LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - HSBC became the first UK bank to reveal the cost of refunding thousands of customers for fees charged over unauthorised overdrafts, saying on Monday it totalled US$236 million in the first half of 2007.

"This is an industry-wide issue and the size of the refunds that we have made demonstrate our commitment to treating our customers in a fair and transparent manner," HSBC Chief Executive Michael Geoghegan said in a statement detailing the bank's first-half results.

Analysts had estimated refunds would top 200 million pounds ($407 million) in the first-half of this year, but HSBC's numbers indicate the total could be far higher.

Rival lenders have so far acknowledged the issue but have stopped short of detailing the cost of refunds.

Tens of thousands of customers have claimed back up to six years worth of penalty fees in recent months, spurred on by consumer campaigns, high-profile media coverage, template letters provided on Internet sites and anecdotal evidence that banks have been repaying charges.

HSBC said its personal financial services business in Britain represents less than 7 percent of worldwide profits.

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