UPDATE 1-Synovus Financial posts surprise Q3 loss

* Q3 loss of $0.08/shr vs EPS estimate of $0.09

* Net interest income down 8 pct

* Loan-loss provision more than doubles

* Sees decrease in loan-loss provision in Q4

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Synovus Financial Corp (SNV.N), a regional bank in the Southeast, posted a surprise quarterly loss, hurt by higher provision for bad loans.

The Columbus, Georgia-based company said third-quarter net loss was $26.9 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with a profit of $134.9 million, or 41 cents a share a year ago.

Analysts had expected the company to earn 9 cents a share, excluding special items, for the third quarter, according to Reuters Estimates.

Net interest income fell 8 percent to $267.8 million.

Provision for loan losses more-than-doubled to $151.4 million.

"We believe that the third quarter elevated level of charge-offs and loan loss provision should decrease and should drive improved performance in the (fourth) quarter as compared to the third quarter," Chief Executive Richard Anthony said in a statement.

The company said it plans to participate in the capital purchase program by the Treasury department, which could add about $300 million to $900 million of tier 1 capital to its balance sheet.

Shares of the company closed down 6.5 percent at $8.66 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bangalore; Editing by Amitha Rajan)