Madrid - Banco Santander, Spain's largest bank, increased its net profit by 19 per cent to 9 billion euros (13 billion dollars) in 2007, the bank said Thursday. The growth was boosted by sales of assets such as real estate properties and pension management companies in Latin America.
The net profit, which was the highest in the bank's 150-year history, was made despite international financial turbulence and while Santander participated in the acquisition of ABN Amro together with The Royal Bank of Scotland and Fortis.
Santander said its board of directors was increasing the dividend by 25 per cent to 0.65 euros per share.
