Barclays Wealth has launched a national US trust company, called Barclays Wealth Trustees and to be based in Delaware, aiming to expand its global wealth advisory platform and increase client service offerings in the Americas.

“This is an exciting time in our development and we are proud to be investing in the US and expanding our global trust services proposition with the recent opening of a Delaware US trust company,” said Rob Withecombe, managing director and head of wealth advisory globally for Barclays Wealth.

BWT will offer high net worth clients the ability to create US trust and estate planning structures and choose jurisdiction in any of the 50 states. It will be able to act as a trustee, co-trustee or agent in trust administration. It will also offer clients access to fiduciary services in multiple jurisdictions through its global offices.

Barclays Wealth has been ramping up its US operations, last month appointing a new vice president in New Jersey and a new regional manager in Washington DC.

The firm also created a new role, hiring Anne Grim as a managing director of global client services. Meanwhile Barclays Wealth launched a Regular Income Bond and a new issue of its Target Growth Plan aimed at balanced investors looking for growth in return for accepting risk to capital.

Barclays Wealth in the Americas has 14 offices, including its trust company office. It has total client assets of $232 billion as of 30 June 2010.