About 300 Credit Suisse bankers and executives stand to share an estimated SFr1.9bn ($1.85bn) in stock next spring under a performance-based retention plan instituted nearly five years ago as the bank struggled to retain staff.

The eligible Credit Suisse managing directors and executives were paid one-fifth to one-half of the bonuses they received in early 2005 in “performance incentive plan” awards rather than in cash.