Barclays Plc is seeking deeper ties with India's billionaire founders as it looks to expand in the country's fast-growing and highly competitive private banking market, where global rivals are also stepping up.

With wealth hubs across London, Dubai, Singapore and Europe, Barclays is betting on its international network and capital-markets capabilities to win over ultra-high-net-worth clients. "That, for us, is a high-priority area," said Annabelle Bryde, head of the firm's Private Bank International, in an interview.

The UK-based bank is leveraging its global footprint to compete for India's richest 1%, a segment that has attracted attention from major financial institutions amid rising wealth in the region. Barclays aims to differentiate itself through cross-border services and integrated financial solutions tailored to founding families and entrepreneurs.

As competition intensifies, Barclays' strategy reflects a broader trend among global banks to capture a larger share of India's expanding private banking landscape, driven by surging asset values and increasing demand for sophisticated wealth management services.