BOGOTA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Colombia's central bank unexpectedly cut its benchmark interest rate on Friday on signs of a slowdown in economic growth as weak overseas demand hurts the Andean nation's industrial sector.

The seven-member board voted to reduce the lending rate a quarter point to 4.50 percent - surprising economists - on bets that robust domestic consumption may not be enough to carry the economy in the coming months.

(Reporting by Bogota Newsroom; editing by Andrew Hay) Keywords: COLOMBIA RATES/CUTS

(Jack.kimball@thomsonreuters.com)(Reuters Messaging: jack.kimball.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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