Bank Mega acknowledges maintaining NIM as a major challenge, targets increase this year

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Bank Mega Tbk acknowledges that maintaining the net interest margin (NIM) remains a major challenge this year because the trend of declining credit interest rates must be aligned with the cost of funds, but it targets an increase in NIM in 2026. Previously, Bank Mega’s NIM was recorded to have decreased from 4.64% in 2024 to 4.18% in 2025. This year, the company targets NIM to rise to 4.7%. Director of Wholesale Banking at Bank Mega, Madi Darmadi Lazuardi, during a public presentation in Jakarta on Tuesday, explained that the decline in NIM in 2025 was inseparable from the trend of falling credit interest rates that has been ongoing since last year, both in rupiah and US dollars. He noted that banking liquidity is in abundant condition while demand is relatively limited, causing credit interest rates to continue declining. In addition, regulators are also encouraging reductions in cost of funds and credit interest rates. “So this is a big challenge, how the decline in credit interest rates aligns with our cost of funds interest rates, so that we can maintain NIM,” said Madi. In such conditions, the company faces a dilemma between maintaining NIM or driving credit growth. Therefore, said Madi, Bank Mega is striving to be more selective in disbursing credit by focusing on sectors deemed prospective and still providing adequate returns for the company. “So we have to be smart in finding visible credits, but with interest rates that Bank Mega can still accept. That, in my opinion, is the biggest challenge,” said Madi. In the public expose presentation on Tuesday (31/3), Bank Mega revealed several targets for the 2026 financial year, including net profit of Rp3.7 trillion, total credit of Rp74 trillion, third-party funds (DPK) of Rp111 trillion, and total assets of Rp149 trillion. From the financial ratio perspective, in addition to NIM, Bank Mega targets a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 28.6% for 2026, loan to deposit ratio (LDR) of 66.4%, cost to operational income ratio (BOPO) of 64.2%, return on assets (ROA) of 3.2%, return on equity (ROE) of 15.6%, and non-performing loans (NPL) of 1.7%.