Options Packages Lose Value and Banks Fear Talent Loss

Mellon Financial Corp. full-time employees had reason to party this month when the company’s shares closed above $45 for a tenth straight day and allowed them to cash in options worth nearly $2,300.

But the Pittsburgh company is the exception to the rule now. The recent downdraft in bank shares has stripped employee stock options at several banks of their value and left top executives wondering how to motivate their charges.