Consolidated assets of the Vneshtorgbank group (Russia) grew 7.5 percent in the first quarter of this year to USD19.146m, the bank said in a released statement. IAS net income of the group was USD67m compared to USD77m in the first quarter of 2004. Net interest nearly doubled to USD200m. A 13-percent fall in the group net income is due to higher operating expenses. The growth of this rate was 58.4 percent in the reported period.

      The increase in assets is due to the boosting of the loan portfolio by 9.3 percent. Securities accounted for 14.4 percent of total assets as of March 31, 2005.