Barclaycard Partnership Launches Free Online Help to Tackle GBP1.5 Trillion Personal Debt

LONDON, November 24, 2010 - Barclaycard has partnered with debt advice charity the Money Advice Trust
to launch My Money Steps, a new interactive online tool to help the growing
numbers who need debt advice. The new service gives people access to advice
online in their own time so that they can find the best solutions to get
their finances back on an even keel.

The UK's adult population currently carries GBP1,455 billion* of personal
debt. Latest figures show that 30.1 million adults in the UK access the
internet every day**. Those seeking to strengthen credit (
www.barclaycard.co.uk/champion/strengthen_credit.html) and repay their
own personal share of the billion-pound debt burden, can now go online to
solve their problems.

My Money Steps provides personalised advice based on the answers to a
series of questions. Solutions are tailored to individual need and
circumstances. The interactive website provides action plans and email
reminders. It also stores details securely so that users can come back time
and time again for ongoing help without having to load in all their
information each time. It can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Users can track their progress or get new suggestions on what credit building
(www.barclaycard.co.uk/champion/credit_building_card.html) action to
take if their circumstances change. People who are in situations which are
too complex for My Money Steps will be directed to sources of one-to-one
advice.

Joanna Elson OBE, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said:
"During the recession we saw demand for advice at National Debtline - run by
the Money Advice Trust - almost double, so we needed to find other ways of
giving advice. As people become more internet-savvy, banking and shopping
online, it's important that we enable them to get advice in a way that suits
them best too.

"Your financial situation can change month by month or week by week,
making it difficult to manage budgets and priority repayments. My Money Steps
helps you to stay on top of changing circumstances and allows you to track
your progress and develop good financial habits in the longer-term - in
short, simple steps to a debt free future.

"This is an exciting new development in our relationship with Barclaycard
and their support has been crucial in getting My Money Steps off the ground."

David Chan, chief executive of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said:
"Barclaycard has been a long term supporter of the free debt advice sector
and the Money Advice Trust. The launch of My Money Steps means consumers will
now have more choice around how they get the advice they need and I'm proud
that Barclaycard has played an important part in bringing this service to
consumers."

Damian Hinds MP, of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and
Personal Finance, said: "I've tried out My Money Steps and found it a
practical and useful resource. Providing advice and guidance online for
people struggling with their finances can go a long way towards reducing the
cost of unmanageable personal debt. My Money Steps is going to be a very
valuable tool in this."

Notes to editors:

* CreditAction - November 2010

** DirectGov - 27th Aug 2010

About Barclaycard: (www.barclaycard.co.uk/)

Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global Retail Banking division, is a
leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and
businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term
credit when needed.

The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of payments and is at the
forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for
today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit
cards (www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/index.html), credit cards
and balance transfer credit cards (
www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/balance-transfer/) to
corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide
range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members
payment options and credit.

    Media contact:
    Paul Crayston
    Media Officer
    Money Advice Trust
    21 Garlick Hill
    London
    EC4V 2AU
    Tel: +44(0)20-7653-9741
    Fax: +44(0)20-7489-7704

Media contact: Paul Crayston, Media Officer, Money Advice Trust, 21 Garlick Hill, London, EC4V 2AU, Tel: +44(0)20-7653-9741, Fax: +44(0)20-7489-7704