Big Bank Bonuses to Jump 20% as Regional Firms to Pay Less (1)

Bonus season in the finance industry is projected to go in two directions, with bankers at regional US lenders hurt by smaller incentive pools while year-end compensation at larger firms is expected to rise by double digits.

Bankers working for regional firms are likely to see their bonuses decline as much as 20% this year, while their counterparts at major global banks could see their incentive pay increase as much as 20%, according to a report Tuesday that gave an early projection for the year from compensation consultant Johnson Associates Inc.

“We have the have and have-nots — big banks ...