HSBC Holdings PLC is preparing to award minimal or even zero bonuses to a number of its bankers. The 160-year-old British lender is aligning itself with its Wall Street rivals by adopting a more distinct "eat what you kill" stance that clearly differentiates reward and punishment.

According to informed sources, the bank intends to encourage underperforming staff in divisions such as investment banking and wealth management to leave the company after bonuses are distributed in the coming weeks. Some individuals familiar with the matter indicated that this group could include employees at the managing director level, though no final decisions have been made yet.

"We are committed to ensuring our employees receive competitive compensation, with a focus on performance-based differentiation to attract and retain talent," a representative for the bank said in an email statement.