Stephen Hester, chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, will be given tougher performance targets to meet next year to collect his maximum bonus following a public outcry over his pay award of up to £9.6m for this year.

Mr Hester would next year have to hit goals on profitability and other measures, not just the RBS share price target he has been set for his 2009 long-term incentive plan, people involved in the decision making said.