The Bank Indonesia Representative Office (KPwBI) for Central Sulawesi\ncontinues to accelerate the digitalisation of the payment system,\nrelying on the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) to enhance\nthe competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).\nJunior Analyst at KPwBI Central Sulawesi, Bintang Samudera, conveyed\nthis during a Media Partner Capacity Building event in Ampana, Tojo\nUnauna Regency, on Monday (3\/8).<\/p>\n
Bintang corrected public misconceptions regarding QRIS transaction\nfees. He stressed that Bank Indonesia does not impose additional charges\non consumers. The transaction fee, known as the Merchant Discount Rate\n(MDR), applies only to merchants at a very low tariff. The religious\ninstitutions and social assistance sectors enjoy a 0% MDR rate.\nMeanwhile, the commercial sector pays a rate of only around 0.7%, a\nfigure far cheaper than international payment cards, which can be three\nto four times higher.<\/p>\n
\"QRIS provides cost efficiency for business operators. This system\nsimultaneously strengthens national payments through the National\nPayment Gateway (GPN),\" Bintang stated. He assessed that cashless\ntransactions add value for MSMEs, as consumers tend to choose shops that\nprovide QRIS, potentially increasing sales turnover.<\/p>\n
Beyond facilitating payments, QRIS aids business financial\nmanagement. All transactions go directly into the owner\u2019s account,\nminimising the risk of fund leakage or cash embezzlement. Bintang\nrecounted a personal experience managing a cash-based business where an\nemployee had embezzled funds. After adopting QRIS, all transactions\nbecame transparent and easy to monitor. Digital transaction records also\nhelp MSMEs build a financial track record, allowing banks to accurately\nassess business health through QRIS transaction history, thereby easing\naccess to banking finance.<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia data shows QRIS users in Central Sulawesi grew by 27%\nup to mid-2026, a significant increase compared to 2025. However, BI\nnoted three regions with the lowest QRIS adoption: Tojo Una-Una Regency,\nBanggai Islands Regency, and Buol Regency. Limited telecommunications\nnetworks are the main obstacle in these areas. Consequently, BI is\nencouraging collaboration with telecommunications service providers to\nstrengthen network infrastructure so the public can easily access\ndigital payments. Bintang also reminded that QRIS upholds the CEMUMUAH\nprinciples (Fast, Easy, Cheap, Safe, and Reliable). The system is\nintegrated with BI-FAST, which operates 24 hours non-stop. Through the\nexpansion of QRIS, BI hopes MSMEs in Central Sulawesi will become more\nprofessional, enabling business operators to expand their markets, tidy\nup bookkeeping, and obtain capital access more easily.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paying-with-qris-incurring-additional-fees-heres-bank-indonesia-central-sulawesis-explanation-1785743442", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }