The FCA and PRA have jointly fined James Staley £642,430 and announced special requirements on whistleblowing systems and controls at Barclays Bank.

Mr Staley “failed to act with due skill, care and diligence” in the way he acted in response to an anonymous letter received by Barclays in June 2016. 

The regulators imposed special requirements on Barclays, in which it must now report annually detailing how it handles whistleblowing, with personal statements required from those senior managers responsible for the relevant systems and controls.

Mark Steward, FCA executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said: “Given the crucial role of the chief executive, the standard of due skill, care and diligence is more demanding than for other employees.

"Mr Staley breached the standard of care required and expected of a chief executive in a way that risked undermining confidence in Barclays’ whistleblowing procedures.

“Chief executives must act with a high degree of care and prudence at all times.

“Whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing poor practice and misconduct in the financial services sector. It is critical that individuals are able to speak up anonymously and without fear of retaliation if they want to raise concerns.”

Sam Woods, deputy governor for Prudential Regulation and chief executive of the PRA, said: “Protection for whistleblowers is an essential part of keeping the financial system safe and sound. 

“Mr Staley’s behaviour fell below the standard we require, resulting in today’s fine and public censure.”

Mr Staley attempted to identify the author of an anonymous letter received by Barclays in June 2016 that claimed to be from a Barclays shareholder. 

The letter contained various allegations, some of which concerned Mr Staley. 

Given his conflict Mr Staley should have maintained an appropriate distance, it was ruled, and he should not have taken steps to identify the author. 

Mr Staley should have explicitly consulted fully with those with expertise and responsibility for whistleblowing in Barclays and sought express confirmation from them that what he wanted to do was permissible, said the regulators. He failed to do this.

Barclays has agreed to the requirements.