By Doug Alexander and Sean B. Pasternak

March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of Montreal, the last of Canada's six-largest lenders to release first-quarter results, reported profits that beat analysts' estimates on rising consumer loans.

Scotiabank, the No. 3 lender, said net income for the period ended Jan. 31 rose 1 percent to C$842 million, or 80 cents a share. Bank of Montreal, the fourth-biggest bank, said profit fell 12 percent to C$225 million, or 39 cents a share.

The two banks join four other Canadian lenders that last week reported profit that beat estimates. Tighter regulations and restrictions on lending helped Canada's banks outperform their global counterparts, which have reported more than $1.1 trillion in credit losses and writedowns amid the credit crisis.

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