AAP
Bank of Queensland Ltd's first half profit slumped 45 per cent as the regional lender was hit by a significant increase in bad debts.
Net profit fell to $50.4 million for the six months to February 28 from $90.9 million a year earlier, Brisbane-based Bank of Queensland said in a statement on Thursday.
Cash profit declined 41 per cent to $57.6 million.
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The lender declared a fully franked interim dividend of 26 cents per share, steady with the previous first half year.
