South Indian Bank reported a 9.4% rise in third quarter net profit at Rs 374 crore as compared with Rs 342 crore in the year-ago period.

Operating profit stood 10.4% higher at Rs 584 crore against Rs 529 crore, backed by a 19% year-on-year surge in non-interest income at Rs 486 crore. Net interest income stood 1.3% higher at Rs 881 crore.

The Thrissur-headquartered private sector lender managed to improve its asset quality further with gross non-performing assets falling to 2.7% at the end of December last year from 4.3% a year prior. Net NPA was at 0.45% against 1.25%.

The bank’s gross advances grew 11% year-on-year to Rs 96,764 crore at the end of December last year. Gold loan business, which accounted for 22% of the gross advances, expanded 26% to Rs 20,952 crore. Corporate loan segment with 40% weightage rose 10% to Rs 38,353 crore.