We have 13 remittance offices not only in Kuala Lumpur, but also in other states."
Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - State-owned lender PT Bank Mandiri plans to open a branch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the end of this year, to serve many Indonesians mainly migrant workers in that country.

"We hope by the end of this year, Bank Mandiri could expand operation regionally," Corporate Communication Head of the publicly listed bank Ahmad Reza said here.

The chairman of the public relations forum of state companies (BUMN) said it is time for Bank Mandiri to expand operation in this region.

"A bank with assets of more than Rp1 trillion should operate at regional level," he added.

Bank Mandiri already has branches abroad including in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Fiji and Timor Leste, although only the one in Timor Leste has operated as a full bank, he said.

With so many Indonesians in Kuala Lumpur, the country should have a bank branch in Malaysia, he said.

CEO of Mandiri International Remittance (MIR), Wahyu Surachmat, who accompanied Ahmad Reza on the occasion, said MIR would change model of business from conventional to digital system in branches.

"Business players in remittance industry have been encouraged by Bank Negara to make digital innovation. This has pushed us to make own application in the form of remittance application this year," Wahyu said.

With the remittance application , customers could conduct own transactions through mobile device, which is more efficient, he said, adding, the transactions would be cheaper.

He said the cost is much higher by opening conventional branches than using digital application.

He said the economy would grow faster by using advanced technology.

"We have 13 remittance offices not only in Kuala Lumpur, but also in other states. There will be fewer branches needed with this technology and business opportunity between Malaysians and Indonesians would open the wider," he said.

Reza introduced a new breakthrough of Bank Mandiri, called Mandiri Oline (Mandol), which has 7.9 million owners among the Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.

"If I want to make a payment I have to use internet banking and token. If the transaction is small nominally I may use mobile banking,transfer, buy pulse, you could buy anything," he said.

He said with the Mandol application all functions are combined from transactions, deposit investment,credit card bill, savings loans, etc.
(Uu.H-ASG/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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