The bank earned 85 cents per share in the quarter. Analysts, on average, had estimated a profit of 77 cents per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Profit applicable to common shareholders rose 2% to $6.9 billion in the fourth quarter, from $6.77 billion a year earlier, the bank said in a statement.

(Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru and Lananh Nguyen in New York; Editing by Savio Dsouza)