Chennai, July 23 - The city-based Indian Bank closed the first quarter with a 52 percent increase in net profit and nearly 21 percent increase in total business as compared to the corresponding period in the previous fiscal, said a top bank official here Thursday.

'Despite the challenging economic environment, the bank has earned a net profit of Rs.331.66 crore and did a total business of Rs.1,28,701 crore (deposits plus advances) as against Rs.217.62 crore and Rs.1,06,691 crore posted during the corresponding period of the previous year,' said the bank's chairman and managing director M.S. Sundara Rajan.

Its revenues rose to Rs.2,230.39 crore from Rs.1,744.99 crore earned in the year-ago period.

'The net interest income rose to Rs.737.78 crore for the period ending June 30 from Rs.539.53 crore eared in the corresponding quarter last year. The net interest margin improved to 3.56 per cent from 3.17 percent,' Rajan said.