Barclays was not bailed out by the UK government during the financial crisis Barclays is to defer paying bonuses earned this year to its directors and senior staff for up to three years.The BBC understands the payments for last year have not been set, but when they are will be paid out mostly in shares in staggered form up to 2013. Two days ago President Barack Obama proposed significant curbs on the size and scope of banks operating in the US. Barclays did not receive any money directly from UK taxpayers during the financial crisis. However it did sell a notable share of its business to the government of Abu Dhabi. The bank will tell its 130,000 staff over the next few weeks that while they will be getting a bonus, almost all of it will be deferred over the next three years - and this will be the new ongoing policy. Barclays will publish exactly what bonuses are to be allocated in March for senior executives. Deferred bonuses are expected to be ongoing and built into staff pay deals rather than simply a one-off measure.[Read more...]