Barclays UK promotes its LifeSkills programme, which has helped 13 million people learn a wide range of core skills, including how to improve their relationship with money and tips to help them advance their career, in a new TV ad.
The spot opens with a boy telling his mom, from his room, that his older sister, with whom he shares the room, is on the laptop again. It is soon revealed that she is, indeed, on the laptop, and she has completed a money lesson in Barclay’s LifeSkills programme. At this point, Olivia hears a voice coming from the laptop. It’s her hamster, telling her that learning with Barclays LifeSkills gives her great money knowledge. As the little furry animals says that, coins begin floating and Olivia is transported into the “Moneyverse,” a universe where Barclays app users are able to have a clearer idea on their expenses and make better decisions in terms of finances.
The talking hamster urges her to join the 13 million who have used the Barclays free learning programme and, at the end of the advert, viewers are also advised through an onscreen line (alongside the tagline “Make money work for you”) to search Barclays LifeSkills to learn more.
The song used in the ad is the 1987 single “Push It” by the hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa. The track is available for purchase on Amazon for $1.29.
Barclays introduced the notion of Moneyverse in an advert released in January 2021, titled “Master your Moneyverse,” which features a dad who, after opening the Barclays app, is transported from his home into his Moneyverse, where he can see his entire relationship with money. All his expenses are initially shown floating around him in chaos, but they immediately get sorted and the man has a clearer idea on what he spends his money thanks to the Barclays mobile app.
With the Barclays app users get access to a range of money-management tools, including spending categories, calendar view and savings goals, free financial help from the bank’s Money Mentors and digital support from its Digital Eagles.
Barclays also offers, on its website, tips for everyday money management, for saving money quickly, for helping you take control of your money and take care of your credit score, advice to help boost your finances in a week, and more.