Nov 7 (Reuters) - Credicorp ( BAP ), one of Peru's

largest financial holding companies, posted a 23% climb in

third-quarter net profit on Thursday as its low-cost deposits

grew in the firm's deposit base.

Net profit was up to 1.52 billion soles ($405.33

million) in the third quarter, while Credicorp's ( BAP ) overall deposit

base grew 4%.

Low-cost deposits - or deposits to checking and savings

accounts - made up a larger share of the base, Credicorp ( BAP ) said in

its earnings statement, growing around 14% to close the quarter

at nearly 70% of the total.

Such deposits are called low cost as banks pay out

little to no interest on them.

Credicorp's ( BAP ) loan book shrank just over 1% from the

year-ago quarter, with one unit rolling out stricter credit

guidelines. Non-performing loans also fell, with corporate and

small-business clients paying back more debts.

Consumer and credit-card clients, however, increased in

delinquency.

($1 = 3.7500 soles)