Investment bankers at Bank of America Corp. are expected to pocket bonuses for last year almost at par with 2007 levels, showing the return of huge-bonus culture.

The recent move of the largest US lender is being seen as a part of its efforts to retain key employees with it.

Bank of America awarded its employees with bonuses worth $3.3 billion in 2008.

Speaking on the issue, spokesperson Robert Stickler said, “Some people will be getting very good bonuses because they had a very good year.”

People familiar with the matter informed that 25 per cent of the bonuses would be in cash, while the rest would be deferred payments of stock or cash attached to bank’s performance.

However, as per average estimate of 17 analysts, the lender may post its third loss in the past five quarters later this month.

Earlier in December, Bank of America returned $45 billion in taxpayers’ money, releasing itself from the federal pay restrictions.

Shares in Bank of America gained 54 cents to $16.93-a-share in the yesterday’s NYSE composite trading.