Net fee and commission income rose at the Hong Kong-based bank for the six months to the end of June.

The Bank of East Asia has reported an attributable profit of HK$1.532 billion ($198 million), rising by 53.2 per cent on a year earlier. Operating profit before provisions, however, fell by 21.9 per cent to HK1.159 billion.

The increase in attributable profit was mainly due to a drop in impairment losses in mainland China, BEA said in a statement late last week. 

Net interest income for the group fell by HK$1.309 billion, or 17.6 per cent, to HK$6.114 billion. 

Net fee and commission income rose by HK$81 million, or 6.0 per cent, to HK$1.435 million. Net commission income from loans, overdrafts and guarantees, securities and brokerage and investment products grew, while net commission income from trade finance and trust and other fiduciary activities decreased. 

BEA offers services including wealth management.