DUBAI: Oman's Bank Sohar, in talks to merge with larger rival Bank Dhofar, reported on Monday a 31 percent year-on-year jump in net profit for the first quarter of this year to 7.96 million rials ($20.7 million).

Net loans and advances climbed 17 percent to 1.31 billion rials, while customers' deposits increased 8 percent to 1.41 billion rials.