DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Southeast Asia&rsquo s largest bank, posted higher first-quarter profit as net interest income rose.

Net income rose to S$1.20 billion million ($897 million) for the three months ended March 31 from S$1.13 billion a year earlier, the Singapore-based bank reported Tuesday. That beats the average forecast of S$1.04 billion in a Bloomberg survey of six analysts.

DBS is the last of Singapore&rsquo s three largest banks to report first-quarter earnings, as lenders around the region are pressured by an economic slowdown and a collapse in commodity prices. Its two smaller rivals, Oversea-Chinese Bank Corp. and United Overseas Bank Ltd., both posted lower profit. Central banks from Southeast Asia to China have delivered various measures in a bid to reverse the decline in economic growth.

Net interest income at DBS gained 8 percent to S$1.83 billion from a year earlier. DBS&rsquo s net interest margin, a gauge of lenders&rsquo profitability, was higher at 1.85 percent, compared with  1.69 percent a year ago and 1.84 percent in the previous quarter.

DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Southeast Asia&rsquo s largest bank, posted higher first-quarter profit as net interest income rose.

Net income rose to S$1.20 billion million ($897 million) for the three months ended March 31 from S$1.13 billion a year earlier, the Singapore-based bank reported Tuesday. That beats the average forecast of S$1.04 billion in a Bloomberg survey of six analysts.

DBS is the last of Singapore&rsquo s three largest banks to report first-quarter earnings, as lenders around the region are pressured by an economic slowdown and a collapse in commodity prices. Its two smaller rivals, Oversea-Chinese Bank Corp. and United Overseas Bank Ltd., both posted lower profit. Central banks from Southeast Asia to China have delivered various measures in a bid to reverse the decline in economic growth.

Net interest income at DBS gained 8 percent to S$1.83 billion from a year earlier. DBS&rsquo s net interest margin, a gauge of lenders&rsquo profitability, was higher at 1.85 percent, compared with  1.69 percent a year ago and 1.84 percent in the previous quarter.

DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Southeast Asia&rsquo s largest bank, posted higher first-quarter profit as net interest income rose.

Net income rose to S$1.20 billion million ($897 million) for the three months ended March 31 from S$1.13 billion a year earlier, the Singapore-based bank reported Tuesday. That beats the average forecast of S$1.04 billion in a Bloomberg survey of six analysts.

DBS is the last of Singapore&rsquo s three largest banks to report first-quarter earnings, as lenders around the region are pressured by an economic slowdown and a collapse in commodity prices. Its two smaller rivals, Oversea-Chinese Bank Corp. and United Overseas Bank Ltd., both posted lower profit. Central banks from Southeast Asia to China have delivered various measures in a bid to reverse the decline in economic growth.

Net interest income at DBS gained 8 percent to S$1.83 billion from a year earlier. DBS&rsquo s net interest margin, a gauge of lenders&rsquo profitability, was higher at 1.85 percent, compared with  1.69 percent a year ago and 1.84 percent in the previous quarter.