Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2013 PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) expects its lending\nin 2026 to grow by 10\u201312 per cent year on year, above its initial\nforecast, as demand increases.<\/p>\n
As at September 2026, BCA\u2019s loans had grown by 12.6 per cent year on\nyear to Rp1,063 trillion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seeing an increase in loan demand, which is why BCA\u2019s loans\n[through the third quarter of 2026] have also risen,\u201d BCA President\nDirector Hendra Lembong said at a press conference in Jakarta on\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
BCA Deputy President Director John Kosasih added that loan growth was\nalso linked to heightened business activity ahead of major holidays,\nincluding Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Eid al-Fitr.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically, four to five months beforehand, businesses need to\nprocure goods and begin production early in preparation. This is a\nseasonal pattern that usually brings an increase every year,\u201d John\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said loan utilisation had also increased. The bank was seeing an\nacceleration in demand, particularly for working capital loans, as\nbusinesses prepared for seasonal factors and major holiday periods.<\/p>\n
In terms of sectors, John said corporate loan growth was supported by\nagriculture and plantations, infrastructure and transport, energy and\npower generation, as well as technology and digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are some of the sectors that are performing well. Going\nforward, demand in these areas will continue to increase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For small and medium-sized enterprise lending, sectors supporting\ngrowth include wholesale and retail trade, business services, transport\nand logistics, and food and beverage manufacturing.<\/p>\n
BCA Director Vera Eve Lim said the bank had previously set a 2026\nloan growth target of 8\u201310 per cent in its bank business plan.<\/p>\n
However, in view of strong demand, BCA now expects its loan growth in\n2026 to exceed 10 per cent, reaching 10\u201312 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur initial plan was 8\u201310 per cent. But, considering developments\nthrough the third quarter, our latest estimate is that growth in 2026\ncould reach double digits, in the range of 10\u201312 per cent,\u201d Vera\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Net interest margin (NIM) is expected to remain around the level\nrecorded in the third quarter of 2026. According to the bank\u2019s financial\nstatements as at September 2026, BCA\u2019s NIM stood at 5.41 per cent.<\/p>\n
Non-performing loans (NPLs) are also expected to remain stable. Gross\nNPLs stood at 1.79 per cent in September 2026, improving from 2.10 per\ncent in the same period last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur NPL target is in the range of 1.8\u20132 per cent,\u201d Vera said.<\/p>\n
On the reduction in the reserve requirement ratio, Vera said the\npolicy had had a positive impact on the bank, with the easing it\nreceived approaching one per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thank Bank Indonesia for its continued support for growth in the\nbanking industry,\u201d Vera said.<\/p>\n
Across the industry, Bank Indonesia data showed that bank lending\ngrew by 13.26 per cent year on year in September 2026.<\/p>\n
The performance was supported by investment loans, working capital\nloans and consumer loans, which grew by 23.20 per cent, 11.89 per cent\nand 4.86 per cent year on year, respectively.<\/p>\n
Third-party funds, meanwhile, grew more slowly, at 8.22 per cent year\non year. Bank Indonesia forecasts lending growth of 8\u201312 per cent in\n2026.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bca-forecasts-10-12-loan-growth-as-demand-rises-1793105693", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }