Significant accounting policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Disclosure of objectives, policies and processes for managing capital [abstract]
Significant accounting policies	Significant accounting policies 1.Reporting entity Barclays Bank PLC is a public company limited by shares registered in England under company number 1026167, having its registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP. These financial statements are prepared for Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries (the Barclays Bank Group) under Section 399 of the Companies Act 2006. The Barclays Bank Group is a major global financial services provider engaged in credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services. In addition, separate financial statements have been presented for the holding company. 2.Compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards The consolidated financial statements of the Barclays Bank Group, and the separate financial statements of Barclays Bank PLC, have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards. The consolidated financial statements of the Barclays Bank Group, and the separate financial statements of Barclays Bank PLC, have also been prepared in accordance with (1) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), including interpretations issued by the IFRS Interpretations Committee, as there are no applicable differences from IFRS as issued by the IASB for the periods presented; and (2) IFRS adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (“IFRS as adopted by the EU”). There are currently no differences between UK-adopted international accounting standards and IFRS as adopted by the EU and therefore no reconciliation of variances is provided. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated and separate financial statements are set out below, and in the relevant notes to the financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied. 3.Basis of preparation The consolidated and separate financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention modified to include the fair valuation of investment property, and particular financial instruments, to the extent required or permitted under IFRS as set out in the relevant accounting policies. The financial statements are stated in millions of Pounds Sterling (£m), the functional currency of Barclays Bank PLC. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies using IFRS. The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis as the Board is satisfied that the Barclays Bank Group and parent company have the resources to continue in business for a period of at least 12 months from approval of the financial statements. In making this assessment, the Board has considered a wide range of information relating to present and future conditions and has reviewed of a working capital report (WCR). The WCR is used by the Board to assess the future performance of the Barclays Bank Group and whether it has the resources in place that are required to meet its ongoing regulatory requirements. The WCR assessment is based upon business plans which contain future forecasts of profitability taken from the Barclays Bank Group’s medium term plan as well as projections of regulatory capital requirements and business funding needs. The WCR also includes an assessment of the impact of internally generated stress testing scenarios on the liquidity and capital requirement forecasts. The stress tests used were based upon an assessment of reasonably possible downside economic scenarios that the Barclays Bank Group could experience. The WCR showed that the Barclays Bank Group had sufficient capital and liquidity in place to support its future business requirements and remained above its regulatory minimum requirements in the stress scenarios. Accordingly, the Board concluded that there was a reasonable expectation that the Barclays Bank Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements. 4.Accounting policies The Barclays Bank Group prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. The Barclays Bank Group’s significant accounting policies relating to specific financial statement items, together with a description of the accounting estimates and judgements that were critical to preparing those items, are set out under the relevant notes. Accounting policies that affect the financial statements as a whole are set out below. (i)Consolidation The Barclays Bank Group applies IFRS 10 Consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements combine the financial statements of Barclays Bank PLC and all its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which Barclays Bank PLC has control. The Barclays Bank Group has control over another entity when the Barclays Bank Group has all of the following: 1)power over the relevant activities of the investee, for example through voting or other rights 2)exposure to, or rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the investee and 3)the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The assessment of control is based on the consideration of all facts and circumstances. The Barclays Bank Group reassesses whether it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control. Intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation. Consistent accounting policies are used throughout the Barclays Bank Group for the purposes of the consolidation. Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries are accounted for as equity transactions if they occur after control has already been obtained and they do not result in loss of control. As the consolidated financial statements include partnerships where the Barclays Bank Group member is a partner, advantage has been taken of the exemption under Regulation 7 of the Partnership (Accounts) Regulations 2008 with regard to preparing and filing of individual partnership financial statements. Details of the principal subsidiaries are given in Note 32. (ii)Foreign currency translation The Barclays Bank Group applies IAS 21The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into Sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction. Foreign currency monetary balances are translated into Sterling at the period end exchange rates. Exchange gains and losses on such balances are taken to the income statement. Non-monetary foreign currency balances in relation to items measured in terms of historical cost are carried at historical transaction date exchange rates. Non-monetary foreign currency balances in relation to items measured at fair value are translated using the exchange rate at the date when the fair value was measured. The Barclays Bank Group’s foreign operations (including subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and branches) based mainly outside the UK may have different functional currencies. The functional currency of an operation is the currency of the main economy to which it is exposed. Prior to consolidation (or equity accounting) the assets and liabilities of non-Sterling operations are translated at the period end exchange rate and items of income, expense and other comprehensive income are translated into Sterling at the rate on the date of the transactions. Exchange differences arising on the translation of foreign operations are included in currency translation reserves within equity. These are transferred to the income statement when the Barclays Bank Group disposes of the entire interest in a foreign operation, when partial disposal results in the loss of control of an interest in a subsidiary, when an investment previously accounted for using the equity method is accounted for as a financial asset, or on the disposal of a foreign operation within a branch. (iii)Financial assets and liabilities The Barclays Bank Group applies IFRS 9 Financial Instruments to the recognition, classification and measurement, and derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities and the impairment of financial assets. The Barclays Bank Group applies the requirements of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for hedge accounting purposes. Recognition The Barclays Bank Group recognises financial assets and liabilities when it becomes a party to the terms of the contract. Trade date or settlement date accounting is applied depending on the classification of the financial asset. Classification and measurement Financial assets are classified on the basis of two criteria: i)the business model within which financial assets are managed; and ii)their contractual cash flow characteristics (whether the cash flows represent ‘solely payments of principal and interest’ (SPPI)). The Barclays Bank Group assesses the business model criteria at a portfolio level. Information that is considered in determining the applicable business model includes (i) policies and objectives for the relevant portfolio, (ii) how the performance and risks of the portfolio are managed, evaluated and reported to management, and (iii) the frequency, volume and timing of sales in prior periods, sales expectation for future periods, and the reasons for such sales. The contractual cash flow characteristics of financial assets are assessed with reference to whether the cash flows represent SPPI. In assessing whether contractual cash flows are SPPI compliant, interest is defined as consideration primarily for the time value of money and the credit risk of the principal outstanding. The time value of money is defined as the element of interest that provides consideration only for the passage of time and not consideration for other risks or costs associated with holding the financial asset. Terms that could change the contractual cash flows so that it would not meet the condition for SPPI are considered, including: (i) contingent and leverage features, (ii) non-recourse arrangements and (iii) features that could modify the time value of money. Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, and their contractual cash flows represent SPPI. Financial assets are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income if they are held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and their contractual cash flows represent SPPI. Other financial assets are measured at fair value through profit and loss. There is an option to make an irrevocable election on initial recognition for non traded equity investments to be measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, in which case dividends are recognised in profit or loss, but gains or losses are not reclassified to profit or loss upon derecognition, and the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 do not apply. The accounting policy for each type of financial asset or liability is included within the relevant note for the item. The Barclays Bank Group’s policies for determining the fair values of the assets and liabilities are set out in Note 16. Derecognition The Barclays Bank Group derecognises a financial asset, or a portion of a financial asset, from its balance sheet where (i) the contractual rights to cash flows from the asset have expired, or (ii) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset have been transferred (usually by sale) and with them either (a) substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset