Barclays probes possible theft of data

Barclays, the UK’s second- largest bank by assets, has spoken with regulators, customers, and authorities about what appears to be a criminal leak of customer account information.

A Barclays probe into the leak suggests the data is from 2008 or earlier and is linked to a financial planning unit that was shut in 2011, Carey Withey, a spokeswoman for the company, said in an emailed statement.

Barclays is taking “all necessary steps” to contact the customers affected, she said.