CBA exercises some bonus restraint

Commonwealth Bank may be holding onto its mantle as the best performing bank by return on equity, but the board of directors could be pushing for a more savvy performance yet from senior managers.

Four out the nine of the bank's most senior managers saw their short-term bonuses cut in the year to June 2015, the bank's annual report shows.

Chief financial offer David Craig, head of retail banking Matthew Comyn, head of international Robert Jesudason and chief risk officer Alden Toevs all had bonuses trimmed last year.

However, chief executive Ian Narev qualified for a rise in his short-term bonus.

Narev once again received near enough to twice as much as his next best paid colleagues, with a gross pay (including long-term bonuses) of A$8.3 million. Craig and Toevs each earned $4.4 million.

Heads of operational businesses must make do with pay packets in the $3 million range.