UK mortgage approvals rise for 2nd month in February - BBA

LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - Mortgages approved by Britishbanks rose in February for a second month in a row, adding tosigns that a slowdown in the British housing market may havebottomed out, the British Bankers' Association said onWednesday.

Mortgage approvals for house purchase rose to a five-monthhigh of 37,305 from 36,517 in January. Despite the increase,approvals were down 20 percent from February a year ago.

The BBA also said unsecured borrowing -- such as borrowingon credit cards -- rose at its fastest annual growth rate inmore than six years, up 4.4 percent. Economists expect borrowingto pick up as the economic recovery broadens.

The number of mortgage approvals slowed through most of 2014as regulators introduced tougher lending rules for banks andbuilding societies.

Data from the Bank of England, which captures a broaderrange of lenders than the BBA figures, has also shown mortgageapprovals picking up. (Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Andy Bruce)