A bank doled out $19 million to two executives just to keep them from walking away—but there are strings attached

roll of dollars wrapped in string (Credit: Getty Images)

Citizens Financial Group just slapped a pair of "golden handcuffs" on two executives who might someday lead the bank.

The 14th-largest bank with $222 billion in total assets offered up extra retention bonuses to its head of consumer banking, Brendan Coughlin, and chief financial officer, John Woods.