Credit Agricole Lifts Investment Bank Bonus Pool on Hiring Spree

Credit Agricole SA raised the bonus pool for its investment banking unit after a hiring spree, one of the few European lenders to set more money aside for a business that’s been hit by a global slowdown in deals.

The Paris-based bank increased the unit’s pool for last year by just under 10%, according to people familiar with the decision. Because the division also increased headcount at a similar rate, the average bonus remained flat, the people said, asking for anonymity because the figures aren’t public yet.

A spokeswoman for Credit Agricole declined to comment.

European banks are less generous ...