Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, plans to increase its bonus pool for last year by at least 5%, but still less than some of its Wall Street counterparts. The German bank would therefore remain less generous towards its employees, limiting the variable part of the remuneration. The indiscretion was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter and explaining that the figure constitutes an average, while individual divisions could record greater or lesser increases depending on performance.
What are we talking about
The bonus pool is the overall fund set aside by an investment bank to pay variable remuneration and performance bonuses to employees. It is not a fixed amount, but is calculated based on budget results and can be reduced or eliminated if performance is negative. Investment bankers are typically among Deutsche Bank’s highest-paid employees: Some even earn more than the executives who run the company, although their pay can vary greatly depending on performance.
Preliminary results for 2025
The basis for the increase in the bonus pool are the positive results recorded by Deutsche Bank in 2025, when it recorded a 7% increase in revenues, to 32.1 billion euros, respecting the strategic objectives, even if the performances of the individual divisions were highly variable. Revenue from fixed income and currency trading increased 13%. Retail and private banking revenues increased overall by 3% to 9.7 billion euros, while corporate banking revenues decreased by 1% to 7.4 billion euros. Revenues from the Asset Management division grew by 16% to 3.1 billion, while those from the Investment Banking division grew by 9% to 11.5 billion.
The comparison
The increase would leave Deutsche Bank at a disadvantage compared to Wall Street’s biggest investment banks, where firms including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America have increased their bonus pools for bankers and traders by at least 10%, as their businesses benefited from a record year in dealmaking and trading.
The official numbers for 2025
Deutsche Bank’s annual report, which usually also provides an update on pay, is expected to be published later this week, on March 12.
