article_snippet: Barclays today announced Barclays annual profits were up 12 per cent to £5.5billion in 2014.
article_snippet: Calling his own bonus 'appropriate' his said today: 'Barclays today is a stronger business, with better prospects, than at any time since the financial crisis.'
article_snippet: his added: 'You have to look at the very significant progress that we have made in Barclays in the two-and-a-half years that I have been chief executive. '
article_snippet: Contrast: After a year Barclays has described as Barclays best since 2014, Barclays recorded a rise in pre-tax profits and reduced Barclays bonus pot to a five-year low .
article_snippet: But resolving these issues is an important part of our plan for Barclays and, although it may be difficult, I expect that our will make significant progress on this issue in 2015.'
article_snippet: In 2014 Barclays slashed 14,000 jobs - with another 5,000 to go by 2016 - and closed a net 72 branches .
article_snippet: The results come after a year in which Barclays shut 89 branches while opening 17 amid an increasing push for customers to contact The results via Skype or by telephone, or to use post office banking or new sites in Asda stores.
article_snippet: It is really a reflection of how our customers choose to bank.'
article_snippet: TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'Profits have fallen at Barclays Bank and Profits have had to make huge provision for fines. '
article_snippet: TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady rightly recognises that Barclays Bank's culture must change, but it is hard to have a positive view of any organisation that pays it boss £5.5 million in a single year - a sum that would take a full-time worker on the minimum wage 465 years to earn.'
highlights_snippet: Barclays' results are best since the 2008 financial crisis, bank says .
  
highlights_snippet: Union says average Barclays worker would take 465 years to earn money .
  