reported first-half net profit of €186 million, up 2.2% from the same period in2015.

Net interest income amounted to €199million in the first half, down 9% on a yearly basis, while net commissionincome increased 10% to €76 million.

ABANCA booked overall provisionreversals of €103 million in the period. Ordinary provisions for creditinvestment dropped 9% from the first half of 2015 to €33 million.

The return on tangible equityreached 10.3% in the first half.

The nonperforming loan ratiostood at 7.6% as of June 30, down from 9.88% a year earlier, while the coverageratio stood at 60% at the end of June.

The bank's common equity Tier 1ratio stood at 14.3% at June-end.