The euro zone second-biggest lender in terms of market value booked a net profit of 2.93 billion euros ($3.17 billion), up from 2.29 billion euros a year ago.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected Satander to post a net profit of 2.64 billion euros.

($1 = 0.9244 euros)

(Reporting by Jesús Aguado; editing by Inti Landauro)