China's Nanjing Bank 2008 net rises about 70 pct

SHANGHAI, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Bank of Nanjing (601009.SS), a Chinese city commercial lender partly owned by French bank BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), estimated on Tuesday that net profit rose about 70 percent last year.

The bank cited growth in all business areas, including higher interest income and fees.

However, fourth-quarter profit growth slowed. In the first nine months of last year, Bank of Nanjing posted an 87 percent rise in profit.

In 2007, Bank of Nanjing made a net profit of 909.49 million yuan ($133.2 million). It is expected to release a detailed 2008 earnings statement after several weeks. ($1 = 6.83 yuan) (Reporting by Andrew Torchia; editing by Simon Jessop)