STOCKHOLM, April 26 (Reuters) - Swedish bank SEB (SEBa.ST) reported first-quarter operating profit above market expectations on Wednesday as higher interest rates boosted income from loans. SEB, Sweden's top corporate bank, said operating profit was 11.62 billion Swedish crowns ($1.13 billion) versus a year-ago 7.86 billion, easily beating a mean forecast of 9.49 billion, according to estimates provided by the company. Soaring inflation over the past year has seen central banks crank up key rates radically, boosting interest income for Swedish banks, while volatile markets have increased demand for risk management services. Commission income fell to 5.17 billion crowns from a year-ago 5.40 billion, below the mean forecast 5.26 billion. However, SEB said its net credit losses fell to 272 million the quarter from 535 million a year ago, below the 686 million seen by analysts.

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