US banks maintain steady headcount amid tariff turbulence

April 15 (Reuters) - Major U.S. banks kept their staffing levels largely stable in the first quarter, bracing for potential disruption later in the year that some analysts say may trigger job cuts.

Turbulence stemming from President Donald Trump's tariffs has fueled fears that economic growth may slow down and spook corporations into adopting a cautious approach to deals.

Should mergers and acquisitions stall and initial public offerings remain sluggish, employees at Wall Street banks could have to bear the brunt, Reuters has reported.

That outcome is looking increasingly likely as Trump's vacillating trade policy sows confusion.

The KBW Bank Index .BKX has fallen nearly 11% since Trump unveiled the tariffs on April 2, which he has touted as Liberation Day.

"Clients have become more cautious amid an increase in market volatility driven by geopolitical and trade-related tensions," JPMorgan Chase JPM.N CEO Jamie Dimon said on a post-earnings call on Friday.

The bank's employees grew 0.4% over the three months ended March 31. The bank currently has more than 14,000 open positions, a spokesperson for the bank said last week.

Bank of America BAC.N and Wells Fargo WFC.N reported 0.2% and nearly 1% fewer employees, respectively. BofA had cut a few investment banking roles in the first quarter, Reuters reported last month.

Goldman Sachs GS.N added 100 people, while its rival Morgan Stanley MS.N hired 545. Headcount at Citigroup C.N was almost unchanged.

"I would expect a significant amount of M&A activity through the rest of the year," Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said on an analyst call after results on Monday.

"But obviously, if the (economic) landscape got more constrained, there's a risk of it slowing," he added.

All of the banks reported better-than-expected profits for the first quarter, primarily driven by higher trading revenues as consumers rejigged their portfolios in an uncertain market.

Source: Company filings