Asmawi Syam, president director of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), started his career in the second largest bank in Indonesia almost four decades ago, back in 1980.
SALES: RP 85.4 TLN
MARKET CAP: RP 288 TLN
Asmawi Syam, president director of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), started his career in the second largest bank in Indonesia almost four decades ago, back in 1980. He says he never imagined that banking services would evolve into what they are today. He remembers that, well into the 1990s, bankers could just wait for customers. Now, the situation is far different, with fierce competition between banks to find and hold customers, and each one offering competitive rates, services, and prizes. Not to mention the digital revolution with fintech firms offering disruptive services and alternatives to traditional banking.
“Changes happen and we need to adapt to survive and grow,” says Asmawi, 60. But the state-owned BRI has gone far beyond just adapting to the new situation. In June 18, BRI became the first bank in the world to launch its own satellite, dubbed BRIsat, from French Guiana in South America. The satellite is already parked in a geostationary orbit just above Papua and will be handed over to BRI before the end of August.
The $250 million satellite, which Asmawi says only cost the equivalent of 2.5 months of BRI’s payroll, is a giant step for the bank. But is it necessary? Part of the answer lies in the bank’s customer base. Being the country’s second largest lender in terms of assets and loan size after Bank Mandiri, BRI’s customers are spread out across the archipelago, mostly SMEs and micro business. To reach all of them is a logistical nightmare. BRI even has special branches on boats, called BRI Teras Kapal, to provide banking services on some islands and coastal areas. Last year the SMEs and micro segments represented nearly 45% of BRI loans, equal to about Rp 248 trillion.
Denne historien er fra August 2016-utgaven av Forbes Indonesia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2016-utgaven av Forbes Indonesia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BACK ON TRACK
Collective wealth gets a 21% boost to a record $162 billion amid an economic uptick.
Championing Locals
The wave of social commerce is enabling inclusive digital economies beyond urban areas.
Boys in the Bubble
Startups are supposed to specialize, but OPENSEA’s founders thrived by building a wide-open market for creating and trading all manner of NFTs, whether art, music or gaming. Now that they’re centimillionaires and poised to become billionaires, they have other worries: competitors, fraudsters and the next crypto crash.
Enduring Relations
The implementation of IA-CEPA amid the pandemic signifies the Indonesia-Australia’s commitment to recover and counter future challenges together.
Sweet Success
Steven Erwin envisions Unifam to become a major global player in the confectionery and F&B industry.
Marathon Man
Across America, scores of municipal pension funds remain scandalously underfunded. But not the pension fund of Tampa’s police and firemen, thanks in large part to JAY BOWEN, whose no-frills approach to stock picking has protected and served them for more than 45 years.
Gold Rallies on Inflation Fears
During September the price of gold rallied to $1,868 per ounce following the release of figures on US inflation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics which indicated that, as of September, CPI inflation had rocketed to 6.2%, above the 5.8% which economists had been predicting.
Set Off to A New Start
Bank Aladin has two main ingredients for success: establish trust and offer better customer experiences.
The Daily Intake
YOUVIT plans to invest further into marketing and grow into one of the leading vitamin brands in Indonesia.
THE CROESUS OF CRYPTO
FTX COFOUNDER SAM BANKMAN-FRIED BUILT A $22.5 BILLION FORTUNE BEFORE HIS 30TH BIRTHDAY BY PROFITING OFF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY FRENZY—BUT HE’S NOT A TRUE BELIEVER. HE JUST WANTS HIS WEALTH TO SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY.
