Financial consultant and planner Elvi Diana stated in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday that state-owned banks’ ability to maintain credit growth and profitability is supported by strong business structures, government backing, and sustained public trust amid global economic uncertainty.
According to data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), bank lending grew 9.49 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp8,659.05 trillion (approximately US$491.9 billion) as of March 2026, up from 9.37 percent yoy growth recorded in February 2026.
Diana explained that the dominance of low-cost deposits, particularly current accounts and savings accounts (CASA), has become a key factor in maintaining efficient funding costs. This has helped keep net interest margins stable despite pressure from global interest rates.
She added that the condition aligns with the bank efficiency structure theory proposed by Demsetz in 1973, which states that financial institutions with high operational efficiency tend to achieve stronger profitability and resilience during crises or periods of economic uncertainty.
The expert highlighted the strength of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) segment, which continues to support the bank’s intermediation growth amid global volatility.
BRI recorded net interest income (NII) of Rp40.155 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting 11.9 percent year-on-year growth.
According to Diana, the achievement demonstrates that BRI’s intermediation function continues to perform strongly despite ongoing global uncertainty.
She also emphasized the importance of credit portfolio diversification in maintaining banking asset quality. Expanding financing distribution, she said, can help minimize credit concentration risks.
Furthermore, digital transformation initiatives undertaken by state-owned banks have improved service efficiency and expanded financial inclusion.
She assessed that digitalization has strengthened banks’ ability to collect public funds while reducing operational costs.
Diana further stated that strong public trust in state-owned banks remains an important factor supporting the stability of Indonesia’s financial system amid global uncertainty.
She expressed optimism that the national banking sector still holds positive growth potential throughout 2026, provided domestic macroeconomic stability is maintained and demand for productive credit continues to increase.
“As long as domestic consumption, the MSME sector, and government investment continue to grow, state-owned banks like BRI can remain the primary drivers of national banking intermediation growth,” she remarked.
Related news: Banking resilience strong to mitigate impact of war: BI
Related news: Indonesia's investment grade remains secure: Deputy Finance Minister
Translator: Imamatul Silfia, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
