Nine out of 10 (89%) City finance professionals expect to receive a bonus this year, according to research from eFinancialCareers.

Of those anticipating a bonus this year, nearly half (46%) expect it to be higher in comparison to last year’s, just under three out of 10 (28%) expect a decrease, and a quarter (25%) believes it will remain the same.

However, the results contrast with last year’s survey where of those who expected a bonus, more than six out of 10 (62%) were expecting an increase on the previous year, and only 12% expected a decrease. Last year overall expectation stood at 93% in 2010.

James Bennett, managing director of eFinancialCareers, EMEA and APAC, says: “External observers may be shocked by the confidence being expressed by bankers ahead of the bonus season.

“However, the pay-for-performance culture is very much ingrained in the financial psyche, and even in times of market turmoil, financial institutions need to take care of their best talent in order to retain them.”