Barclays Bank changes its name to First National Bank

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

After protests against Barclays Bank's involvement in South Africa and its apartheid government, Barclays Bank (SA) announced its new name - First National Bank of Southern Africa (FNB) - a wholly South African owned and controlled entity. Sir Timothy Bevan, chairman of Barclays, admitted that while the decision to pull out of the South African market was a commercial one, the pressure exerted against the bank by anti-apartheid protesters had a detrimental effect on the bank's business in other areas. Student campaigns against Barclays Bank, initiated in the 1960s, was carried on year after year, especially at the beginning of every academic year, to persuade students not to open accounts with the bank.

How we know this

01South Africa.To,"1987",From:South Africa.To,[Online], Available at: www.southafrica.to,[Accessed on: 23 April 2014]
02The Quick link,"Barclays Bank (SA) changes its name to FNB",From: The Quick link,[Online], Available at: thequicklink.wordpress.com,[Accessed on: 23 April 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Barclays Bank changes its name to First National Bank. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012695

South African History Online (2011) 'Barclays Bank changes its name to First National Bank', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012695 (Accessed: 10 November 2026).

South African History Online, Barclays Bank changes its name to First National Bank [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012695, (accessed 10 November 2026).

"Barclays Bank changes its name to First National Bank." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012695. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "Barclays Bank changes its name to First National Bank." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012695.