Indonesia's BRI says 2007 net profit up 13.6 pct

JAKARTA, March 27 (Reuters) - Indonesia's third-largest lender, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BBRI.JK), reported on Thursday a lower-than-expected 13.6 percent rise in its 2007 net profit, after its net interest margins declined slightly.

Indonesian banks have been aggressively lending to businesses and for various infrastructure projects, pushing loan growth up by 25.5 percent last year, compared with a 14 percent rise in 2006.

The state bank said its net income rose to 4.84 trillion rupiah ($526.1 million), up from 4.26 trillion rupiah a year earlier, and compared to a forecast by analysts polled by Reuters Estimates of 5.04 trillion rupiah.

BRI, which recently overtook PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk (BBNI.JK) to become the third-biggest lender by assets, posted a 21 percent rise in its net interest income to 16.7 trillion rupiah.

BRI shares jumped 43.7 percent last year, underperforming the 52 percent rise in the broader market .JKSE, but well above the 26 percent increase in the financial sub index .JKFINA of the benchmark index. ($1=9,200 rupiah) (Reporting by Nury Sybli, writing by Harry Suhartono, editing by Ed Davies)