Bank Permata Explores Paylater Development Amid Regulatory Assessment

Strategic Evaluation of BNPL Services

PT Bank Permata Tbk (BNLI) is actively considering entering the buy now pay later (BNPL) or paylater market, with ongoing assessments of product development aligned with the latest regulatory guidelines. Haryanto, Division Head of Consumer Lending at Permata Bank, confirmed that the bank is currently evaluating the potential of paylater services.

The assessment includes reviewing the newest policies issued by financial regulators to ensure compliance while exploring market opportunities. "We're assessing it. The paylater, including the latest policy from the regulator, is being evaluated," Haryanto stated during an interview in Jakarta.

Historical Context and Future Plans

This development is not entirely new for Permata Bank. In October 2024, the bank's management had already expressed intentions to venture into paylater services. Djumariah Tenteram, Director of Consumer Banking, mentioned that the bank aimed to introduce the service as soon as possible, although no specific timeline was provided. "Yes, as soon as possible," Djumariah replied when asked about the launch timeline.

Riga Sunkara, Division Head of Digital Business at Permata Bank, highlighted that customer feedback regarding paylater features is being considered in the development of their mobile banking application, Permata ME. "All feedback, including requests for paylater, will be used for future development to ensure continuous improvement," Riga explained.

Market Context and Growth Potential

The BNPL market in Indonesia has shown significant growth. According to data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the BNPL loan portfolio reached Rp26.20 trillion by November 2025, growing by 20.34% year-on-year. The number of BNPL accounts also surged to 31.47 million, with a gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 2.04% during the same period.

As Permata Bank continues its assessment, the bank is likely to leverage this growing market trend while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The development of paylater services could potentially enhance Permata Bank's digital banking offerings and strengthen its competitive position in the Indonesian banking sector.