BCA forecasts 10–12% loan growth as demand rises

Jakarta (ANTARA) – PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) expects its lending in 2026 to grow by 10–12 per cent year on year, above its initial forecast, as demand increases.

As at September 2026, BCA’s loans had grown by 12.6 per cent year on year to Rp1,063 trillion.

“We are seeing an increase in loan demand, which is why BCA’s loans [through the third quarter of 2026] have also risen,” BCA President Director Hendra Lembong said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

BCA Deputy President Director John Kosasih added that loan growth was also linked to heightened business activity ahead of major holidays, including Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Eid al-Fitr.

“Typically, four to five months beforehand, businesses need to procure goods and begin production early in preparation. This is a seasonal pattern that usually brings an increase every year,” John said.

He said loan utilisation had also increased. The bank was seeing an acceleration in demand, particularly for working capital loans, as businesses prepared for seasonal factors and major holiday periods.

In terms of sectors, John said corporate loan growth was supported by agriculture and plantations, infrastructure and transport, energy and power generation, as well as technology and digital infrastructure.

“These are some of the sectors that are performing well. Going forward, demand in these areas will continue to increase,” he said.

For small and medium-sized enterprise lending, sectors supporting growth include wholesale and retail trade, business services, transport and logistics, and food and beverage manufacturing.

BCA Director Vera Eve Lim said the bank had previously set a 2026 loan growth target of 8–10 per cent in its bank business plan.

However, in view of strong demand, BCA now expects its loan growth in 2026 to exceed 10 per cent, reaching 10–12 per cent.

“Our initial plan was 8–10 per cent. But, considering developments through the third quarter, our latest estimate is that growth in 2026 could reach double digits, in the range of 10–12 per cent,” Vera said.

Net interest margin (NIM) is expected to remain around the level recorded in the third quarter of 2026. According to the bank’s financial statements as at September 2026, BCA’s NIM stood at 5.41 per cent.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) are also expected to remain stable. Gross NPLs stood at 1.79 per cent in September 2026, improving from 2.10 per cent in the same period last year.

“Our NPL target is in the range of 1.8–2 per cent,” Vera said.

On the reduction in the reserve requirement ratio, Vera said the policy had had a positive impact on the bank, with the easing it received approaching one per cent.

“We thank Bank Indonesia for its continued support for growth in the banking industry,” Vera said.

Across the industry, Bank Indonesia data showed that bank lending grew by 13.26 per cent year on year in September 2026.

The performance was supported by investment loans, working capital loans and consumer loans, which grew by 23.20 per cent, 11.89 per cent and 4.86 per cent year on year, respectively.

Third-party funds, meanwhile, grew more slowly, at 8.22 per cent year on year. Bank Indonesia forecasts lending growth of 8–12 per cent in 2026.