By Moira Herbst

Top executives and traders at some banks are expected to receive huge bonuses this year, and at least one big institution is starting to hire more loan officers. But in the banks' back offices, many other workers—including those in technology services, human resources, and support departments—face layoffs, outsourcing, and reduced pay.

The investment banking operations of Goldman Sachs (GS), Morgan Stanley (MS), and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) are on track to pay record bonuses this year of about $29.7 billion, analysts say. That's an increase of 60% from last year and it would even beat the previous high of $26.8 billion in 2007. Further down the income ladder, some banks are easing up on pay lids as well. Effective in 2010, for...