have been transferred, or (b) where neither substantially all the risks and rewards have been transferred or retained, where control over the asset has been lost. Financial liabilities are de-recognised when the liability has been settled, has expired or has been extinguished. An exchange of an existing financial liability for a new liability with the same lender on substantially different terms – generally a difference of 10% or more in the present value of the cash flows or a substantive qualitative amendment – is accounted for as an extinguishment of the original financial liability and the recognition of a new financial liability. Transactions in which the Barclays Bank Group transfers assets and liabilities, portions of them, or financial risks associated with them can be complex and it may not be obvious whether substantially all of the risks and rewards have been transferred. It is often necessary to perform a quantitative analysis. Such an analysis compares the Barclays Bank Group’s exposure to variability in asset cash flows before the transfer with its retained exposure after the transfer. A cash flow analysis of this nature may require judgement. In particular, it is necessary to estimate the asset’s expected future cash flows as well as potential variability around this expectation. The method of estimating expected future cash flows depends on the nature of the asset, with market and market-implied data used to the greatest extent possible. The potential variability around this expectation is typically determined by stressing underlying parameters to create reasonable alternative upside and downside scenarios. Probabilities are then assigned to each scenario. Stressed parameters may include default rates, loss severity, or prepayment rates. Accounting for reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements including other similar lending and borrowing Reverse repurchase agreements (and stock borrowing or similar transactions) are a form of secured lending whereby the Barclays Bank Group provides a loan or cash collateral in exchange for the transfer of collateral, generally in the form of marketable securities subject to an agreement to transfer the securities back at a fixed price in the future. Repurchase agreements are where the Barclays Bank Group obtains such loans or cash collateral, in exchange for the transfer of collateral. The Barclays Bank Group purchases (a reverse repurchase agreement) or borrows securities subject to a commitment to resell or return them. The securities are not included in the balance sheet as the Barclays Bank Group does not acquire the risks and rewards of ownership. Consideration paid (or cash collateral provided) is accounted for as a loan asset at amortised cost, unless it is designated or mandatorily at fair value through profit and loss. The Barclays Bank Group may also sell (a repurchase agreement) or lend securities subject to a commitment to repurchase or redeem them. The securities are retained on the balance sheet as the Barclays Bank Group retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership. Consideration received (or cash collateral provided) is accounted for as a financial liability at amortised cost, unless it is designated at fair value through profit and loss. (iv)Issued debt and equity instruments The Barclays Bank Group applies IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation, to determine whether funding is either a financial liability (debt) or equity. Issued financial instruments or their components are classified as liabilities if the contractual arrangement results in the Barclays Bank Group having an obligation to either deliver cash or another financial asset, or a variable number of equity shares, to the holder of the instrument. If this is not the case, the instrument is generally an equity instrument and the proceeds included in equity, net of transaction costs. Dividends and other returns to equity holders are recognised when paid or declared by the members at the Annual General Meeting and treated as a deduction from equity. Where issued financial instruments contain both liability and equity components, these are accounted for separately. The fair value of the debt is estimated first and the balance of the proceeds is included within equity. (v) Changes in the basis for determining contractual cash flows resulting from interest rate benchmark reform A change in the basis for determining the contractual cash flows of a financial instrument that is required by interest rate benchmark reform is accounted for by updating the effective interest rate, without the recognition of an immediate gain or loss. This practical expedient is only applied where (1) the change to the contractual cash flows is necessary as a direct consequence of the reform and (2) the new basis for determining the contractual cash flows is economically equivalent to the previous basis. For changes made in addition to those required by the interest rate benchmark reform, the practical expedient is applied first, after which the normal IFRS 9 requirements for modifications of financial instruments is applied. Refer to Note 13 for further details regarding hedge accounting policies in respect of interest rate benchmark reform. Refer to Note 40 for further disclosure related to interest rate benchmark reform. (vi) Cash flow statement Cash comprises cash on hand and balances at central banks. Cash equivalents comprise loans and advances to banks, cash collateral balances with central banks related to payment schemes and treasury and other eligible bills, all with original maturities of three months or less. