Bank CEOs celebrate pay raises while junior bankers face another year of stingy bonuses

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2024

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Bank bosses enjoyed pay hikes in 2023, while rank-and-file workers were handed another year of stingy bonuses, according to this week’s round of earnings.

Nowhere was that more evident than at Standard Chartered, whose chief executive officer Bill Winters saw his pay package rise 22%, according to Bloomberg, citing the London-based bank’s 2023 earnings report released Friday.

Winter’s total compensation surged to roughly $9.9 million last year — a jump from $8.1 million in 2022 –despite Standard Chartered’s overall bonus pool falling 1%, to $1.57 billion, in 2023, Bloomberg reported.

The disparity between the board room and the cubicles was even worse among Wall Street’s major lenders.

Citibank chief Jane Fraser received a 6% pay bump, to $26 million, while its bonus pool tumbled about 20% in 2023, according to Financial News London.

A lot of people thought wed be at least flat on last year, an unnamed senior dealmaker at the firm told the outlet. People were shocked.

Fraser’s payout came as Citi’s profits plummeted 38% year-over-year at the bank in 2023.

Fraser implemented a sweeping overhaul intended to consolidate departments last November, with the goal of trimming the bank’s global headcount from 239,000 to 180,000.

Last month, Citi said that 20,000 staffers can expect to be handed a pink slip over the next two years after the bank reported its worst fourth-quarter earnings in 15 years.

Still, the bank’s board said that Frasers compensation increase was justified because of her execution of the most consequential set of changes to its organizational and management model since the 2008 financial crisis and the sale of international businesses.

Among peers on Wall Street, Morgan Stanleys former CEO James Gorman got a pay bump of 17% in his final year heading up t he bank — which also slashed the size of its bonus pool.

Morgan Stanley’s rank-and-file received payouts that were slashed by as much as 15% from 2022 to 2023, Financial News reported.

Gorman is set to officially retire come May, ending his nearly two-decade tenure at Morgan Stanley, which reported a hit to its 2023 fiscal year earnings when it said profits plunged 32% year-over-year, to $1.5 billion.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon was another bank boss to get a pay bump despite lagging profits.

Solomon’s pay rose 24%, even though the firm posted a 24% decline in net profit last year as Goldman suffered from a slowdown in investment banking activity that led to thousands of job cuts.

Sources told The Post earlier this month that compensation at the firm was up $350 million from last year,” and a spokesperson for Goldman has insisted that its “compensation philosophy hasnt changed, were always focused on investing in our people, especially our top performers.

Despite reports on Financial News that Goldman bankers saw as much as a 10% raise in 2023, sources confirmed that employees may have received more or less than that depending on their performance.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimons compensation also climbed 4.3% following a year of record profits for America’s largest lender.

The firm posted an impressive $49.6 billion in profits in 2023 — the most ever in US banking history.

As a result, compensation and morale remained relatively stable among the rank and file, sources told The Post.

One employee even went so far as to call his bonus awesome.

HSBC CEO Noel Quinn saw his pay roughly double last year, from $7 million to $13.4 million, despite the widespread recession fears, stubbornly high inflation, layoffs, and cost cuts that defined the finance sector in 2023.

HSBC on Wednesday reported that its bonus pool also saw a 12% rise in 2023 — defying a trend of lackluster bonuses across the banking sector, per Bloomberg — as the UK lender enjoyed record profits on the heels of elevated interest rates.

Two banking chiefs didn’t have as much to celebrate: Bank of Americas Brian Moynihan saw his pay fall 3%, to $29 million.

In addition, Barclays’ CS Venkatakrishnan was also an outlier.

He saw his annual bonus slashed by 27%, according to Bloomberg, after the London-based firm reduced its bonus pool by 3% as a result of a 15% dip in profits attributed to reduced activity in its investment banking division.

UK

Eight arrests in connection with two separate terrorism investigations

Published

33 mins ago

May 4, 2025

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Eight arrests in connection with two separate terrorism investigations

Eight men have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police in two unconnected terrorism investigations.

In one operation on Saturday, counter-terror officers arrested five men, four of whom are Iranian nationals. All are in police custody.

The Met said the arrests related to a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.

In an update shortly after midnight, the force said: “Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time.”

It added officers were carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation.

