Partners Shaun Bisman and Kelly Malafis were quoted in an American Banker article on CAP’s research showing that bank CEO pay increased across asset sizes in 2025, with the largest banks seeing the biggest gains. Shaun noted that the year reflected a more normalized banking environment supported by stronger fundamentals, while Kelly explained that bank CEO compensation remains closely linked to financial performance.
Compensation Advisory Partners’ research was featured in an American Banker article on 2025 CEO pay at large and regional banks. The article highlighted CAP’s analysis of 54 bank CEOs, which found that CEO pay rose 12.5% in 2025, a smaller increase than the 18% rise CAP calculated for 2024, with all but four CEOs in the analysis receiving higher total direct compensation year over year.
Partner Shaun Bisman was quoted in an American Banker article examining rising compensation among large U.S. bank CEOs, noting that roughly $40 million has emerged as a new benchmark for top bank leaders. Bisman explained that the increases reflect strong financial performance but are also influenced by market dynamics such as stock price growth and peer benchmarking, which can create pressure on boards to maintain competitive pay packages.
Partner Kelly Malafis and Shaun Bisman were quoted in an American Banker article discussing U.S. Bancorp’s decision to combine the CEO and board chair roles under Gunjan Kedia, reflecting a broader trend among large U.S. banks toward consolidated leadership structures. Shaun noted that appointing a lead independent director often helps offset governance concerns tied to the combined roles, while Kelly highlighted that recent examples (including Citi and Wells Fargo) represent a return to combined roles following temporary splits after CEO transitions or heightened post-financial-crisis oversight.
Partners Shaun Bisman and Kelly Malafis were quoted in American Banker’s recent article which explores a sharp decline in the use of diversity-related metrics in bank incentive plans. This analysis, conducted by CAP, reflects a broader trend among large and regional banks as regulatory pressure and legal uncertainty reshape corporate DEI strategies.
Partners Kelly Malafis and Shaun Bisman were recently featured in an American Banker article that highlights key insights from CAP’s research on 2024 bank CEO pay trends. Kelly and Shaun provided key insights into what’s driving these large CEO pay raises — from improved goal setting to M&A activity and retention pressure amid a competitive talent market.
Partners Kelly Malafis and Shaun Bisman’s annual / exclusive research on CEO pay at large and midsize banks (n=60) was again cited by American Banker. The article discusses that following a down 2023 (i.e., -5.7%) pay increased in 2024 (e.g., +18%), primarily driven by higher bonus payouts (e.g., +42%).
