Australia's Westpac H2 cash profit up 3 pct

SYDNEY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC.AX) reported a 3.2 percent rise in second-half cash profit, matching analysts forecasts, after revenue growth exceeded a rises in expenses.

Australia's fourth-largest lender said its second-half cash profit rose to A$1.887 billion ($1.26 billion) from A$1.829 billion in the corresponding period one year ago.

Analysts had on average expected a second-half cash profit of A$1.887 billion.

Westpac, which is taking over Australia's fifth-largest bank St George Bank SGB.AX in a A$15.6 billion deal, said its net profit for the full-year rose 12 percent to A$3.859 billion.

Cash earnings, effectively core profit, exclude one-offs and non-cash accounting items and form the basis for dividends. ($1=A$1.50) (Reporting by Mette Fraende)