Czech  retail  bank  Ceska sporitelna  (CS),  a  unit of Austria's Erste Bank (Erste), posted a net profit of  CZK 4.8 bn in the first six months of 2005, a 7.7 % rise from January - June 2004, CS announced Monday.
     CS  spokeswoman  Klara Gajduskova says the bank's total assets grew 9.1 % yr/yr in 1H 2005 to CZK 630.9 bn.
     The  firm's  operating  profit  was up 8.8 % against 1H 2004 at CZK 6.09 bn.   The bank's ratio of operating costs to income improved to 57 % from 58.3 %.      Net  interest income totaled CZK 9.03 bn, representing yr/yr growth of 7.2 %.  Income  from  fees  and commissions increased by 6.9 % to CZK 4.37 bn in 1H 2005.
     Loans  to  clients  were 27 % higher at CZK 238.9 bn. The number of loans grew  by 13.8 % yr/yr to over 1 mln. Loans provided to individuals increased  by  CZK 12 bn to over CZK 100 bn. Mortgage loans rose 52 % to CZK 47.9 bn.
     CS  estimates  that the three rate cuts made by the CNB so far this year, bringing  rates to an all-time low of 1.75 %, will reduce CS's net interest income by CZK 230 mln to CZK 300 mln.
     The  volume  of  cash  and  consumer loans increased by 43 % to CZK 30.03 bn. Claims on companies grew 19.8 % to CZK 114.47 bn.      Client  deposits  on various types of accounts, in building society and pension fund savings, amounted to CZK 358.2 bn, up 5 % from 1H 2004.
     Overall, liabilities to clients were 5.6 % higher at CZK 468.21 bn.      CS,  the largest bank on the Czech market by number of clients, has left its economic performance outlook for this year unchanged.