Cost of remittance too steep

Cost of remittance too steep

From Bisnis Indonesia

I have an account at Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) in Roxy Mas. On Aug. 21, 2000 I went to the bank to remit Rp 45 million to a business acquaintance who has an account at BNI in Tanjung Pandan.

The BNI teller told me the transfer fee was Rp 2,500 plus an additional commission amounting to 0.1 percent of the transferred amount, in this case Rp 45,000.

I certainly protested the commission, but the teller stressed that the rule came from the bank's head office and only pertained to remittances to remote areas.

In my opinion the rule is quite uncomprehensible. Why is a transfer to Tanjung Pandan, which can be carried out online, categorized as a remittance to a remote area?

If Tanjung Pandan is considered a remote area, BNI shouldn't hinder remittances to that city by charging an irrational commission. Imagine if the amount to be transferred was Rp 1 billion, the commission would be Rp 1 million. How is it that a city categorized as remote can develop and flourish when hindered by such a rule?

Eventually I canceled the remittance through BNI. Fortunately our business acquaintance has an account at Bank Rakyat Indonesia in Tanjung Pandan. BRI only charged me Rp 10,000, without an extra charge.

TEK LIN JAKUB

Jakarta