SURABAYA: The business daily Bisnis Indonesia together with PT Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional Tbk (BTPN) held a media workshop with the theme "Branchless Banking - Financial Access for All" in Surabaya, yesterday. The event presented CIDES Economist, Umar Juoro, and Head of Sales btpn WOW!, Donny Prasetya.
The media workshop aims to provide an extensive understanding of branchless banking development, both in concept and practice at the national banking level.
According to data from the 2011 World Bank’s Global Financial Inclusion Index, the number of adults that have a bank account is only 19.6%, lower than the 66.7 % in Malaysia and 77.7% in Thailand.
In response, Bank Indonesia (BI) is testing branchless banking services, or a payment service system with limited banking services, using Financial Intermediary Services Unit (UPLK) covering eight provinces, since May 2013. This UPLK Service is intended primarily to serve the unbanked and under-banked community, or people who have not been touched by financial services, such as transfers, savings and loans.
Branchless banking is part of the financial inclusion efforts aimed at improving financial access for the unbanked community. Financial inclusion aims to abolish the barriers for the community to access financial services, both that carry charges and not.
BTPN is one of the pioneer banks in implementing branchless banking. Through btpn Wow!, the Bank developed banking services for the mass market by making use of mobile phone technology with the support of service agents. The agent’s role as an extension of the Bank is very important. It allows BTPN to extend the range of services to customers in all corners of Indonesia.
The presence of agents will add transaction points (point-of-sales) for the customers, while at the same time, reduce the Bank’s operational costs for it does not need to build the usual infrastructure, such as branch offices. This, ultimately, will benefit the wider community.
The presence of agents will add bank transaction points (point of sales) for the customer and, at the same time, will reduce the bank's operation costs because it doesn’t need to build the usual physical infrastructure, such as branch office buildings. This, ultimately, will benefit the wider community.
According to CIDES Senior Economist, Umar Juoro, financial inclusion has strong correlations with economic development and income distribution. "With better access to financial services for the community, they will be able to increase their economic activity as well as welfare. Indonesia is still very open to branchless banking development, " he said.
He added that the regulator should facilitate the development of supporting regulations for financial inclusion going forward. "Also, financial institutions, particularly banks, in collaboration with telecommunication companies can optimally utilize these opportunities," he said.
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