Banchieri, who are the most paid in Europe: Hermotti in the lead, Orcel has the highest increase. What pushes the salaries

In 2024, at the top of the ranking of the most paid bankers in Europe – as well as the previous year – it is found Sergio ErmottiCEO of UBS, who last year saved the Switzerland compatriot Credit Suisse. According to salaries reconstructed from Bloomberg, The manager earned 14.9 million Swiss francs, equal to 15.6 million euros. A pay well above other colleagues operating in the sector in the old continent, but still lower than the maximum remuneration allowed. National policy in Switzerland, in fact, requires attention to the wages of the bankers and is evaluating a law (defined as « lex hermotti ») to limit it to 3-5 million francs.

In Orcel (Unicredit) the highest salary increase

In second place it is located Andrea OrcelCEO of Unicredit, who recorded the most consistent wage increase of the year compared to the rivals that cover his Same role in other European credit institutions: +32% to 13.2 million euros. If the manager achieves the objectives set by the banking group, it is possible that in 2025 his salary could climb up to 16.4 million. Also for the high leaders who work in Unicredit (which are 858) the bonuses have risen by 11%. In third place, then, to close the podium, it is found Christian SewingCEO of Deutcsche Bank who, despite the Risiko matches, in 2024 he collected 9.8 million euros.

The other bankers in the standings

Follows in fourth position Hector Grisiat the head of the Spanish credit institution Santander, with 8.3 million euros. This is the last banker of the ranking above the average threshold of 7.6 million. The first two below, for a short time, with 7.3 million find – on equal salary – are onur genc of BBVA e Carlo Messina, CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo. In the last positions, then, they are found Slawomir KrupaCEO of Société Générale (Socgen, as well as fourth bank for capitalization of the banking groups of the euro area), which earned 5 million euros last year; Jean-Laurent Bonnafenumber one by BNP Paribas, with a salary of 4.2 million; Steven Van RijswijkCEO of Ing, whose 2024 salary amounts to 2.7 million and, finally, Philippe Brassacat the head of Credit Agricole, with 2.6 million.

What pushes the salaries

The reason why the salary of bankers in 2024 was so high depends, above all, from extraprofitti to record levels recorded by credit institutions. Although the ECB has started cutting rates, after numerous increases to counter the economic difficulties related to pandemic, banks also last year They continued to benefit from high interest rates. So not only managers ‘salaries were increased, but also investors’ earnings. The price of the shares, in fact, went up exponentially, continuing in the first quarter of 2025.