Britain's Nationwide reports annual profit up 30% as it integrates Virgin Money

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's Nationwide Building Society reported its annual profit rose 30%, as it incorporated its takeover of rival Virgin Money, which made it the country's second biggest mortgage lender.

Nationwide said on Thursday its statutory 2004 profit before tax rose to 2.3 billion pounds ($3.09 billion), up from 1.8 billion the year before as it recorded its highest ever year for mortgage lending and retail customer balances.

($1 = 0.7444 pounds)

(Reporting By Lawrence WhiteEditing by Tomasz Janowski)