Jordanian lender Arab Bank Group's said its nine-month net profit rose 10 per cent to $614 million compared to last year, attributing it to a diversified portfolio with growth in key markets and a prudent risk strategy.

One of the Middle East's major financial institutions, it said on Saturday that total loans rose 2.2 per cent to $23.7 billion at end-September, while deposits grew 3.5 per cent to $34.1 billion compared to the same period last year.

The bank gave no figures for third quarter net profits.

Chairman Sabih Masri was quoted in a brief statement as saying the bank's results reflected its "solid business strategy and commitment to grow its business prudently".

Masri said the bank was confident of its legal position after a US jury in September found it liable for giving material support to Hamas and said it must compensate victims of two dozen attacks attributed to the Islamic militant group in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Masri said the bank had started steps to prepare for the submission of an appeal against the ruling that was expected to take a year.

Arab Bank, whose geographic spread over 30 countries in five continents has diversified its operations and minimised risk, owns 40 per cent of Saudi Arabia's Arab National Bank ANB.-Reuters