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NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), will not seek a bonus for 2008, a person close to the matter said on Friday.

Dimon joins a raft of other chief executives who are not receiving bonuses for a year when the credit crunch walloped the banking sector and forced government rescues.

Banks face mounting criticism that bonus systems are rewarding executives for taking on irresponsible risks. Taxpayer sentiment has turned against Wall Street and its highly paid bankers as financial companies have received billions of dollars in government money.

Goldman Sachs Group (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc MER.N CEO John Thain will not receive bonuses, according to their banks. Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) CEO John Mack said he will not receive a bonus for the second straight year. Citigroup Inc (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research) board member and adviser Robert Rubin will also not receive a bonus, according to media reports.

Dimon led JPMorgan through the acquisitions of Bear Stearns Cos and Washington Mutual Inc (WAMUQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) while limiting writedowns on toxic debt this year, but many analysts believe high U.S. unemployment will weigh on the bank's results next year.

JPMorgan's shares have fallen 32 percent this year, compared with a 50 percent drop for the U.S. banking sector as measured by the KBW Bank index .

The decision as to whether Dimon receives a bonus is ultimately up to the JPMorgan board, the source said.

JPMorgan declined comment on the matter.