Barclays launches new Euro account for international clients.

With the introduction of euro notes and coins on January 1, 2002, Barclays Private Clients, the wealth management arm of Barclays, is launching a new euro High Interest Cheque Account (euro HICA) to meet international growth in demand for euro services.

"The introduction of euro notes and coins will, for many people, be the first sign that the euro is here to stay," said Gordon Rankin, marketing director of Barclays' Private Clients International Banking. "In terms of international payments and usage it will quickly become second only to the US dollar, and therefore it is absolutely the right time to launch a truly multi-functional current account to the international market." The euro HICA is being introduced alongside a US dollar version, the US dollar HICA. The products will complement Barclays Private Clients existing sterling accounts. "Euro Hica combines the benefits of an interest-earning savings account with the instant access and card functionality of a current account. The account's card is a deferred debit ...