Is Barclays safe? What US customers should know

Thinking about opening a Barclays savings account or credit card? Before you hand over your money or personal information, it's important to understand how your account is protected.

Barclays Bank Delaware is an established US bank, and eligible deposits are FDIC-insured within applicable limits. The bank also has security measures and fraud protections to help protect your account from unauthorized access and transactions.

In this guide, we'll look at how those protections work, whether or not Barclays is safe, and what to do if you spot suspicious activity.

We'll also introduce the Wise account, which allows you to send, spend, and receive your money across the globe in over 40 currencies – all at the fair mid-market rate.

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Is Barclays safe?

Yes, Barclays is safe. Eligible deposits with Barclays Bank Delaware are FDIC-insured.¹ This means your money is protected within applicable limits if the bank fails.

If you know the bank simply as Barclays, you might be wondering where “Delaware” comes in. Barclays Bank Delaware is the legal name of the US bank that offers Barclays' online savings accounts and CDs. It's part of the broader Barclays group and is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Of course, using an FDIC-insured bank doesn't mean there are no risks. How much of your money is protected depends on your account type, how it's owned, and your balance. Other Barclays companies and products may have different protections, so check your account agreement to see which company provides your account.

It's also worth knowing that FDIC insurance doesn't cover fraud. Keeping your login information secure, checking your account for unfamiliar transactions, and reporting suspicious activity to Barclays quickly can all help protect your money.

Is Barclays FDIC insured?

Yes. Barclays Bank Delaware is FDIC-insured. However, not every financial product carrying the provider's brand is covered.

Let's take a closer look at which accounts are covered and how the insurance limits work.

What does FDIC insurance cover?

FDIC insurance covers eligible deposit accounts at insured banks. Depending on what the bank offers, these can include:

• Checking accounts
• Savings accounts
• Money market deposit accounts
• Certificates of deposit (CDs)

FDIC insurance doesn't cover every financial product you might get through a bank or an affiliated company. For example, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, and other non-deposit investments are not covered by FDIC deposit insurance.²

How much of your money is protected?

The standard FDIC insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.³

In practice, this means that if you have multiple eligible accounts in the same ownership category at Barclays Bank Delaware, the FDIC generally adds those balances together when calculating your coverage. For example, if you have a savings account and a CD in your name alone, they would usually count toward the same $250,000 limit.

Accounts in different ownership categories may qualify for separate coverage if they meet FDIC requirements. For example, a qualifying joint account may be covered separately from an account you own alone.⁴

If you're planning to deposit a large amount or have several accounts, you can use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator to check your coverage. You can also use BankFind to confirm that the bank holding your deposits is FDIC-insured.^5,6

How does Barclays protect customers from fraud?

Barclays uses several security measures to help protect its US customers, including password protection, encryption, and identity checks. The features available depend on your product, so Barclays’ fraud protection for a savings account or CD may work differently from the protections offered with a credit card.

Here's a closer look at the features to check for your account.

What risks should Barclays customers consider?

Even with security measures in place, it's important to stay alert to scams and unfamiliar activity on your account. For example, a scammer might pretend to be Barclays to steal your login information, take over your account, or use your identity. They could also trick you into authorizing a payment.

If you receive an unexpected call, text, or email, check whether it's genuine through the official Barclays app or website, or by calling the number on your card. And if you spot something suspicious, report it to Barclays as soon as possible.

It's also worth knowing that FDIC insurance protects eligible deposits if an insured bank fails. It doesn't reimburse ordinary fraud losses or protect every payment or investment. Other protections may apply to unauthorized transactions, but getting your money back after authorizing a payment to a scammer can be difficult.³

Finally, think about how you'll use your account day to day. Barclays' US savings accounts and CDs are managed online, so check the available products and customer support options if you prefer in-person banking. An app or website outage could also temporarily affect your access.

It's worth looking at how Barclays fits into your wider banking routine, too. Its Online Savings account doesn't accept cash deposits or wire transfers, so you may need to keep another account for those services.⁹

What should you do if your Barclays account is compromised?

If you think someone has accessed your account or card, the most important thing is to act quickly. Here are two key steps to help you get started.

Secure your account and contact Barclays

Start by contacting Barclays through its official US app or website, or by calling the number on your card. If you've received a suspicious message, don't click any links or use the contact information in it.

Next, use a trusted device to change your password and any other security details that may have been exposed. If you entered your login information on a fake website, let Barclays know so it can advise you on the next steps.

If your card is lost, stolen, or compromised, report it to Barclays as soon as possible. You can also ask what you need to do about any pending transactions or recurring payments.

Report and document unauthorized activity

Once you've contacted Barclays, the next step is to check your account for any activity you didn't authorize. Take a look through your recent transactions and tell Barclays about anything you don't recognize. Ask how to dispute the transactions, what information you'll need to provide, and if there are any reporting deadlines.

Keep a record of what happened, too. Save any suspicious messages, screenshots, and transaction references, along with the dates you contacted Barclays and any instructions you received.

If your personal information has been exposed, consider changing passwords you've reused elsewhere and contacting any other financial institutions that could be affected. You may also want to check your credit reports, place a fraud alert, or freeze your credit to make it harder for someone to open a new account in your name.

How does Wise compare with Barclays for international money transfers?

We've looked at how Barclays protects both savings accounts and credit cards. But what if you need to send or receive money internationally, too?

This is where a Wise account could come in handy. The comparison table below focuses on Barclays Online Savings, so you can see how it differs from Wise and where the two could complement each other.

One more thing to consider is how your money is protected.

Barclays Bank Delaware is an FDIC-insured bank, which means eligible deposits are covered up to the applicable limits. Wise is a money services business, not an FDIC-insured bank. However, eligible US customers who opt into the Wise interest feature may receive pass-through FDIC insurance on eligible balances through a program bank, so you'll want to check whether the feature is available to you and what protection applies.¹⁰

If you're managing money in the US and abroad, you could always use the two together. For example, you could use a Barclays account for US savings and Wise for sending, receiving, converting, or spending supported currencies internationally. Just remember that Wise isn't a replacement for services like branch banking, lending, or a traditional checking account.

Protect your money at home and abroad

So, back to our original question: is Barclays safe?

The answer is yes, Barclays is safe. Eligible deposits with Barclays Bank Delaware are FDIC-insured within applicable limits, and the bank has security measures in place to help protect your account. That said, it's still important to know what's covered and take steps to protect your information.

Before opening an account, check the terms and make sure it offers the services you need. Once you're set up, keep your login information secure, review your transactions regularly, and contact Barclays if you notice anything suspicious.

And if you also need to manage money internationally, Wise offers a practical way to send, receive, and convert supported currencies, with security measures in place to help protect your account and information.

Learn more about Wise

Sources

1. FDIC BankFind Suite, Barclays Bank Delaware
2. FDIC, Understanding deposit insurance
3. FDIC, Deposit Insurance at a Glance
4. FDIC, Your Insured Deposits
5. FDIC, Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE)
6. FDIC, BankFind
7. Barclays US, How Barclays protects you
8. Barclays US, Lost or stolen card and fraud
9. Barclays US, Online Savings
10. Wise US, Is Wise FDIC-insured?

Sources checked on November 4, 2026