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are not considered to be part of cash equivalents. Investments in debt securities at amortised cost, presented within loans and advances on the balance sheet, are deemed to be investing activities for the purposes of the cash flow statement, except those instruments considered to be cash equivalents. 5.New and amended standards and interpretations The accounting policies adopted have been consistently applied. Future accounting developments The following accounting standards have been issued by the IASB but are not yet effective: IFRS 17 – Insurance contracts In May 2017, the IASB issued IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, a comprehensive new accounting standard for insurance contracts covering recognition and measurement, presentation and disclosure. IFRS 17 will replace IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts that was issued in 2005. In June 2020, the IASB published amendments to IFRS 17, to include scope exclusion for certain credit card contracts and similar contracts that provide insurance coverage, the optional scope exclusion for loan contracts that transfer significant insurance risk, and the clarification that only financial guarantees issued are in scope of IFRS 9. IFRS 17 applies to all types of insurance contracts (i.e. life, non-life, direct insurance and re-insurance), regardless of the type of entities that issue them, as well as to certain guarantees and financial instruments with discretionary participation features. A few scope exceptions will apply. IFRS 17 is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. The Barclays Bank Group does not expect the impact of IFRS 17 to be material. Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current (Amendments to IAS 1) In January 2020 the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1 to clarify the presentation of liabilities in the balance sheet, with an effective date of 1 January 2024. The amendments clarify that a liability should be classified as non-current only if the entity has the right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period, and that (i) the right to defer settlement must exist at the end of the reporting period and (ii) management’s intentions or expectations about whether it will exercise its right to defer settlement does not affect the classification. Further clarifications include how lending conditions affect classification and classification of liabilities the entity will or may settle by issuing its own equity instruments. In October 2022, the IASB also issued further amendments to IAS 1 to improve the information an entity provides when its right to defer settlement of a liability for at least twelve months is subject to compliance with covenants, and to respond to stakeholders’ concerns about the classification of such a liability as current or non-current. Disclosure of Accounting Policies - Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 In February 2021 the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1 that require entities to disclose their material accounting policies rather than their significant accounting policies. The amendments to IFRS Practice Statement 2 provide guidance on the concept of materiality and its application to accounting policy information. Under the amendments, accounting policy information is material if, when considered together with other information included in an entity’s financial statements, it can reasonably be expected to influence decisions that the primary users of general purpose financial statements make on the basis of those financial statements. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023, and will be applied from that date. Definition of Accounting Estimate - Amendments to IAS 8 In February 2021 the IASB issued amendments to IAS 8 that replace the definition of a change in accounting estimates with a definition of accounting estimates. Under the new definition, accounting estimates are clarified as monetary amounts in financial statements that are subject to measurement uncertainty. Where an entity's accounting policy requires an item to be measured at monetary amounts that cannot be observed directly, it should develop an accounting estimate to achieve this objective. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023, and will be applied from that date. 6.Critical accounting estimates and judgements The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the accounting policies. The key areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity or areas where assumptions are significant to the consolidated and individual financial statements are highlighted under the relevant note. Critical accounting estimates and judgements are disclosed in: ▪Credit impairment charges on pages 137 to 140 ▪Tax on pages 141 to 144 ▪Fair value of financial instruments on pages 155 to 165 ▪Pensions and post-retirement benefit obligations on pages 188 to 195 ▪Provisions including conduct and legal, competition and regulatory matters on pages 173 to 174 7.Other disclosures To improve transparency and ease of reference, by concentrating related information in one place, certain disclosures required under IFRS have been included within the Risk review section as follows: ▪Credit risk on pages 45 to 46 and on pages 55 to 84 ▪Market risk on page 46 and on pages 85 to 87 ▪Treasury and capital risk – capital on pages 47 to 48 and on page 95 ▪Treasury and capital risk – liquidity on pages 47 to 48 and on page 89 These disclosures are covered by the Audit opinion (included on pages 114 to 116) where referenced as audited.

