Pre Close Briefings

Barclays PLC
5 December 2000

                        BARCLAYS PLC
              PRE-CLOSE BRIEFINGS WITH ANALYSTS
                              
Barclays PLC ('Barclays') will be meeting analysts ahead of
its close period for the year ended 31st December 2000.

In the third quarter, Barclays maintained the strong profit
performance achieved during the first half, although there
has been some moderation in the significant revenue growth
experienced in the first half of 2000.

Key trends below relate to the third quarter of 2000, and,
are unless stated otherwise, compared with trends seen in
the first half of 2000:

Net interest income: Overall net interest income in the
third quarter ran at similar levels to the first half of the
year.  In Barclaycard, average extended credit balances in
the UK continued to grow strongly, ahead of market growth,
as a result of increasing levels of customer recruitment.
In Retail Financial Services, average UK mortgage lending
increased broadly in line with the market growth rate of 2%
in the quarter.  Over the last 12 months UK Consumer Lending
exposure has been managed by tightening risk assessment
criteria and as a result growth continued to slow in the
third quarter.  This growth was below that in the market as
a whole.  The international businesses within Wealth
Management experienced good growth in lending and deposit
volumes in the third quarter of 2000.  In Corporate Banking,
average lending balances in the UK middle market and larger
corporate businesses grew in line with the first half of the
year.

Average UK savings balances within Retail Financial Services
grew strongly in the third quarter, ahead of annual market
growth of 6%.  In Corporate Banking, UK branch deposits
increased at a faster rate than the first half of 2000.

The Group net interest margin for the period ended September
2000 was at a similar level to the first half of the year.

Net fees and commissions: Group net fees and commissions
improved.  In Retail Financial Services, fees and
commissions were maintained at a similar level to the first
half of the year.  Continued growth in current account
activity was offset by lower commissions from consumer
lending related product sales.  Barclaycard's fee income was
at a similar level to the first half of 2000.  In Corporate
Banking commissions growth has slowed in the third quarter
principally reflecting continued competitor pressure in
money transmission income and a slow-down in growth of
lending related fees.  Fees in Barclays Global Investors
increased as a result of higher assets under management(30th
September 2000: £562 billion, 30th June 2000: £529 billion)
and from the receipt of performance fees.

Dealing profits within Barclays Capital remained strong but
are expected to be at lower levels in the second half of the
year, reflecting reduced levels of activity in the market.

Costs: Total costs in the third quarter of the year were at
a similar level to each of the first two quarters of 2000
notwithstanding increased strategic investment spend
relative to the first half.  Business as usual costs for the
Group remained flat.

Provisions for bad and doubtful debts: The overall
provisions charge continues to trend upwards.  Within Retail
Financial Services, net provisions grew at a lower rate than
that experienced during the first half of the year as a
result of tightening in risk assessment criteria.
Barclaycard provisions continued to grow reflecting
significant new UK business volumes and strong growth in the
international business.  Corporate Banking's total
provisions remained at low levels although they were higher
in the third quarter than the average of the first two
quarters of 2000 as a result of some larger individual
movements.  Provisions in Barclays Capital remained at
modest levels.

Restructuring charge: The Group restructuring programme has
continued in the third quarter and the second half charge is
expected to be similar to the first six months of the year.

Woolwich integration: As a result of work conducted since
the completion of the Woolwich acquisition on 25th October
2000, the Group expects to exceed the announced pre-tax cost
and revenue synergies of £240 million per annum by the end
of 2003.

The completion of the Woolwich acquisition post-dates the
period to which this announcement relates. The full year
results will include the last two months trading in 2000 for
Woolwich plc.

Weighted risk assets: Overall weighted risk assets grew at a
faster rate than in the first six months of 2000.
Barclaycard's weighted risk assets grew strongly as a result
of increased business volumes.  In Corporate Banking,
weighted risk assets grew at a slower rate than the first
half of the year.  In Retail Financial Services, the growth
in weighted risk assets slowed in the third quarter of 2000.
Barclays Capital's weighted risk asset
levels increased during the third quarter of 2000 impacted
by increased business volumes.

The 2000 full year results will be announced on Thursday 8th
February 2001.
             
                              
For further information please contact:

Investor Relations                 Media Relations
Ian Roundell                       Chris Tucker
020 7699 2961                      020 7699 2970




This document contains certain forward-looking statements with
respect to the financial condition and results of operations of
Barclays, which by their nature involve risk and uncertainty
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may
occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could
cause actual results and developments to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in economic
conditions in countries in which Barclays conducts its business
and internationally elsewhere, as well as future exchange and
interest rates, interest margins, the level of deposits taken and
the level of lending by Barclays. A more detailed list of these
factors is contained on page 77 of Barclays Annual Report for
1999.