BRI bank

BRI bank

Although everyone knows that banks are profit oriented, there
are limits of decency that have to be observed. A true story
about the BRI Bank in the small town of Kudus shows that the bank
staff can go too far. The parents of a good friend of mine
contacted the BRI to borrow a certain amount of money. They
needed this to help their daughter in Jakarta. Bank staff visited
their modest home and agreed to the loan. The parents were told
to give their only valuable possession, a property document, as
guarantee to the bank.

However before the contract was signed, the parents heard good
news from Jakarta: the loan was not needed anymore. They told the
bank so, but the staff tried their utmost to offer a loan anyway.

The smooth talking staff persuaded the non-educated family to
agree with a much smaller loan, under false pretenses. The BRI
staff tempted the poor family with a seemingly attractive offer,
which was agreed upon.

Although the amount of the loan was much lower than the
original request, they still insisted on receiving the property
document as guarantee. Now the small family business is forced to
pay back a loan that was thrust down their throats, with the risk
of losing their only possession if they are not able to pay it
back on time. The pre-tax profits of the BRI Bank almost doubled
from 1992 to 1993. Guess why.

A.J. BRANDT

Jakarta