ANKARA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Foreign currency deposits held by local investors in Turkey rose to $148.8 billion in the week ending Feb. 17 from $147.09 billion a week earlier, central bank data showed on Thursday.

In December, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan made a call for Turks to convert their foreign currency holdings to the local currency in a bid to support lira. The lira has this month rebounded from sharp losses at the start of 2017.

(Reporting by Nevzat Devranoglu; Writing by Daren Butler) ((daren.butler@tr.com; +90-212-350 7053; Reuters Messaging: daren.butler.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))