RNS Number:5122R
Barclays Bank PLC
31 October 2003



Woolwich plc Senior and Subordinated Notes



Barclays Bank PLC ("Barclays") and Woolwich plc ("Woolwich") announced today
that in accordance with the provisions of the Barclays Group Reorganisation Act
2002 (the "Act"), substantially all of the business and the assets and
liabilities (whether present or future, actual or contingent) of Woolwich will
be transferred to, and vest in, Barclays by operation of law on 1 December 2003
(the "Appointed Day").  Those assets and liabilities which will not transfer and
which will be retained by Woolwich (the "Retained Assets and Liabilities") will
be specifically referred to in the statutory notices published pursuant to the
Act.  The Senior Debt and the Subordinated Debt (as defined and as set out
below) do not form part of the Retained Assets and Liabilities.



Accordingly, the Senior Debt and Subordinated Debt will become, respectively,
senior and subordinated issues of Barclays on the Appointed Day.  Barclays will
thereafter be liable for all future payments of principal and interest under the
Senior Debt and Subordinated Debt to the respective holders thereof and will, as
issuer thereunder, comply with all the terms and conditions of the Senior Debt
and the Subordinated Debt.  The rights of each holder of Senior Debt and
Subordinated Debt will thereafter be exercisable against Barclays and not
Woolwich, but otherwise remain the same.  The trustee and the principal and
other paying agents under the Senior Debt and Subordinated Debt also remain the
same.


Any future queries or communications in connection with the Senior Debt and
Subordinated Debt should be addressed to Barclays Bank PLC, Group Treasury at 10
The South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU marked for the attention of
Capital Planning (telephone 020 7773 3700; fax 020 7773 1626).



#5,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2003 (ISIN Number XS 0085062213)

#400,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2004 (ISIN Number XS 0078772851)

$300,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2004 (ISIN Number XS 0094400628)

Euro500,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2005 (ISIN Number XS 0107574104)

#4,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2005 (ISIN Number XS 0113377328)

#3,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2005 (ISIN Number XS 0115745563)

#1,500,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2005 (ISIN Number XS 0117758614)

#250,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2006 (ISIN Number XS 0096034508)

Euro7,746,853.49 Floating Rate Notes due 2007 (ISIN Number XS 0080965113)

$300,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2007 (ISIN Number XS 0105761729)

#55,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (ISIN Number XS 0098120677)

(collectively, the "Senior Debt")



Euro250,000,000 5.25% Subordinated Notes due 2011 (ISIN Number XS 0099099581)

#150,000,000 Floating Rate Subordinated Bonds due 2012 (ISIN Number XS
0073220625)

#100,000,000 10.125% Subordinated Notes due 2017 (ISIN Number XS 0042695782)

#200,000,000 9.5% Subordinated Bonds due 2021 (ISIN Number XS 0068009637)

#150,000,000 9.25% Perpetual Subordinated Bonds (ISIN Number XS 0071252919)

(collectively, the "Subordinated Debt")





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