These financial statements are prepared for Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries (the Barclays Bank Group) under Section 399 of the Companies Act 2006. The Barclays Bank Group is a major global financial services provider engaged in credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services. In addition, separate financial statements have been presented for the holding company.

The consolidated financial statements of the Barclays Bank Group, and the separate financial statements of Barclays Bank PLC, have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards.

The consolidated financial statements of the Barclays Bank Group, and the separate financial statements of Barclays Bank PLC, have also been prepared in accordance with (1) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), including interpretations issued by the IFRS Interpretations Committee, as there are no applicable differences from IFRS as issued by the IASB for the periods presented; and (2) IFRS adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (“IFRS as adopted by the EU”).

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated and separate financial statements are set out below, and in the relevant notes to the financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied.

The consolidated and separate financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention modified to include the fair valuation of investment property, and particular financial instruments, to the extent required or permitted under IFRS as set out in the relevant accounting policies. The financial statements are stated in millions of Pounds Sterling (£m), the functional currency of Barclays Bank PLC.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies using IFRS. The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis as the Board is satisfied that the Barclays Bank Group and parent company have the resources to continue in business for a period of at least 12 months from approval of the financial statements.

In making this assessment, the Board has considered a wide range of information relating to present and future conditions and has reviewed of a working capital report (WCR). The WCR is used by the Board to assess the future performance of the Barclays Bank Group and whether it has the resources in place that are required to meet its ongoing regulatory requirements. The WCR assessment is based upon business plans which contain future forecasts of profitability taken from the Barclays Bank Group’s medium term plan as well as projections of regulatory capital requirements and business funding needs. The WCR also includes an assessment of the impact of internally generated stress testing scenarios on the liquidity and capital requirement forecasts. The stress tests used were based upon an assessment of reasonably possible downside economic scenarios that the Barclays Bank Group could experience.

The WCR showed that the Barclays Bank Group had sufficient capital and liquidity in place to support its future business requirements and remained above its regulatory minimum requirements in the stress scenarios. Accordingly, the Board concluded that there was a reasonable expectation that the Barclays Bank Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements.

The Barclays Bank Group prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS. The Barclays Bank Group’s significant accounting policies relating to specific financial statement items, together with a description of the accounting estimates and judgements that were critical to preparing those items, are set out under the relevant notes. Accounting policies that affect the financial statements as a whole are set out below.

The consolidated financial statements combine the financial statements of Barclays Bank PLC and all its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which Barclays Bank PLC has control. The Barclays Bank Group has control over another entity when the Barclays Bank Group has all of the following:

The assessment of control is based on the consideration of all facts and circumstances. The Barclays Bank Group reassesses whether it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control.

Intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation. Consistent accounting policies are used throughout the Barclays Bank Group for the purposes of the consolidation.

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries are accounted for as equity transactions if they occur after control has already been obtained and they do not result in loss of control.

As the consolidated financial statements include partnerships where the Barclays Bank Group member is a partner, advantage has been taken of the exemption under Regulation 7 of the Partnership (Accounts) Regulations 2008 with regard to preparing and filing of individual partnership financial statements.

The Barclays Bank Group applies IAS 21The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into Sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction. Foreign currency monetary balances are translated into Sterling at the period end exchange rates. Exchange gains and losses on such balances are taken to the income statement. Non-monetary foreign currency balances in relation to items measured in terms of historical cost are carried at historical transaction date exchange rates. Non-monetary foreign currency balances in relation to items measured at fair value are translated using the exchange rate at the date when the fair value was measured.

The Barclays Bank Group’s foreign operations (including subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and branches) based mainly outside the UK may have different functional currencies. The functional currency of an operation is the currency of the main economy to which it is exposed.

Prior to consolidation (or equity accounting) the assets and liabilities of non-Sterling operations are translated at the period end exchange rate and items of income, expense and other comprehensive income are translated into Sterling at the rate on the date of the transactions. Exchange differences arising on the translation of foreign operations are included in currency translation reserves within equity. These are transferred to the income statement when the Barclays Bank Group disposes of the entire interest in a foreign operation, when partial disposal results in the loss of control of an interest in a subsidiary, when an investment previously accounted for using the equity method is accounted for as a financial asset, or on the disposal of a foreign operation within a branch.

The Barclays Bank Group applies IFRS 9 Financial Instruments to the recognition, classification and measurement, and derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities and the impairment of financial assets. The Barclays Bank Group applies the requirements of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for hedge accounting purposes.

