DBS Insights Forum: DBS Solutions Help Customers Make Financial Decisions
Global uncertainty influenced by geopolitical dynamics, interest rate movements, exchange rate fluctuations, and policy changes in various countries is making wealth management increasingly complex. In such a situation, customers not only need access to financial products but also deep and relevant insights to help them make the right decisions. To address this need, Bank DBS Indonesia held the DBS Insights Forum 2026: A New Lens on a Multipolar World. The forum brought together experts from Bank DBS Indonesia and various fields to discuss the global economic and geopolitical landscape, strategies for navigating Asian and US markets, business opportunities, and wealth management approaches amidst changes in the world economic order.
Consumer Banking Director of PT Bank DBS Indonesia, Melfrida Gultom, revealed that the bank has prepared various strategies to help customers face these challenges. “Bank DBS Indonesia is present through relationship managers who are also equipped with various insights,” Melfrida stated at the forum. She explained that DBS Bank Ltd has a Chief Investment Officer operating in Singapore, tasked with providing relevant insights from a global perspective for customers before they make decisions. “Insights from our CIO are then processed by the RMs along with their knowledge of each customer’s preferences and financial goals. So when they provide solutions to customers, the advisory is sharper and more insightful,” Melfrida said.
Furthermore, Bank DBS Indonesia assists customers with personalised nudges. This feature, based on Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, is used to provide insights, recommendations, and financial notifications that are highly tailored to each customer’s habits, transaction history, and risk profile. “So we do these nudges assisted by AI and also machine learning, making them relevant and actionable,” she added. Meanwhile, when facing challenges such as US policy momentum, Bank DBS Indonesia promptly conducts online webinars with customers to anticipate the situation. Melfrida cited an example during Idulfitri 2025 when the Russia-Ukraine war occurred. “Within one to two days, we immediately held an online webinar to provide insights to customers so they could be calmer in facing the uncertain situation,” she explained.
Institutional Banking Director of PT Bank DBS Indonesia, Anthonius Sehonamin, explained that corporate customers face different challenges compared to individual customers. Factors include interest rates and commodity prices for companies operating in commodity-related sectors. Government policies also play a determining role, making the situation more complex for corporate customers, alongside inter-country competition in exports and imports, as well as innovation and transformation. “So, both in the banking world and in corporations, and of course at the individual and family level, the impact will be quite significant,” he added.
Head of Global Financial Markets at PT Bank DBS Indonesia, Ronny Setiawan, highlighted market challenges, particularly in 2026. He noted that early 2026 is a unique moment as the market anticipates US interest rate policy, bringing a paradigm shift. “There is a change, a shifting market paradigm. Why is the market changing? One reason is events like last year’s Trump tariffs and this year’s Iran war,” he explained. Ronny also discussed the right timing for wealth structuring, emphasising that individuals should first understand their goals and avoid FOMO when seeing others invest in assets like bitcoin or gold. He stressed the importance of portfolio allocation to anticipate various needs, such as emergencies or medium- and long-term goals, likening it to a football team needing defenders, midfielders, and attackers, with cash serving as the defender.
The discussions at the DBS Insights Forum 2026 demonstrated that amidst market uncertainty and changes in the global economic landscape, customers require a combination of deep insights, careful planning, and strategies aligned with their financial goals. Through this forum, Bank DBS Indonesia presented various expert perspectives to help customers understand market dynamics, manage risks, and capture long-term growth opportunities. To support these needs, DBS Treasures and DBS Treasures Private Client serve as trusted partners in managing and growing wealth, backed by in-depth insights from the Best Chief Investment Office by The Asset and strategic views from experts.