dnb bank asa on thursday lifted its dividend after posting a rise in fourthquarter net profit as earnings were boosted by higher net interest income and fees norways largest lender made a profit attributable to shareholders of 588 billion norwegian kroner 6671 million compared with nok508 billion a year earlier net interest income rose 85 to nok1029 billion it said analysts polled by factset had expected net profit of nok614 billion and net interest income of nok1004 billion the bank is targeting a return on equity above 12 and it said it is set to deliver on this target by the end of 2023 between 2021 and 2023 the annual increase in lending volumes is still expected to be around 34 while net commissions and fees are still expected to rise by 45 annually with a costtoincome ratio below 40 dnbs common equity tier 1 capital ratioa measure of a banks financial strengthrose to 194 from 187 it said the bank proposed a dividend of nok975 for 2021 from nok900 the previous year