Komercni 9-month net profit up 5 pct, lags fcasts

PRAGUE, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Komercni Banka <BKOMsp.PR>, the third largest Czech bank by total assets, posted a lower than expected 5 percent rise in nine-month net profits on Thursday as net fees lagged market expectations.

The Czech unit of France's Societe Generale <SOGN.PA> had a net profit of 6.62 billion crowns ($302.1 million) in January-September, up from 6.31 billion a year ago but below the average forecast of 6.97 billion in a Reuters poll.

The only listed Czech lender has benefited from economic growth of about 6 percent and rising incomes, employment and social transfers in the Czech Republic, which have fuelled a rise in consumer spending and a boom in buying on credit. ((Reporting by Marek Petrus; Editing by Alan Crosby; Reuters Messaging: rm://marek.petrus.reuters.com@reuters.net; e-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com or marek.petrus@reuters.com; Tel: +420 224 190 477)) ($1=21.91 Czech Crown)

Keywords: FINANCIAL CZECH KOMERCNI