OSLO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Norway's largest bank DNB reported on Wednesday a slightly bigger than expected fourth-quarter net profit and proposed a dividend that exceeded what analysts had forecast.

Net profit fell to 9.40 billion Norwegian crowns ($897.8 million) in the October-December period from 10.1 billion a year earlier. Analysts had on average expected 9.23 billion crowns, according to a poll compiled by the bank.

"The Norwegian economy has proven to be remarkably sound, and we still believe in a soft landing in 2024," CEO Kjerstin Braathen said in a statement.

"However, there are two sides to this picture. The situation is bleak in some industries, such as the building and construction industry, but momentum remains high in the energy and supplier industry, among others," she added.

DNB's net interest income, measuring revenue from lending and borrowing, rose to 16.0 billion Norwegian crowns in the quarter period from 14.1 billion a year earlier. Analysts had on average expected 16.2 billion crowns, according to the poll.

The board proposed a full-year 2023 dividend payment of 16 Norwegian crowns per share, up from 12.50 crowns for 2022, while analysts according to the poll on average had expected 14.05 crowns. ($1 = 10.4697 Norwegian crowns) (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Louise Rasmussen)