Siam Commercial Bank's end-March NPLs down at 4.95 pct

BANGKOK, April 21 (Reuters) - Siam Commercial Bank PCL SCB.BK, Thailand's third largest bank, said on Monday its gross non-performing loans fell to 4.95 percent of lending at the end of March 2008.

That compared with 5.73 percent at the end of December 2007, the bank said in a statement.

NPLs, loans roughly defined as substandard, doubtful of loss and loss, were 43.8 billion baht ($1.4 billion) at the end of March, it said.

On Friday, SCB shares rose closed unchanged at 94 baht, in line with the overall Thai stock market .SETI. ($1=31.40 Baht) (Reporting by Arada Therdthammakun; Editing by Ed Cropley)