How a town helped launch the UK's first credit card

2 hours ago

Louise Parry

More than one million people signed up to Barclaycard within a year of its launch in 1966

Barclaycard A retro photo from the 1960s showing Barclaycard staff promoting the credit card with a display stand behind them. The female staff wear cream blouses under blue short pinafore dresses and a branded blue cap. One speaks to a smartly dressed man and woman, while the other talks to a man in a suit. — More than one million people signed up to Barclaycard within a year of its launch in 1966

On 29 July 1966 the first credit card operated by a British bank was launched from a former shoe factory in Northampton - now there are 62 million in circulation.

Sixty years ago, Barclaycard managed to sign up one million customers in the first year of its credit card being available.

Now people are increasingly swapping plastic cards for mobile payments, and a survey for Barclays found 22% of consumers had never used a cheque.

Maria Sienkiewicz, the head of the Barclays Archive, said: "What began in a shoe factory in Northampton quickly changed how Britain made payments and laid the foundations for the system we now rely on today."

Barclaycard quickly ramped up its operation in Northampton in the 1960s

Getty Images A black and white photo inside the Barclaycard offices in the 1960s. There are rows of large desks with mainly female workers sitting and working, with papers across the desks and black telephones. — Barclaycard quickly ramped up its operation in Northampton in the 1960s

Northampton is well known for its footwear production, and it was in a converted shoe factory that Barclaycard launched its operation.

About 200 people worked from the site, sending out an estimated 1.25 million plastic credit cards to Barclays customers.

Some customers sent them back or never used them, but others took the opportunity to access credit more easily.

"For women, this marked an important milestone as it was the first time they had access to credit without requiring a male guarantor," a spokesperson for Barclaycard said.

At the time, the bank said: "[Barclaycard's] purpose is to reduce the use of cash in shopping and other transactions and the scheme is designed to appeal not only to those who must travel and spend a good deal of money in restaurants, but also to the everyday shopper throughout the country."

Barclays still has a major presence in Northampton

Google A large cream stone building with a glass entrance and large car park. There are two display walls at the entrance to the car park with silver signs reading "Barclays Northampton Campus". A British flag and another blue flag fly from tall poles. — Barclays still has a major presence in Northampton

In 2026, Barclays said new research showed how payment habits have evolved, with mobile payments the leading choice among younger people.

"More than half of Gen Z (54%) prefer using mobile payments for everyday in-store purchases under £100, ahead of cards (48%) and cash (27%)," the bank said.

Across all adults, 29% often leave home without a physical card.

Folake Johnson, from Barclays, said: "The story of payments in the UK is one of constant reinvention, and Northampton's role in that journey remains something to celebrate."

"Six decades on, that pioneering spirit continues to shine through Northampton's connection to payments innovation - from contactless and mobile wallets to secure, reliable solutions for customers and businesses," she added.

Young people are increasingly using phones for payments instead of plastic cards

Barclaycard/PA A close up shot of two people's hands. One is holding a portable contactless card payment machine and the other holds a Visa card over the screen. — Young people are increasingly using phones for payments instead of plastic cards

While credit cards offer convenience, concerns have been raised about the risk of high interest rates pushing customers into debt.

According to the Money Charity, the UK's outstanding credit card debt reached £79.8bn in March.

Stepchange, a debt advice charity, which was co-founded by Barclays in 1993, said its average client had just over £8,000 of credit card debt in 2025.

Vikki Brownridge, its chief executive, said: "That figure has remained relatively steady over the last decade and has reduced slightly in real terms."

"Credit card debt remains an important issue for many people we support.

"People are increasingly being pushed into financial difficulty by the wider pressures on household budgets, as increases in essential spending build up over time," she said.

Barclaycard, the first of many banking credit cards, claimed to "make shopping simpler"

Barclaycard A photo from 1960s showing a female Barclaycard employee promoting the credit card in a shop lined with bottles of wine and spirits. There is a stand next to her saying "Barclaycard - Britain's first all-purpose credit card". She is showing a leaflet to a man and woman, with the woman holding a wicker basket. — Barclaycard, the first of many banking credit cards, claimed to "make shopping simpler"

A spokesperson for Barclays said "it's important that borrowing remains manageable".

"Before offering credit, we carry out a number of checks, and we provide tools to help customers understand repayments and interest so they can choose what works for them.

"We proactively reach out if we see signs someone may need additional support," they added.

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