The group said its investment banking staff would share £1.6 billion in bonuses, up 13% on 2012, giving an average payout of £60,100 per employee in the division.
Chief executive Antony Jenkins said the bank is “in a better position than we have been for many years”.
But yesterday it took the unusual step of announcing its full-year profits a day early, confirming that underlying profits fell to £5.2 billion in 2013, which was below consensus forecast in the City for around £5.4 billion.