* H1 profit drops to 708 mln euros vs 660.4 mln forecast
* Net interest income grows 11 percent to 1.9 bln euros
* Expects better results in H2 as global economy picks up
* Q2 profit up 23 percent q/q to 391 million euros (Adds CEO, analyst comment, details)
By George Georgiopoulos
ATHENS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Greece's largest bank NBG said it expected stronger performance in the following quarters as the global economy gradually improves after it delivered better-than-expected earnings on Friday.
National Bank's first-half net profit fell 13 percent year-on-year due to higher loan-loss provisions and slower lending growth at home and across southeastern Europe but the bank benefited from interest rate margin improvements. "With a gradually improving global environment, I now feel more confident that we will be able to deliver even stronger performance going forward, which will allow us to refocus on our medium-term strategy of establishing further our leading position in the region," NBG's Chief Executive Takis Arapoglou said in a statement.
NBG wrapped up the earnings season for Greek banks who for the most part beat analyst estimates despite seeing their profitability retreat from the previous year on slower lending volumes and increased bad loan provisions.
NGB reported a net profit of 708 million euros ($1.01 billion), above an average estimate of 660.4 million euros in a Reuters poll.
The bank's net earnings grew 23 percent quarter-on-quarter to 391 million euros, also above market expectations.
NBG, which is also present in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Cyprus, and Albania, said net interest income rose 11 percent to 1.9 billion euros. The net interest margin stood at 408 basis points, remaining firmly above the 4 percent level.
INDUSTRY EARNINGS POSITIVE
"Better-than-forecast trading and net interest income and cost containment were behind the higher-than-expected earnings," said analyst Costantinos Manolopoulos at Investment Bank of Greece.
"Greek bank earnings were positive despite the adverse economic environment. We expect higher operational profitability in the sector on the second half."
NBG said its bad debt grew modestly, confirming expectations that it would only have a small impact on the quality of its loan book.
The bank said Turkish subsidiary Finansbank contributed profit of 219 million euros or 31 percent of the group's total earnings, up 10 percent quarter-on-quarter despite higher provisions this year.
Profit from operations in southeast Europe declined 40 percent year-on-year to 64 million euros, contributing 9 percent to overall profitability.
NBG shares closed the session down 1.6 percent at 23.33 euros. The shares are up 94 percent so far this year, outperforming the Greek stock market's 42 percent climb. They trade about 12 times estimated 2009 earnings versus a multiple of 18 for European peers, the discount attributed to its exposure in the Balkans. (Additional reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; editing by Karen Foster)