And here is something else that actually matters - Barclays raising finance in the UAE rather than here.

[Callisto]

uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE49U06K20081031

or is this far too dull when you can gossip about meaningless crap all day?

barclays have always been a bu7nch of wankers
I would never have another account with them ever

Think it is sensible myself. Why put yourself in hock to the govt (not exactly trustworthy) with all of the rules and regs they will enforce, when you can get investment from another source that won't tell you how to make money?

i havent even read the article i just dont trust them anyway and this seemed to perfect thread to vent on

What it means is that they can continue to pay huge bonuses to their top bods which wouldn't be allowed if they took the govt deal. Cynical, me, never......

But presumably the top bods are the ones who are really good at what they do (not suggesting they deserve whopping bonuses btw) so should be paid a decent salary or they will go elsewhere. One of the big negatives about state-owned banks is their inability to attract good people because they don't pay enough.

My understanding was that it would be just the bonuses affected rather than the salaries.

Well, I guess there is nothing wrong with bonues (DP gets one at Christmas most years, though it isn't much) for performance. It is when bonuses seem to be paid no matter what and the bonuses were so big. Obscene even.

In banking, salaries are a v small proportion of the total remuneration, so if you cut out bonuses you can't attract top minds.

as long as the British taxpayer isn't paying for it, not much bothered what they do.

Callisto, after finishing the rather demanding dayjob, coming home to three teens/pre-teens, and listening to DH offload about his demanding day/night/weekend job, etc etc etc, a bit of meaningless gossip does me the world of good.

barclays were major investor (and there til the bitter end) in apartheid south africa and for that reason i would never trust nor touch them

i dont doubt their ability to make money, and lots of it, but it will always be at someone else's real expense,
not unlike most banks i know but i particularly despise barclays

Are these the same "top minds" who crapped up the entire monetary/banking system over the last year?

I'd prefer a system that did not recruit them, personally.

yes i would think so,Miggsie, these exulted top minds with programmed with huge dollops personal and corporate greed

all hail

I've got an account with Barclays and it is this that is making me realise I really have to do something about my inertia and move it.

Co-op is meant to be the most ethical.

I'm an ex- employe of Barclays, in the cash centre not a branch. I therefore also have shares in them, brought at a very discounted rate. The wages were definately rubbish and by the end our bonus consisted of a bottle of wine.
I agree with Callisto though I'd much rather not have the goverment and tax-payers money involved and have decent executives. I now bank with Lloydstsb thouhg