State-Owned Banks Address Liquidity and Credit Growth Concerns

Government Fund Placement and Credit Performance

State-owned banks (Himbara) have responded to concerns about the effectiveness of the government's placement of excess budget funds (SAL) in boosting credit growth. The policy's impact has been a subject of discussion among banking stakeholders.

BSI's Positive Liquidity Position

Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) reported that its third-party funds reached Rp348.38 trillion as of September 2025, representing a 15.66% year-on-year growth. This strong liquidity position enables the bank to support financing expansion across various sectors. BSI received Rp10 trillion from the government's SAL allocation, which has been fully disbursed to consumer and real sectors by October 2025.

Strategic Sector Financing

The disbursement from SAL funds covered various strategic sectors including utilities, transportation, trade and restaurants, business services, construction, mining, and household sectors. BSI also utilized these funds to support value chain financing, non-program Griya housing financing, gold pawn and installment business, MSME financing, and financing for employees and retirees.

Risk Management and Liquidity

BTN's Corporate Secretary, Ramon Armando, emphasized that the bank has anticipated the government's potential withdrawal of SAL funds by maintaining adequate liquidity management. BTN is prepared to return the funds if needed without disrupting operational activities or credit distribution.

OJK's Assessment of Liquidity

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) confirmed that the withdrawal of Rp75 trillion government funds from banks did not significantly impact banking liquidity. As of January 6, 2026, the banking sector maintained a liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of 210.38% and a loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) of 83.99%. OJK noted that all Himbara banks receiving SAL funds maintained LCR above the 100% regulatory requirement.

Banking Sector Preparedness

Dian Ediana Rae, OJK's Executive Head of Banking Supervision, stated that banks naturally maintain appropriate risk appetite in managing their liquidity according to prevailing regulations. The banking sector's preparedness in managing liquidity was evident in their ability to handle the government's fund movements effectively.