** Suncorp SUN.AX posted a 17% rise in annual cash profit on Monday, but warned of slower growth in gross written premiums for FY25
** Shares of the insurer closed 1.3% higher after falling 2.2% in early trading
** Co's general insurance gross written premiums rose 14% to A$14.1 bln ($9.49 bln)
SALE OF BANK UNLOCKS OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD
** Jefferies raises PT on SUN to A$18.35/shr; Citi raises PT to A$17.70/shr
** Citi, Morningstar and Jefferies expect majority of proceeds from SUN bank sale to be returned to shareholders
** Citi and Morningstar also see potential for buybacks for SUN going forward
** All three brokerages see insurance margins improvements for SUN in FY25 as well
($1 = 1.4857 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru)