Bonus Season is Kicking Off. Here’s When the Big Banks are Revealing Their Numbers.

The countdown to Wall Street’s bonus season ends today — and the sums are expected to be big. 

This year, financiers will probably be pretty happy, since year-end bonuses are expected to rise across almost every line of business, according to a November report by compensation consultancy Johnson Associates. Traders, who could see up to 25% increases, will likely come out on top, the report found, followed by mergers advisors and wealth managers. 

While 2025 had a volatile start, dealmaking and M&A activity picked up in the second half of the year, helping banks close out a strong year. That momentum is expected to show up in bonus pools. 

The nation’s largest banks will begin reporting their fourth-quarter results, which are expected to be impressive, next week. Global investment banking revenue surpassed $100 billion in 2025, the second-highest since 2021, according to Dealogic. 

Business Insider / January 7, 2026