Jakarta - The banking industry is facing the challenge of tight\nliquidity in an era of high benchmark interest rates. As is known, the\nBI-Rate, currently at 5.75%, has risen by 100 basis points throughout\n2026.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Indonesia Deposit\nInsurance Corporation (LPS) Anggito Abimanyu said that bank funding\ncosts are currently rising, as a result of the benchmark interest rate\npolicy and policies related to government programmes. He even said that\nmany banks are complaining about liquidity challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of funds is now increasing, banks are complaining of a\nliquidity drought. This is due to policy adjustments that must be\nensured in the medium term, especially regarding services for government\nprogrammes,\u201d Anggito said in his speech at the National Seminar and\nInauguration of ISEI Jakarta Commissariat at Perbanas Institute,\nJakarta, Tuesday (28\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
He continued that bank net interest margins (NIM) are now under\npressure. Furthermore, the growth of third-party funds (DPK) has slowed\nin recent months.<\/p>\n
Data from Bank Indonesia (BI) recorded that DPK collection in June\n2026 amounted to IDR 9,718.8 trillion, or grew 8.1% year-on-year (yoy),\nlower than the previous month\u2019s growth of 10.8% yoy. Meanwhile, OJK data\nrecorded that the banking NIM as of May reached 4.36%, down from 4.56%\nat the end of last year.<\/p>\n
PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk. (BBTN) is feeling the\nliquidity challenges. BTN\u2019s Director of Consumer Banking, Hirwandi\nGafar, said the bank continues to maintain liquidity, although he\nacknowledged the current situation is quite challenging.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is definitely felt. It is a challenge, that is part of the art of\nbeing bankers,\u201d he said after the event.<\/p>\n
Previously, at the presentation of BTN\u2019s first semester 2026\nperformance, BTN President Director Nixon Napitupulu also spoke about\nliquidity challenges. He acknowledged there is competition for liquidity\nin the market, which has triggered banks to raise savings interest\nrates. Not to mention, the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara)\nhad faced the challenge of withdrawing excess budget balances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what happened and eventually triggered banks to issue\ninterest rates and it became a race to the top. We also requested\ncoordination for bidding conducted through the Public Service Agency\n(BLU), so it is not pulled too high,\u201d Nixon said during the performance\npresentation at Menara BTN 2, Thursday (16\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
He observed that currently, it is the small private banks that are\nsetting high savings interest rates. \u201cWhat is emerging now, if we look\nat it, are the small private banks, their bids are still high, that is\nwhat we are feeling. Hopefully, this will subside soon, and we can\ncreate liquidity easing,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Chairman of the National Banks Association\n(Perbanas), Hery Gunardi, said the profitability of the banking industry\nwill be pressured if the central bank\u2019s benchmark rate increases. He\nsaid the increase in the BI Rate will have an impact on rising deposit\ninterest rates, but this depends on each bank\u2019s funding structure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat rises are deposits that are sensitive to pricing,\u201d Hery\nexplained when met at Sentra BRI, Tuesday (21\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to the President Director of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia\n(Persero) Tbk. (BBRI), in responding to this condition, banks cannot\nimmediately raise lending rates. He said there is a transmission time\nfor interest rates to affect lending rates.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, President Director of PT Bank Aladin Syariah Tbk. (BANK)\nKoko Tjatur Rachmadi confirmed the competition for liquidity. He\ntherefore hopes the new BI Governor can ease this challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see that liquidity in the market has been quite tight lately. So,\nwith this change [of BI Governor], we certainly hope there will be\nadequate liquidity in the market,\u201d he told CNBC Indonesia, Monday\n(27\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
Koko, who is the Secretary General of the Indonesian Sharia Bank\nAssociation (ASBISINDO), said the high BI rate will certainly increase\nfinancing costs and potentially lower its quality. \u201cBut for the sharia\nbanking industry and for Aladin itself, it is still okay. However, we\nhave indeed felt the tight liquidity in the last few weeks or months,\u201d\nKoko concluded.<\/p>\n
On the regional development bank (BPD) side, PT BPD Jawa Timur Tbk.\n(BJTM) or Bank Jatim acknowledged the tendency for rising deposit\ninterest rates. Bank Jatim itself needs to adjust.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, thank God, so far our liquidity is still quite ample,\nalthough we realise that going forward it will be quite challenging,\u201d\nsaid Winardi to CNBC Indonesia, Tuesday (28\/7\/2026).<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bankers-anxious-over-drying-liquidity-in-high-interest-rate-era-1785235964", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }