The four men, including former CEO John Varley, have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation in relation to capital raising exercises in June 2008, along with the bank.

Those charged also include Roger Jenkins, former executive chairman of investment banking and investment management in the middle east and north Africa, Barclays Capital; Tom Kalaris, former chief executive of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management; and Richard Boath, former European head of Financial Institutions Group.

Varley, Jenkins and the bank also face a similar charge in relation to capital raising in October 2008, and are charged with unlawful financial assistance.

The charges relate to Barclays’ capital raising with Qatar Holding LLC and Challenger universal in 2008, and a $3bn (£2.4bn) loan facility made available to the State of Qatar acting through the Ministry of Economy and Finance in November 2008.

The defendants will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 14.00 pm on 3 July 2017.

Report by Kevin Reed