Bank of Communications reported net profits of 20.36 billion yuan (US$3 billion) in the first half of the year, a 30-percent over the same period last year.

Its earnings per share also rose 33 percent to 0.4 yuan (US$0.06), according to the bank's 2010 interim report released Thursday.

By the end of June, its total assets reached 3.7 trillion yuan (US$544.87 billion), 12 percent higher than the beginning of this year. It had a customer deposit balance of 2.7 trillion yuan (US$397.61 billion), an increase of 14 percent, while its customer loan balance was 2 trillion yuan (US$304.83 billion), an increase of 12.6 percent.

The diversion rate of the bank's electronic banking increased to 54 percent at the end of June, 4 percent higher than in early January.

The bank also expanded its international business in the first half of the year. The total assets of its overseas branches grew 13 percent to US$33 billion.

An official from the bank said Wednesday that the bank would further optimize its risk management framework, improve its abilities in risk management and reduction and upgrade its risk alert mechanism.

China's business press carried the story above on Thursday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.