Metro Bank says total loans pass 2 billion pounds mark in Q2

LONDON, July 23 (Reuters) - New British lender Metro Banksaid its total lending grew to over 2 billion pounds ($3.13billion) at the end of June, nearly double what it was a yearago.

Founded by U.S. entrepreneur Vernon Hill, the bank has beenchampioned as an alternative to Britain's 'big four' lenders -Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland,Barclays and HSBC.

British lawmakers and regulators want to stimulatecompetition within the industry and the country's competitionwatchdog is investigating banking services for small businessesand individuals.

Metro Bank, which launched in 2010 as Britain's first newhigh street lender for more than a century, said its lendingamounted to 2.2 billion pounds, up 90 percent on the yearbefore. Total deposits rose to 3.8 billion pounds, up 94 percenton a year ago.

The bank, which has yet to make a profit, reported a loss of8 million pounds in the second quarter, compared with a loss of8.5 million in the previous quarter.

($1 = 0.6385 pounds) (Reporting by Matt Scuffham; Editing by Steve Slater)