BSI Regional IX Kalimantan Strengthens Islamic Finance Literacy

Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) Regional IX Kalimantan is strengthening literacy and inclusion of Islamic finance in its Kalimantan operating area. The media is seen as playing a crucial role in boosting public literacy of Islamic finance.

This was stated by BSI Region IX Kalimantan Regional CEO, Saefudin Suria Hidayat, on Wednesday evening, 4 March. ‘Raising public literacy in Islamic finance is a shared responsibility requiring the roles of government and other financial institutions. The media has a role to raise literacy so that financial inclusion improves,’ he said.

Since BSI’s transformation into a state-owned enterprise (BUMN) or Bank Himbara, strengthening literacy and inclusion of Islamic finance has become very important. It is admitted that despite significant potential, literacy and inclusion of Islamic finance in Indonesia, including South Kalimantan Province, remain low.

Nationally, Bappenas targets financial inclusion at 93.3% in Indonesia by 2024 and 98% by 2045. While Islamic financial inclusion remains low and stagnant at around 12-13%, financial literacy stands at 66.46%.

A similar situation prevails in South Kalimantan, where literacy and Islamic inclusion remain low. Literacy is 43.4% while Islamic inclusion is 13.4%. Nevertheless, BSI reports significant growth, becoming the country’s fastest-growing bank with assets reaching Rp468 trillion.

In the same event, donations were distributed to orphans as part of BSI’s 5th anniversary celebrations, totalling 5,000 orphans nationwide.

Separately, the Barito Kuala Regency government, in collaboration with the Financial Services Authority (OJK) of South Kalimantan Province and the Masyarakat Ekonomi Syariah (MES) Kalimantan Selatan, held the Ramadan Islamic Finance Festival 2026 to strengthen Islamic finance literacy and inclusion in the region. MES chair Mairijani said that Islamic economics is not only about avoiding usury, but also about strengthening the real sector through community empowerment and the development of halal micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). ‘Islamic economy opens huge opportunities for productive business growth, especially amid the global halal industry trend that continues to rise.’