TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - Regional bank Renasant Corp. said profit in 2012's fourth quarter rose 26% from the same three months of 2011, as the bank set aside less to cover bad loans and paid savers less interest.

Renasant said Tuesday it made a quarterly profit of $7.28 million, or 29 cents per share, up from $5.79 million, or 23 cents per share, in 2011's fourth quarter. It was the fourth straight quarter of rising profit.

Analysts polled by FactSet had estimated 28 cents per share, on average.

The bank said net interest income increased. That's the spread between interest charged on loans and the interest paid to savers. Renasant said loans increased for the sixth straight quarter.

Based in Tupelo, the $4.2 billion bank has offices in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

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