Indonesian State Bank To Serve Via Branchless Banking

Jakarta, Sept 9 (Antara) - The Indonesian State Bank, commonly named PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI), is improving its service to the remote areas through branchless banking, or banking service without office. "To expand the service, branchless banking will be implemented," Vice Director of BNI Felia Salim stated here on Monday. Felia said the bank was currently carrying out various preparations to determine which institutions could be BNI`s business partners. She was optimistic that the branchless banking program will improve people`s access to the banking institutions. Currently, people`s access to financial institutions is relatively lower than that of the regional countries. The branchless banking program is expected to facilitate the people to reach out to financial services. Felia added that BNI has also had active discussions with the Bank of Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and related governmental institutions regarding the branchless banking program. The OJK itself, as the central banking authority, has held discussions with various parties, such as experts, associations, academia, and the banking industries, related to the OJK Regulation Draft, on branchless banking program, which is called Intelligent Behavior, or Laku Pandai. The regulation draft is expected to be completed at the end of 2014.