Spain's Banco Santander Central Hispano, the biggest bank in the eurozone, saw its net profit soar 22% last year.
SCH reported net profit, including exceptionals, of €7.6 billion in the full year to December from €6.2 billion a year earlier, which was in line with analysts' forecasts.
SCH booked €2.7 billion in capital gains in 2006 from the sale of stakes in other companies - with €1 bn of the proceeds boosting profit.
British bank Abbey National, which SCH bought in 2004, reported net profit of €1 billion, up 24% from a year earlier, SCH said, adding that this figure would rise to €1.2 billion in 2007.
The net profit result was boosted by a 29% rise in net profit to €2.3 billion at the bank's Latin American operations. In continental Europe, net profit rose 16% to €3.5 billion.
SCH chairman Emilio Botin told a press conference that the bank had 'no acquisition opportunities in sight' at the moment, playing down ongoing speculation of possible take-over deals.
