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Barclays United Kingdom

RAROC profile and corporate credit pricing model derived from Pillar 3 disclosures.

Last updated: March 2026 · Data source: public Pillar 3 disclosures
Cost-to-income
62.0%
Operating efficiency
Effective tax rate
21.6%
Applied to RAROC numerator
Avg corporate PD
2.90%
Probability of default
Avg LGD unsecured
39.4%
Loss given default

How Barclays prices corporate credit

Barclays is a United Kingdom-based bank with approximately EUR 78bn of corporate credit exposure (EAD) under the Mixed approach to credit risk capital. The numbers below come directly from Barclays's most recent Pillar 3 CR6 regulatory filings and are used to model how this bank prices corporate credit facilities.

What makes Barclays's book distinctive

Barclays runs an A-IRB corporate book with one of the lower average LGDs among UK large banks, reflecting its bias toward senior unsecured lending to FTSE 350 obligors where workout recoveries have historically been high. Barclays Investment Bank's US corporate book is reported separately but consolidates into the same CR6 table.

Barclays is a smaller corporate book by disclosed EAD (54 of 59). Its cost-to-income ratio of 62.0% is in line with the European large-bank average (+12.2pp vs the 59-bank cross-section average of 49.8%). The corporate portfolio is mixed-grade, with an EAD-weighted average PD of 2.9% against a cross-bank average of 2.1%.

The consolidated book blends A-IRB and F-IRB sub-portfolios, so the headline PD and LGD averages mask meaningful dispersion between segments — relevant when benchmarking specific sectors or geographies. Unsecured LGD disclosed at 39.4% is +2.6pp against the 36.8% cross-bank average, indicating a harder workout profile than the peer median and pushing up capital consumption on defaulted exposures.

On the standardised BBB+ EUR 25M 5-year term loan used across every bank profile, Barclays lands in the top half of the pricing ranking (#19 of 59), with a RAROC of 7.64% and a minimum spread of 241bp to reach the 12% hurdle. Within United Kingdom specifically, the bank ranks #1 of 5 on this same calculation.

ParameterValueWhat it means
IRB approachMixedHow the bank computes risk-weighted assets
Cost-to-income ratio62.0%Operating cost share of net revenue
Effective tax rate21.6%Applied to RAROC numerator after EL and funding
Average corporate PD2.90%EAD-weighted probability of default
Avg LGD (unsecured)39.4%Loss share if borrower defaults, no collateral
Avg LGD (secured)20.0%Loss share with eligible collateral
Funding spread15bpBank's wholesale funding cost above risk-free
Corporate EADEUR 78bnTotal exposure at default to corporates

Sample RAROC calculation

On a representative BBB+ rated, 5-year term loan of EUR 25M at 150bp spread with a 20bp commitment fee, Barclays would generate an estimated RAROC of 7.64% against a typical 12% bank hurdle rate. To hit that hurdle on this exact deal, the bank would need a minimum spread of 241bp. This deal is significantly below target — the bank would either reprice it or decline.

ComponentValue
Annual revenue (spread + fees)EUR 385,000
Operating costEUR 154,000
Expected loss (PD × LGD × EAD)EUR 28,750
Capital required (FPE)EUR 2,451,320
RAROC (after tax)7.64%
Min spread to hit 12% RAROC241bp

How Barclays compares to peers

Out of 59 banks in the OpenRAROC dataset, Barclays ranks #19 by RAROC on this sample deal.

RankBankCountryRAROCMin spread
1Qatar National BankQatar9.00%203bp
2DBS GroupSingapore8.18%224bp
3JP MorganUnited States8.12%231bp
4ICBCChina8.06%233bp
5China Construction BankChina8.06%233bp
18Credit MutuelFrance7.66%243bp
19BarclaysUnited Kingdom7.64%241bp
20KBC GroupBelgium7.59%243bp
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Other United Kingdom banks

HSBCNatWest GroupLloyds Banking GroupStandard Chartered

Compare Barclays to peers

Barclays vs HSBCBarclays vs Standard CharteredBarclays vs NatWest Group

Frequently asked questions about Barclays

What is Barclays's average corporate PD?
Barclays discloses an EAD-weighted average corporate probability of default of 2.90% in its most recent Pillar 3 CR6 table, covering roughly EUR 78bn of corporate credit exposure.
How much spread does Barclays need on a BBB+ EUR 25M 5-year term loan?
On that standardised facility, Barclays requires a minimum spread of approximately 241bp to reach a 12% RAROC hurdle, given its disclosed cost-to-income of 62.0%, effective tax rate of 21.6%, and Mixed IRB designation.
Which IRB approach does Barclays use for corporate credit?
Barclays reports corporate credit RWA under the Mixed approach. This determines whether internal LGD models or supervisory LGDs apply, and directly affects the capital required on each facility.
How does Barclays rank versus peers on RAROC?
Out of 59 banks tracked by OpenRAROC, Barclays ranks #19 on the standardised BBB+ term-loan calculation used across every bank profile. Within United Kingdom specifically, it ranks #1 of 5.
Where does OpenRAROC get Barclays's data?
Every number on this page is extracted from Barclays's own public filings: Barclays Pillar 3 FY2025 CR6; FY25 Results. No estimates, no proxies. Source confidence: high.

Data source

Barclays Pillar 3 FY2025 CR6; FY25 Results

Corp-Other: EAD GBP 78bn, PD 2.9%, LGD 39.4%. FY2025.

Confidence: high · Read the full RAROC methodology

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