Strong profits increased pay by as much as 28 per cent
BMO CEO Bill Downe earned $9.5 million in the bank's fiscal 2010, up from $7.5 million the previous year, while Scotiabank's Rick Waugh was paid $10.7 million, up from $9.8 million, according to regulatory filings.
The bank's are Canada's No. 4 and No. 3 lenders, respectively.
Profit at BMO rose 57 per cent to $2.8 billion in 2010, while Scotiabank's net profit climbed 19.5 per cent to $4.2 billion.
All of Canada's six biggest banks emerged from the financial crisis in relatively strong shape, with none receiving a government bailout.
Following the crisis, BMO has begun making acquisitions as it seeks to increase its U.S. business. In December, it launched a US $4.1 billion takeover bid for Wisconsin lender Marshall & Ilsley Corp.
Scotiabank has been making small acquisitions to bolster its presence in Latin America and Asia, and the bank is in the process of closing its $2.3 billion acquisition of wealth manager DundeeWealth.
Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion Bank, the country's top two banks, unveiled their CEO pay packages earlier in the month, with both CEOs getting modest raises.
TD's Ed Clark got an 8 per cent increase to $11.3 million in 2010, while RBC CEO Gordon Nixon earned $11 million, up 5.8 per cent from the previous year.