U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday critisized Wall Street banker's multi-billion-dollar bonuses for 2008, which he said was "shameful."

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Wall Street bankers had collected an estimated 18.4 billion dollars in bonuses for 2008.

"There will be time for them to make profits, and there will be time for them to get bonuses. Now is not that time," President Obama said.