States in203, 205Bi are populated using the reaction203, 205Tl(3He,3n). Theπi13/2 single-proton states and all the members of thev(2 1 + )⊗π h9/2 quintuplet are identified in both nuclei. The half-lives of the isomericJπ=21/2+ states in both isotopes are measured and found to be 90±7 ns and 100±6 ns, and from these values suggestions for the half-lives of the previously reportedJπ=25/2+ isomers are made. The structures of the multiplets of the formv(Pb)⊗π h9/2 are calculated in the framework of the shell model and it is shown that the main features can be derived from theπ−v−1 effective interaction. The wave functions of the 4 1 + and 4 0 + states in202, 204pb are deduced indirectly from the calculation in203, 205Bi.