Bank Bahteramas Kendari Strengthens KEJAR Programme, Facilitating 10,282 Student Savings Accounts
PT BPR Bahteramas Kendari (Perseroda) has strengthened the Satu Rekening Satu Pelajar (KEJAR) programme by facilitating the opening of 10,282 Simpanan Pelajar (SimPel) accounts for madrasah students in Kendari. This move is part of the bank’s commitment to expanding access to financial services and promoting financial inclusion from an early age.
The programme was officially launched by Kendari Mayor Siska Karina Imran as a demonstration of the city government’s commitment to improving financial literacy and inclusion among students. The initiative also serves as a momentum to strengthen collaboration between the Kendari City Government, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Regional Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD), the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Kendari City, and PT BPR Bahteramas Kendari (Perseroda) in expanding access to formal financial services while fostering a culture of saving from a young age within schools and madrasahs.
In its implementation, BPR Bahteramas Kendari opened 10,282 SimPel student savings accounts, comprising 2,298 accounts for Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) students, 4,094 accounts for Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) students, and 3,890 accounts for Madrasah Aliyah (MA) students. The opening of these accounts is expected to make it easier for students to access banking services while serving as an educational tool to build saving habits.
Suryaningsih, Director of PT BPR Bahteramas Kendari (Perseroda), stated that introducing financial services to students is a crucial step in shaping a generation capable of managing finances wisely. She noted that saving habits need to be instilled from an early age so that children become accustomed to planning their needs and appreciating the value of money. “Through SimPel accounts, we aim to provide banking services that are easily accessible to students while building positive habits in managing finances from an early age,” she said. She added that BPR Bahteramas Kendari will continue to strengthen synergy with the regional government, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and all educational units so that more students can utilise banking services and receive education on the importance of financial literacy.
The success of the programme was supported by various parties. The provision of initial balances for SimPel accounts for MI, MTs, and MA students received support from the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas), the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI), and PT BPR Bahteramas Kendari (Perseroda). This support is expected to serve as a stimulus for students to start saving regularly without adding to the burden on parents.
Meanwhile, the Head of OJK Southeast Sulawesi, Bismi Maulana Nugraha, together with the Head of the LPS Representative Office III, Fuad Zaen, assessed that the success of expanding financial inclusion in the regions is largely determined by the synergy of all stakeholders. They considered the collaboration established through the KEJAR programme to be a concrete step to increase access to formal financial services while fostering a culture of saving among students.