Kenya's Equity sees 200 pct rise in 2008 profit

NAIROBI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Kenya's rapidly expanding Equity Bank (EQTY.NR) expects a 200 percent rise in pretax profit in 2008, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

"In the first half, we had 3.1 billion shillings ($45.82 million), an increase of 200 percent from last year, we are hoping we will be able to have a similar performance for the full year," James Mwangi told Reuters. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri, Editing by Paul Bolding)