The National Bank of Egypt (NBE), the country’s largest public lender, posted a 157% rise in net profit in the first half of financial year 2015/16. The bank posted net profit of EGP5.8bn (USD653.5mn) by end of December 2015. Net profit after tax grew 83% to hit EGP8.9bn, triggered by a 60% rise in NBE’s net interest income, which reached EGP10.6bn by December-end 2015. Loans totalled EGP177.3bn, marking a 14% growth, the bank announced in a statement on Wednesday. Deposits hiked by EGP47bn during the first half of FY2015/16, to record EGP494.7bn. In addition, net fees and commissions also rose 66% to EGP2.1bn. (Amwal Al Ghad)