PRAGUE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A majority of the Czech National Bank board may back faster policy tightening, central banker Vojtech Benda was quoted as saying on Wednesday, amid bets the bank would deliver its biggest rate hike in over two decades on Sept. 30.

The Czech and Hungarian central banks were the first in the European Union to raise interest rates to battle rising inflation, starting in June.

But while Hungary scaled down its hikes on Tuesday, comments from Czech central bankers have shown support for stepping up policy tightening with a bigger than usual 50 basis-point rate increase next week.

That has worried the Czech government, which is seeking re-election in October.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis has warned against rises making household and company loans more expensive. Finance Minister Alena Schillerova said on Twitter on Wednesday she had "repeatedly" appealed against rate hikes hurting fiscal consolidation plans when she attended the central bank's August policy meeting.

On Sunday she also warned against hikes - earning a rebuke from the independent central bank.

Governor Jiri Rusnok, said higher rates were needed and has not ruled out a bigger than normal hike. While it has sometimes cut rates by more than 25 basis points, the central bank hasn't raised them by more than that amount since 1997.

With inflation at a 13-year high and risks of high price growth being entrenched in consumers' and businesses' expectations, debate continues over how quickly rates should rise.

Benda was the lone vote on the seven-member board for a 50 basis-point hike in June and August, when standard 25 basis-point hikes were agreed, pushing the two-week repo rate to 0.75%.

"In the light of the new inflation data, support for a faster rise may prevail," Benda said in an interview with daily Lidove Noviny on Wednesday.

STRONGER HIKE CAMP

Like others, the Czech central bank is facing high inflation amid global pressures in supply chains and energy costs, plus a tight labour market and jumping demand after coronavirus pandemic restrictions eased.

Czech central bank Vice-Governor Tomas Nidetzky was quoted on Wednesday as saying support for a stronger rate move would grow.

He told news website Denik N this week he could imagine a total of 100 basis points in hikes by the end of 2021, like markets are pricing.

On Tuesday, central banker Tomas Holub told Reuters he would "quite likely" support a bigger than usual move. Vice-Governor Marek Mora told Bloomberg the odds were probably in favour of a 50 basis-point hike. (Reporting by Robert Muller and Jason Hovet; Editing by Hugh Lawson)