From a Small Kiosk, Bu Aas Expands to Serve Residents Through Three BRILink Branches

Aas Asnarisa frequently moves back and forth within her BRILink kiosk. Her conversations are often interrupted by a steady stream of customers, a clear indication that BRILink services serve not only as a business opportunity for Aas but also as a vital financial access point for the community.

Located in Kampung Sawah, Cikarageman Village, Setu District, Bekasi Regency, Aas’s kiosk has become a reliable hub for various banking transactions. Local residents no longer need to travel long distances to a bank for cash withdrawals, transfers, bill payments, or even BPJS services.

Aas’s journey to building this business was not an overnight success. Four years ago, she operated only a small kiosk adjacent to her grocery shop. She received an offer to become a BRILink agent in late 2021, and after carefully considering the potential of financial transaction services, the 36-year-old decided to join the programme, officially commencing operations in January 2022.

The journey was challenging. In her first year, Aas did not have an EDC machine and relied solely on her mobile phone to process transactions. She started with an initial capital of only Rp 10 million.

“It truly required a struggle. I had to ensure people trusted that I could handle banking transactions even without a machine at that time,” Aas told detikcom at her home recently.

Exactly one year later, Aas finally obtained an EDC machine. Since then, the volume of daily financial transactions has steadily increased. “Because I can now serve those using cards. For those without cards, I could only handle transfers,” she explained.

Recognising the growing potential, Aas renovated her kiosk to ensure it met the professional standards of an official BRI partner. Subsequently, she opened two additional branches in 2024, still within the Kampung Sawah area.

“After the renovation, Alhamdulillah, transactions have improved because the community trusts me as an official BRI agent,” said Aas.

Aas noted that each branch can handle anywhere from dozens to hundreds of transactions per day during peak periods. Her clientele is diverse, ranging from construction workers and farmers to other residents requiring daily transaction services. The influx of customers is particularly high when government assistance programmes are disbursed.

Boosting Family Economy

From each kiosk she manages, Aas can earn an income of between Rp 5 million to Rp 10 million per month. She believes the business opportunity is highly promising due to the continuous community demand for financial services.

“Alhamdulillah, it is potential. The bank is quite far away, and the bank offices are usually very crowded with long queues,” she said.

She expressed gratitude that her income has improved her family’s economic situation, ensuring their daily needs are met. She has also been able to involve her family in the business, with two of her younger siblings currently managing the two additional BRILink branches.

Furthermore, she finds that her services are highly beneficial to her village. Aas mentioned that residents often look for her kiosk even when it is closed. “If I am closed, people ask, ‘When will you open? I need to transfer or withdraw cash.’ So, Alhamdulillah, I can help the surrounding community,” she said.

Facing Challenges

However, Aas admitted that managing BRILink comes with challenges, including instances of fraud. “There have also been attempts to transact with counterfeit money,” she noted.

To address these challenges, she focuses on operating according to the standards set by BRI and strives to maintain the community’s trust. “Our rule is that we transact only after we receive the money. I cannot accept requests like, ‘Send it first,’ even from relatives or neighbours,” she stated.

Looking ahead, Aas hopes to continue expanding her BRILink kiosks and intends to open more branches in other locations to further support the economy.

BRI’s Commitment to Local Services

The Head of BRI Unit Setu Bekasi, Setia Adi, welcomed the success of the BRILink agents. He reaffirmed BRI’s commitment to bringing banking services closer to residents’ homes.

“We are essentially bringing BRI services right to their doorsteps while simultaneously creating new business opportunities for the community,” Adi said in an interview with detikcom.

He also stated that BRI will continue to expand the BRILink Agent network to stimulate the local economy and create employment. “We are continuously expanding the BRILink Agent network into remote areas because our target is to facilitate transactions, create new jobs, and drive the village economy,” Adi added.