National.

Preliminary results for the second quarter of 1992 show continued improvement in profitability and capital levels for national banks, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced last week.

But the comptroller's office, which oversees banks with national charters, warned that the percentage of noncurrent loans in national bank portfolios "continues to exceed historical levels," casting "a cloud over future bank earnings.

According to the comptroller's office, national banks enjoyed aggregate profits of $4.4 billion during the second quarter, $45 million higher than first-quarter earnings and $2.36 billion higher than earnings in the second quarter of 1991.

The comptroller's office also reported that equity capital at national banks increased by $5.9 billion in the second quarter, for a total increase of $ 9.8 billion since the end of 1991.

Despite the improved profitability, noncurrent loans stood at $47.1 billion at the end of the second quarter, with real estate loans posing the most problems. At the end of the second quarter, real estate loans constituted 55.4% of all noncurrent loans.

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