Barclays takes on Michael Ashley – but is he the right one?

KPMG Europe's risk chief Michael Ashley joins Barclays' board, though his Sports Direct namesake also has much to offer

Rich Ricci and the pernicious symbolism of the greedy banker

Jonathan Jones: Framing the debate: The reaction to this picture shows how hostility towards bankers too easily echoes Stalinist and Nazi depictions of 'fat cats in hats'

We know why HBOS collapsed, but not the secrets of its disastrous rescue

Business leader: The stricken lender saw and ran itself as a 'challenger bank' – just like the ones the government is hoping will enter the market now

Laiki’s UK customers to escape Cypriot savings levy

Depositors have been transferred to Bank of Cyprus's UK arm and will be protected from levy and limits on withdrawals

Britain’s current account deficit at worst level since 1989

Collapse in overseas income pushes gap between imports and exports in 2012 to £57.7bn, a shortfall of 3.7% of GDP

March of the makers? Balance of payment figures make dismal reading

Larry Elliott: George Osborne should worry – in 2012 the UK ran a deficit of £57bn, up from £20bn in 2011, and this is unlikely to change soon

Cyprus bailout deal: at a glance

The essential points of the deal, including the closure of Laiki Bank, and what this means for savers and the eurozone

Cyprus savings levy: how safe is your money? – Q&A

With the Cypriot government set to swipe up to 10% of savings, some people in the UK are beginning to worry about their money

Cyprus savings levy: questions and answers

All the issues, causes and consequences of a forced levy on savers at Cypriot banks as part of the eurozone rescue package

George Osborne’s bank reforms inadequate, say MPs

Andrew Tyrie, who chairs the commission said the regulator scrutinising ringfence would be 'marking its own exam'

NatWest banking crash: what you need to know

NatWest and RBS's computer issues have hit customers and those expecting payments. Here's how it affects you

George Osborne rebuffed by rest of EU on bank bonuses

Britain left isolated as 26 European finance ministers agree to a clampdown on executive pay targeted at the City

George Osborne continues fight against bankers’ bonus cap

Chancellor wins limited support for tweaks to draft law, arguing that UK already has the toughest regime in the world on bankers' pay

George Osborne takes on EU to battle for bankers’ bonuses

UK will find it hard to block EU decision to cap City bonuses while allies such as Sweden and Germany back the move

Italy’s anti-austerity vote raises the spectre of a bailout

Current bond yields suggest a touching faith that a workable political fudge will emerge sooner or later. But what if it doesn't?