BTN: SAL Placement Maintains Stable Liquidity Amid Economic Challenges

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk (BTN) has welcomed the policy of re-placing excess budget funds (SAL), viewing it as a strategic move for banks to maintain stable liquidity amid various economic challenges. BTN President Director Nixon LP Napitupulu stated that strong liquidity is the main engine for the company to optimise its intermediation function, thereby spurring credit growth that directly impacts the economy. “We express our gratitude to the Ministry of Finance for the trust placed in BTN,” Nixon said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. Nixon added that this SAL placement is crucial for the company. He said the funds not only strengthen the company’s liquidity fundamentals but also act as a stimulus for the company to continue driving the wheels of the economy through more aggressive yet measured lending. The company stated that it has officially received an additional SAL placement from the government. With this fresh injection of funds, the total SAL managed by BTN has now increased significantly. Meanwhile, BTN’s Director of Treasury & International Banking, Venda Yuniarti, added that the company now has greater room to optimise its banking intermediation function, supported by increasingly robust liquidity. The company is committed to channelling these funds into sectors that have a broad multiplier effect on economic growth, particularly the housing sector, which is BTN’s main focus. “Our task is to ensure this liquidity is effectively channelled to the real sector. We are optimistic that with the total SAL funds, BTN can make a real contribution to maintaining economic stability and encouraging quality credit growth,” she said. Venda emphasised that the management of these funds will continue to follow prudential banking principles. This is done to maintain the company’s operational efficiency to remain competitive amid money market fluctuations, while ensuring that financing is well-targeted to support economic growth targets. It was previously reported that the government, through the Ministry of Finance, decided to re-place SAL funds in banks that are members of the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara) with a total of nearly Rp400 trillion. This step was taken after a portion of the SAL had been withdrawn. Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) Juda Agung on Monday (29/6) said the government had withdrawn Rp110 trillion in SAL funds in June 2026 from the previous total placement of Rp281 trillion. Now, the funds have been returned to the banks, bringing the total placed funds to Rp281 trillion, which will be maintained until the end of the year. In addition, a standby fund of Rp100 trillion has been prepared, which is currently still held at Bank Indonesia (BI). Thus, the total funds that can be placed in banks could reach Rp381 trillion.