The Barclays Bank Group recognises financial assets and liabilities when it becomes a party to the terms of the contract. Trade date or settlement date accounting is applied depending on the classification of the financial asset.

The Barclays Bank Group assesses the business model criteria at a portfolio level. Information that is considered in determining the applicable business model includes (i) policies and objectives for the relevant portfolio, (ii) how the performance and risks of the portfolio are managed, evaluated and reported to management, and (iii) the frequency, volume and timing of sales in prior periods, sales expectation for future periods, and the reasons for such sales.

The contractual cash flow characteristics of financial assets are assessed with reference to whether the cash flows represent SPPI. In assessing whether contractual cash flows are SPPI compliant, interest is defined as consideration primarily for the time value of money and the credit risk of the principal outstanding. The time value of money is defined as the element of interest that provides consideration only for the passage of time and not consideration for other risks or costs associated with holding the financial asset. Terms that could change the contractual cash flows so that it would not meet the condition for SPPI are considered, including: (i) contingent and leverage features, (ii) non-recourse arrangements and (iii) features that could modify the time value of money.

Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, and their contractual cash flows represent SPPI.

Financial assets are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income if they are held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and their contractual cash flows represent SPPI.

Other financial assets are measured at fair value through profit and loss. There is an option to make an irrevocable election on initial recognition for non traded equity investments to be measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, in which case dividends are recognised in profit or loss, but gains or losses are not reclassified to profit or loss upon derecognition, and the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 do not apply.

The accounting policy for each type of financial asset or liability is included within the relevant note for the item. The Barclays Bank Group’s policies for determining the fair values of the assets and liabilities are set out in Note 16.

The Barclays Bank Group derecognises a financial asset, or a portion of a financial asset, from its balance sheet where (i) the contractual rights to cash flows from the asset have expired, or (ii) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset have been transferred (usually by sale) and with them either (a) substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset have been transferred, or (b) where neither substantially all the risks and rewards have been transferred or retained, where control over the asset has been lost.

Financial liabilities are de-recognised when the liability has been settled, has expired or has been extinguished. An exchange of an existing financial liability for a new liability with the same lender on substantially different terms – generally a difference of 10% or more in the present value of the cash flows or a substantive qualitative amendment – is accounted for as an extinguishment of the original financial liability and the recognition of a new financial liability.

Transactions in which the Barclays Bank Group transfers assets and liabilities, portions of them, or financial risks associated with them can be complex and it may not be obvious whether substantially all of the risks and rewards have been transferred. It is often necessary to perform a quantitative

A cash flow analysis of this nature may require judgement. In particular, it is necessary to estimate the asset’s expected future cash flows as well as potential variability around this expectation. The method of estimating expected future cash flows depends on the nature of the asset, with market and market-implied data used to the greatest extent possible. The potential variability around this expectation is typically determined by stressing underlying parameters to create reasonable alternative upside and downside scenarios. Probabilities are then assigned to each scenario. Stressed parameters may include default rates, loss severity, or prepayment rates.

Reverse repurchase agreements (and stock borrowing or similar transactions) are a form of secured lending whereby the Barclays Bank Group provides a loan or cash collateral in exchange for the transfer of collateral, generally in the form of marketable securities subject to an agreement to transfer the securities back at a fixed price in the future. Repurchase agreements are where the Barclays Bank Group obtains such loans or cash collateral, in exchange for the transfer of collateral.

The Barclays Bank Group purchases (a reverse repurchase agreement) or borrows securities subject to a commitment to resell or return them. The securities are not included in the balance sheet as the Barclays Bank Group does not acquire the risks and rewards of ownership. Consideration paid (or cash collateral provided) is accounted for as a loan asset at amortised cost, unless it is designated or mandatorily at fair value through profit and loss.

