Barclays Grows Private Banking Operations in Africa, Targeting $ 2T Market

Barclays Plc is expanding private-banking services in Africa, looking to target the continent's $2 trillion high-net-worth market.

The British lender has hired nine bankers from Credit Suisse Group AG based in mainly Dubai, London and Zurich after agreeing on a deal to handle clients referred by the Swiss rival, according to Barclays Private Bank Chief Executive Officer Jean-Christophe Gerard.

"Barclays franchise in Africa is experiencing an accelerated build-out across south, west and east Africa. This will be done through organic growth and the referral agreement we have with Credit Suisse," said Jean-Christophe Gerard.

The move by Barclays to expand in the area contrasts with its exit from retail banking in South Africa, where it recently sold the last of its holding in Johannesburg-based Absa Group Ltd.

About half of Africa's super-rich individuals are from South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, where a lot of the bank's focus will be, Gerard said.

The lender has about 15 bankers in South Africa, though is looking to hire more, Barclays country CEO Amol Prabhu said. Other staff elsewhere are focused on the expansion.

(Source: Kenyan Wall Street)