Barclaycard in USA through Apple?

So, I was watching the Barclays New York Challenge (the soccer tournament) on TV last night and I was wondering why Barclays was even sponsoring it, as they are not an established presence in this country.  From looking around online, I see that they are involved in corporate banking here, I think.  I also found this: http://store.apple.com/us/instant_credit

You can apply for a Barclays credit card through Apple.

I am utterly confused about this.  I can't find any other ways to apply for a Barclaycard in this country.  I am wondering if I should just go ahead and get one on the chance it might help me get a Barclays bank account and/or credit card when I get to the UK, as I know they are difficult to get set up.

I thought at the very least it might offer fee-free transactions in the UK, but from the terms and conditions I see that they charge a 3% transaction fee like everyone else.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Not specifically but seems to me nothing's gonna cut you any deals bankwise. They're all as bad as each other. Barclay's is supposedly connected to Bank of America but not much help there. I did wonder about Citizen's being a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Scotland but of course it's all a mess now. If you do find any way to ease the banking situation, do let us know! 

I had a Barclaycard to purchase my computer before I moved here, but that hasn't helped me at all with banking here. When I looked into the Bank of America/Barclay connection, transfers are "free" of fees, but they still charge a 4% international transfer surcharge, which kind of defeats the point.

To your first point, Barclays are trying to crack the US market.

As for Barclays CC in the US, you don't have to go through Apple.  https://www.barclaycardus.com/

Sara Smile, I've seen that web site, but I don't see anywhere to apply for a card on it.

Click on Products and Resources.  Then you have loads of options.

To your first point, Barclays are trying to crack the US market.
https://www.barclaycardus.com/

Barclays has been in the US before. I remember them in San Francisco and I even had an account with them. Maybe they want to come back here so as to get some of that government bailout money or to get away from the impending crackdown by the government in the UK.

Barclays has been in the US before. I remember them in San Francisco and I even had an account with them. Maybe they want to come back here so as to get some of that government bailout money or to get away from the impending crackdown by the government in the UK.

I know Barclays has been in the US before.  The query was why were Barclays sponsoring something.  Well it is to crack the US market and be a major player rather than just a minor presence.

Barlcays strategy has been to crack the US and become more of a presence for years, before the current banking crisis.  And it is worth noting that Barclays didn't take any government bailouts while in the UK, so they are unlikely to be interested in the US.  I know you were somewhat joking but I think it is important to know the facts about Banks, to counter all the emotional misstatements that get thrown around in the media, etc.

Oh if this was both countries it would be fabulous but I went thru the FAQ's and it says this:
I'm not a permanent resident of the United States. Can I apply for an account?
You must be a permanent resident of the United States to have a credit card account issued by Barclays Bank Delaware.

I'm a U.S. citizen living abroad. Can I apply for an account?
No, at this time you cannot apply for an account.

Boo hisss

Ah, I see where to apply now.  Thanks!

Well, I guess applying won't help me to get a UK bank account in the slightest.  Really not looking forward to that.

I wonder if Barclays will start offering personal banking here?  Hm.

Ah, I see where to apply now.  Thanks!

Well, I guess applying won't help me to get a UK bank account in the slightest.  Really not looking forward to that.

I wonder if Barclays will start offering personal banking here?  Hm.

I think the difficulty you may or may not have getting a bank account may be a bit up to luck. I had no trouble at all opening one of my own. Now, it was at a branch my DH had been banking at for awhile, but they ran my details through the system no problem and I had an account the day I'd gone in.  I did wait until I had "official" mail (some mail from my US bank and a letter from the GP), but I don't remember if they even asked me for it!
Good luck!

Yeah, I am kind of concerned about not having any proof of address.  I don't want to be waiting around for weeks and weeks to get something that will suffice.  Maybe my school can help.

Oh well, I'll definitely try my luck at whatever banks are around.  Thanks!

It may be the particular bank branch that we visited but the Barclay's that my husband and I went to when we were in the U.K. in the middle of this month (to get things set up for our official move in a couple of weeks) we were led to believe that setting up accounts as US citizens/new UK residents would not be an issue.

We only needed current proof of identity which would be confirmed with US issued documents---passport and driver's license were fine according to the branch representative we met with.

They were actually willing to set up an account right on the spot, but since we weren't planning on it at that point, we didn't bring any money along to establish the account.

We were given a very different and much more discouraging story at Lloyds TSB, however.

Yeah, I am kind of concerned about not having any proof of address.  I don't want to be waiting around for weeks and weeks to get something that will suffice.  Maybe my school can help.

Oh well, I'll definitely try my luck at whatever banks are around.  Thanks!

I changed my address on my US bank about 3 weeks before I was due to show up in the UK, maybe you could get your school to send you something loan-like or official right away? Otherwise, my only suggestion would be to look around the school for banks, the branch I bank at is RIGHT near campus, and I'm sure they deal with students all of the time, which might have made things easier!

Barclays has been in the US before. I remember them in San Francisco and I even had an account with them. Maybe they want to come back here so as to get some of that government bailout money or to get away from the impending crackdown by the government in the UK.

Yes, that was awhile back. Who knows what these banks are up to now!