BTN credit relief assists Sumatran disaster victims recover

Padang – Floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces in late November 2025 caused not only loss of life but also triggered cascading economic consequences for affected communities. Many residents lost their homes and livelihoods, prompting PT Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) (Persero) Tbk to implement a special policy for consumer credit customers affected by the flash floods through credit restructuring relief.

The special restructuring scheme enables affected customers to recover and rebuild following the natural disaster. The policy aims to provide momentum for communities to restore their lives after the catastrophe.

Sofia Risa, a BTN home mortgage (KPR) customer in Padang city, expressed her gratitude for the payment relief policy provided by the state-owned bank. “I am very grateful for BTN’s relief. This helps us tremendously to recover after the flood disaster,” she said.

Sofia explained that several days after the disaster, BTN representatives visited affected locations, including Perumahan Abi KPR BTN in Lubuk Minturun district, Koto Tangah sub-district, Padang, West Sumatra. During the visit, BTN representatives met homeowners who were also BTN customers, distributing cash assistance and food aid whilst discussing customers’ concerns about mortgage payments falling due each month after the disaster.

Sofia’s monthly mortgage payment was Rp1,067,000 for a 15-year loan period. With BTN’s relief policy in place, she can now save this amount for her two children’s education and to restart her daily necessities shop that was devastated by the floods. “From January 2026 to December 2026, we received relief from not having to pay instalments, and this helps enormously,” Sofia said.

Sofia met directly with BTN representatives to enquire about payment deferrals or other relief options. The bank offered several alternatives, including reducing monthly instalments based on customer ability to pay. For example, Sofia’s monthly payment could be reduced from Rp1,067,000 to Rp800,000, though the loan period would be extended beyond the original agreement.

Sofia and her husband plan to accept the reduced instalment option offered by BTN. Although the repayment period would be extended from the original 15 years, Sofia believes this approach is realistic given the unstable economic conditions three months after the disaster.