Financial Literacy Seminar Held at Unisba, Experts Warn of Doom Spending Dangers

A financial literacy seminar involving hundreds of university and school students was held at the auditorium on the 8th floor of the Dean’s Building at Universitas Islam Bandung (Unisba) on Friday (12/6/2026). The event was a collaboration between Republika, Unisba, and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) West Java Representative Office. Several experts warned of the dangers of doom spending, or spending money due to stress.

A number of speakers with expertise in financial literacy attended, including Head of the PEPK and LMS Supervision Directorate of OJK West Java Yuzirwan, Head of the Network and Services Division of bank bjb Iwan Prastyo, Anti-Loan Shark Task Force member Saji Sonjaya, Unisba psychologist Ilmi Hatta, Head of OJK West Java Darwisman, Secretary of the West Java Provincial Communication and Information Office, and Unisba Rector Prof Harits Numan.

In his remarks, Unisba Rector Prof Harits Numan stated that the digital era makes it easier for people to conduct financial transactions. However, many do not yet understand the impact of the transactions they make.

‘Without good financial literacy, we will find it difficult to distinguish between needs and mere wants,’ he said on Friday (12/6/2026).

He noted that many people currently experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), or the fear of being left behind by trends. This has a negative impact, particularly on tech-savvy Generation Z.

‘Hopefully, with this literacy initiative, they will already have insight and an understanding of the consequences, so that when they follow norms to make transactions or undertake borrowing processes, they will consider the future impact,’ he said.

He expressed hope that the seminar would not only broaden knowledge but also be capable of changing people’s perspectives and behaviour in managing their finances.