Tainted by mistrust of banking in general, and by the LIBOR rigging scandal in particular, Barclays 2012 Annual Report needed to lay the business bare for its retail (or “non-expert”) shareholders. The content, design and writing of 2012’s report opens Barclays up to its retail shareholders, explaining its strategy, its ambitions and mistakes in open straightforward terms. It is transparent. ‘Real’ shareholders, asking very real questions, punctuate the strategic review. It’s a refreshing banking that asks: “Bankers are overpaid and don’t have society’s interests at heart. It’s that simple, isn’t it?
