HSBC is rewarding its staff with the biggest bonus pool in more than a decade, after posting stronger-than-expected annual results. Employees will share a bonus pool worth $3.9 billion (£2.9 billion), which is 10 per cent higher than last year. The bank said the increase was based on both financial performance and non-financial measures, with a clear emphasis on rewarding top performers across the company.
This comes as HSBC continues to reshape itself under Georges Elhedery who took charge as CEO in 2024. He has pushed through a major overhaul to make the bank simpler, more agile, and better focused on growth in fast-changing markets. His efforts included cutting costs, reorganising divisions, and reducing layers of senior management. These changes have helped boost HSBC’s share price by 50 per cent in 2025, with another 10 per cent rise so far this year.
Although pre-tax profits fell seven per cent to $29.9 billion in 2025, the figure was still $1 billion higher than analysts had forecast. The bank faced nearly $5 billion in one-off charges, including a large write-off tied to its Chinese investments. Despite these challenges, HSBC’s strong overall performance allowed it to raise employee rewards.
Elhedery himself received a pay package of £14.4 million, up nine per cent from the year before. However, what is grabbing headlines is the scale of staff bonuses, which underlines HSBC’s commitment to recognising employee contributions during a period of transformation. The bank has set ambitious targets for profitability through 2028, and the bonus uplift signals confidence in its workforce to deliver on those goals.
