Westpac sells US$825 mln 3-year 144a notes

SYDNEY, April 1 (Reuters) - Westpac Banking Group, Australia's third largest lender, has sold US$825 million of three-year 144a reg S notes at 55 basis points over Libor, a source who has seen the terms said on Thursday.

The floating rate note issue will mature on April 8, 2013 and settle on April 8.

JPMorgan and Westpac jointly led the issue.

Westpac is rated AA by S&P and Fitch and Aa1 by Moody's.

Earlier on Thursday, Fitch upgraded the bank's credit ratings to AA, from AA-minus, and highlighted Westpac's much stronger position in the Australian retail banking market.

(Reporting by Cecile Lefort)
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