The Barclays Bank Group may also sell (a repurchase agreement) or lend securities subject to a commitment to repurchase or redeem them. The securities are retained on the balance sheet as the Barclays Bank Group retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership. Consideration received (or cash collateral provided) is accounted for as a financial liability at amortised cost, unless it is designated at fair value through profit and loss.

Issued financial instruments or their components are classified as liabilities if the contractual arrangement results in the Barclays Bank Group having an obligation to either deliver cash or another financial asset, or a variable number of equity shares, to the holder of the instrument. If this is not the case, the instrument is generally an equity instrument and the proceeds included in equity, net of transaction costs. Dividends and other returns to equity holders are recognised when paid or declared by the members at the Annual General Meeting and treated as a deduction from equity.

Where issued financial instruments contain both liability and equity components, these are accounted for separately. The fair value of the debt is estimated first and the balance of the proceeds is included within equity.

A change in the basis for determining the contractual cash flows of a financial instrument that is required by interest rate benchmark reform is accounted for by updating the effective interest rate, without the recognition of an immediate gain or loss. This practical expedient is only applied where (1) the change to the contractual cash flows is necessary as a direct consequence of the reform and (2) the new basis for determining the contractual cash flows is economically equivalent to the previous basis. For changes made in addition to those required by the interest rate benchmark reform, the practical expedient is applied first, after which the normal IFRS 9 requirements for modifications of financial instruments is applied.

Cash comprises cash on hand and balances at central banks. Cash equivalents comprise loans and advances to banks, cash collateral balances with central banks related to payment schemes and treasury and other eligible bills, all with original maturities of three months or less. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are not considered to be part of cash equivalents.

Investments in debt securities at amortised cost, presented within loans and advances on the balance sheet, are deemed to be investing activities for the purposes of the cash flow statement, except those instruments considered to be cash equivalents.

In May 2017, the IASB issued IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, a comprehensive new accounting standard for insurance contracts covering recognition and measurement, presentation and disclosure. IFRS 17 will replace IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts that was issued in 2005. In June 2020, the IASB published amendments to IFRS 17, to include scope exclusion for certain credit card contracts and similar contracts that provide insurance coverage, the optional scope exclusion for loan contracts that transfer significant insurance risk, and the clarification that only financial guarantees issued are in scope of IFRS 9.

IFRS 17 applies to all types of insurance contracts (i.e. life, non-life, direct insurance and re-insurance), regardless of the type of entities that issue them, as well as to certain guarantees and financial instruments with discretionary participation features. A few scope exceptions will apply.

The amendments clarify that a liability should be classified as non-current only if the entity has the right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period, and that (i) the right to defer settlement must exist at the end of the reporting period and (ii) management’s intentions or expectations about whether it will exercise its right to defer settlement does not affect the classification. Further clarifications include how lending conditions affect classification and classification of liabilities the entity will or may settle by issuing its own equity instruments.

In October 2022, the IASB also issued further amendments to IAS 1 to improve the information an entity provides when its right to defer settlement of a liability for at least twelve months is subject to compliance with covenants, and to respond to stakeholders’ concerns about the classification of such a liability as current or non-current.

In February 2021 the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1 that require entities to disclose their material accounting policies rather than their significant accounting policies. The amendments to IFRS Practice Statement 2 provide guidance on the concept of materiality and its application to accounting policy information.

Under the amendments, accounting policy information is material if, when considered together with other information included in an entity’s financial statements, it can reasonably be expected to influence decisions that the primary users of general purpose financial statements make on the basis of those financial statements.

Under the new definition, accounting estimates are clarified as monetary amounts in financial statements that are subject to measurement uncertainty. Where an entity's accounting policy requires an item to be measured at monetary amounts that cannot be observed directly, it should develop an accounting estimate to achieve this objective.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the accounting policies. The key areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity or areas where assumptions are significant to the consolidated and individual financial statements are highlighted under the relevant note. Critical accounting estimates and judgements are disclosed in:

To improve transparency and ease of reference, by concentrating related information in one place, certain disclosures required under IFRS have been included within the Risk review section as follows: