Market Chatter: Barclays, HSBC, Starling Bank Reportedly File Winding-up Petitions Against Pandemic Loan Defaulters

05:31 AM EDT, 09/01/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Barclays (BARC.L), HSBC (HSBA.L), and Starling Bank filed winding-up petitions against nearly 70 companies that defaulted on UK state-backed loans meant to support ailing businesses during the pandemic, London's Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing court filings. Since June, Barclays filed 26 winding-up petitions, many of which are against businesses that stopped trading several years ago, while Starling Bank submitted 34 petitions. HSBC, meanwhile, issued one at the end of July and six last week. People familiar with the matter said, according to the report, that other banks will also step up legal proceedings against those debtors in the coming months. Barclays, HSBC, and Starling Bank did not immediately respond to requests for comments from MT Newswires. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)