110 million “single name” charge.
Analysts have linked it to US subprime auto lender Tricolor, which collapsed last month amid fraud allegations, at the same time as car parts supplier First Brands.
The failures, as well as the disclosure of bad and fraudulent loan issues by some regional banks in the US, have helped raise concerns about the broader private loan market.
Barclays Group Chief Executive CS Venkatakrishnan said the tricolor performance was “obviously no surprise – the surprise was fraudulent”.
“We take our credit risk management very seriously at all points in the cycle, and credit lenders have to be prepared for all consequences, including fraud,” he said.
“So, we’re looking at the lessons learned from this – is this an even worse actor, is it more than that, and what warnings might there be?”
Mr Venkatakrishnan, known as Venkat at the bank, said the bank was “vigilant” about checking the credit quality of its loan portfolio.
The chief executive also said that Barclays had been approached by First Brands in the US, but refused to offer a loan, meaning it had no exposure to the business.
This comment came after the Governor of the Bank of England. Andrew Baileysaid on Tuesday that the central bank should take the collapse of the two companies “very seriously” because of what they might indicate about the private finance sector.
Meanwhile, Barclays shares rose nearly 4% on Wednesday morning after the bank announced a £500 million share buyback.
This followed cost savings of £500 million in 2025, a quarter earlier than planned, amid the company’s efforts to reduce expenses.
The bank is about halfway through a three-year strategic plan to improve its financial performance, simplify business and return more money to investors.
Venkat said: “I am pleased with the ongoing momentum of Barclays’ financial performance over the last seven quarters.
“This is driven by a strong outlook for stable earnings and ahead of the planned delivery of efficiency savings.
“Furthermore, this comes despite the additional charge for motor finance redress.”