Manama, Asharq Al-Awsat- Bahrain”s leading retail bank, &#34Ahli United Bank&#34 said Sunday that its net profit increased three-fold to $63.166 million in the third quarter of 2005, from $22.185 million in the same period a year earlier.

For the first nine months, profits were 67% higher at $141.8 million.

The bank said the results reflected earnings growth across all the bank”s activities, but gave no further details.

Ahli is listed on the Bahrain stock market, according to a report of Dow Jones Newswires.