Banks asked to take over loans

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung called on sound banks yesterday to take over housing loans extended by dissolved banks.

Akbar said liquidation teams should help transfer housing loans from the dissolved banks to other banks, especially banks specializing in housing loans, to calm consumers.

"I ask liquidation teams to take notice of those who have committed to buying houses or who have even paid down payments," Akbar said.

He noted that Bank Harapan Santosa (BHS) and Bank Guna Internasional, two of the 16 closed banks, had been active in extending housing loans.

The two banks, both controlled by the Harapan Group, had financed the construction of three housing estates, namely Serang Indah, Tangerang Bumi Indah and Kota Tenjo -- all in Greater Jakarta.

Bank Guna had disbursed housing loans for 2,812 low-cost homes in Kota Tenjo, 971 homes in Serang Indah and 1,170 homes in Bumi Indah.

BHS had given out loans for 1,425 houses in Bumi Indah.

Akbar said the Tenjo area, on the border of Serang and Bogor in West Java, had been designated a residential area, especially for middle and lower-income people working in Jakarta.

He said he had consulted with the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association about the fate of housing estates financed by the dissolved banks.

He guaranteed that any bank, including state-owned Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), would be willing to take over the housing projects as long as they had necessary documentation.

"I don't think BTN would mind taking over the housing loans as long as the financed houses meet all requirements," Akbar said.

Dozens of people have picketed BHS and Bank Guna for several days following the closure of the banks Saturday, demanding clarification on their loans.

BTN credit director Siswanto told Antara yesterday that his bank was ready to take over for the liquidated banks in handling the loans for low-cost housing.

"We're ready to replace those banks provided that we get a mandate from Bank Indonesia (the central bank)," Siswanto said. (amd/rid)