It said those detained were:

• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Swindon area
• A 46-year-old man arrested in west London
• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Stockport area
• A 40-year-old man arrested in the Rochdale area
• A man whose age was not confirmed arrested in the Manchester area.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.

“We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.

“We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”

Terror arrests in separate investigation

Police also arrested three further Iranian nationals in London on Saturday as part of another, unrelated counter terror investigation.

The suspects were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, which allows police to arrest those suspected of being “involved in foreign power threat activity”.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe.

“Protecting national security is the first duty of government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work.”

She added: “These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.”

Politics

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

Published

1 hour ago

May 4, 2025

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Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

A group of US Senate Democrats known for supporting the crypto industry have said they would oppose a Republican-led stablecoin bill if it moves forward in its current form.

The move threatens to stall legislation that could establish the first US regulatory framework for stablecoins, according to a May 3 report from Politico.

Per the report, nine Senate Democrats said in a joint statement that the bill “still has numerous issues that must be addressed.” They warned they would not support a procedural vote to advance the legislation unless changes are made.

Among the signatories were Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Andy Kim — all of whom had previously backed the bill when it passed through the Senate Banking Committee in March.

The bill, introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty, is formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

Senate prepares to vote on stablecoin bill

The Senate is expected to begin floor consideration of the bill in the coming days, with the first vote potentially taking place next week.

The bill has been championed by the crypto industry as a landmark step toward regulatory clarity. However, the Democrats’ about-face reflects growing unease within the party.

Although revisions were made to the bill after its committee approval to address Democratic concerns, the lawmakers said the changes fell short. They called for stronger safeguards related to Anti-Money Laundering, national security, foreign issuers, and accountability measures for noncompliant actors.

The statement was also signed by Senators Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, John Hickenlooper and Adam Schiff.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Angela Alsobrooks were absent from the list, who co-sponsored the bill alongside Hagerty.

Despite their objections, the Democratic senators emphasized their commitment to shaping responsible crypto regulation. They reportedly said they “are eager to continue working with our colleagues to address these issues.”

Crypto needs a stablecoin bill

On April 27, Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, criticized the US Federal Reserve for quietly maintaining a key anti-crypto policy that favors big-bank-issued stablecoins, despite relaxing crypto partnership rules for banks.

Long explained that while the Fed recently rescinded four prior crypto guidelines, a Jan. 27, 2023, statement was left intact in coordination with the Biden administration.

The guidance, according to Long, blocks banks from engaging directly with crypto assets and prohibits them from issuing stablecoins on permissionless blockchains.

However, Long noted that once a federal stablecoin bill becomes law, it could override the Fed’s stance. “Congress should hurry up,” she urged.

Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

UK

Pictured: Boy killed in Gateshead industrial estate fire – 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Published

2 hours ago

May 4, 2025

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Pictured: Boy killed in Gateshead industrial estate fire - 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Tributes have been paid to 14-year-old Layton Carr who died in a fire at an industrial estate.

Eleven boys and three girls, aged between 11 and 14 years, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the incident in Gateshead on Friday. They remain in police custody.

Firefighters raced to Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area shortly after 8pm, putting out the blaze a short time later.

Police then issued an appeal for a missing boy, Layton Carr, who was believed to be in the area at the time.

In a statement, the force said that “sadly, following searches, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building”.

Layton’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police added.

A fundraising page on GoFundMe has been set up to help Layton’s mother pay for funeral costs.

Organiser Stephanie Simpson said: “The last thing Georgia needs to stress trying to pay for a funeral for her Boy Any donations will help thank you.”

One tribute in a Facebook post read: “Can’t believe I’m writing this my nephew RIP Layton 💔 forever 14 you’ll be a massive miss, thinking of my sister and 2 beautiful nieces right now.”

Another added: “My boy ❤️ my baby cousin, my Layton. Nothing will ever come close to the pain I feel right now. Forever 14. I’ll miss you sausage.”

A third said: “Rest in peace big lad such a beautiful soul taken far to soon my thoughts are with you Gee stay strong girl hear for u always.”

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, also said: “This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life.”

She added that the force’s “thoughts are with Layton’s family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one”.

They are working to establish “the full circumstances surrounding the incident” and officers will be in the area to “offer reassurance to the public”, she added.

A cordon remains in place at the site while police carry out enquiries.