While Britain’s banks are struggling to stay afloat, clutching at the £39 billion bailout to save their skins, Barclays are calmly paddling their way back to shore, whilst HSBC relax on the beach.

After a week of significant unrest for all the high street banks, the government have swooped in with a massive rescue fund in an attempt to regain stability, and provide a safety net against further economical turbulence.

Barclays have declined the offer of a bailout sum, and instead are relying on investors to help raise necessary capital to ensure that they can meet the new higher capital targets set by the FSA. They are an independent organisation and are well-capitalised and profitable. They have access to funds from investors and have a well established and diverse business base, so it is perhaps not a surprise that they are managing better than everyone else.

In addition to these solid business stats, could it be that Barclays are making a canny marketing move to reassure consumers that they are in safe hands?

As a Barclays customer, I must admit their decision to clean up their own financial mess and not rely on the taxpayers to foot the bill, has given me confidence. I no longer feel panicky about my meagre savings, and know that my ISA is in safe hands. If Barclays can keep their heads (or should that be shares?), when all around them are losing theirs, perhaps they are a better bet for banking, or maybe they have just dug themselves a hole in the sand that they may not be able to get out of.

Danielle Williams

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