Published: Friday, 7 Aug 2009 | 11:57 AM ET

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An unusual Credit Suisse Group compensation plan has enjoyed a surprisingly strong start and could lead to hefty year-end payouts for bankers, The Wall Street Journal said on Thursday.

The change comes amid growing political pressure for banks to limit how much they pay their top employees.

Credit Suisse is not a participant in the U.S. government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, which sets pay restrictions, and its success could add pressure on rivals to change how they pay workers.

Credit Suisse on Wednesday told 2,000 top bankers that a $5 billion fund of soured mortgages and bonds, which it granted as a big portion of 2008 pay, has returned 17 percent since January, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter.

While Credit Suisse shares rose four times as much over the same period, that gain was higher than many stock indexes, as well as initial expectations of bankers inside and outside Credit Suisse, the newspaper said.

Like its rivals, Credit Suisse has tried to show regulators it is serious about addressing the financial crisis, and Paul Calello, its investment banking chief, told the newspaper that using the fund as part of the bank's compensation plan is "thoughtful and responsible."

Calello, who like other senior managers received no bonus for 2008, declined to comment on the fund's performance, the newspaper said.

Credit Suisse did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Shares in Credit Suisse were 0.5 percent lower in late trade.

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