Housewife transforms home business into trusted community transaction hub via BRILink Agent services

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Women’s independence spirit is once again demonstrated by the inspiring journey of housewife Evanti Herawati, who successfully expanded her home-based business to offer mini ATM services through BRILink Agent. Evanti’s story is a clear example of how BRI Group’s Ultra Micro Holding supports entrepreneurs to grow and expand financial access for local communities. Evanti recounted that before her business grew to its current state, she faced difficulties when her family’s income dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This pushed her to stay productive to support her household’s economic needs. Armed with cooking skills inherited from her mother, she began selling homemade meals and children’s snacks simply. As her business gained recognition and regular customers, Evanti realised she needed additional capital to sustain growth. During this process, Evanti became familiar with PNM Mekaar (Empowering Prosperous Family Economy), a programme by Permodalan Nasional Madani targeting underprivileged ultra-micro entrepreneurs. Her dedication and consistency led to an initial loan to gradually expand her business. ‘Alhamdulillah, BRI Group through PNM trusted me with a business loan. This has been instrumental in starting and growing my venture. Now, I feel more confident running my business. Alhamdulillah, the results now help cover household needs, children’s education, and loan repayments,’ Evanti said. Beyond financing, Evanti noted her business received ongoing support through PNM empowerment programmes, including Business Capacity Development (PKU) training and customer mentoring. This guidance helped her improve business management and identify growth opportunities. As her business grew, Evanti gained access to BRI’s MPOS (Mobile Point of Sale) machine. She used it to offer BRILink Agent services to the local community. This service not only provided her with additional income but also simplified financial transactions for residents. ‘My business is no longer just selling food. With the MPOS machine, I can now offer BRILink Agent services to neighbours. Many find it helpful for cash withdrawals, transfers, and other payments. This has given me extra income to support my family,’ she added. As her business continued to expand, Evanti utilised various financial products within the Ultra Micro Holding ecosystem. Alongside using UMi Mekaar accounts for business operations, she also secured protection via BRI Insurance and BRILife during Mekaar financing disbursement. Additionally, she now serves as a Pegadaian Agent to extend services for the community. Separately, BRI Corporate Secretary Dhanny stated that Evanti’s journey exemplifies how the Ultra Micro Holding’s synergy helps ultra-micro entrepreneurs grow sustainably—not just through financing access, but also business mentoring, transaction ease, and integrated financial protection. He added that this ecosystem is crucial for fostering entrepreneurial confidence and strengthening financial resilience. ‘BRI through the Ultra Micro Holding does not merely provide financing access but also delivers mentoring and an integrated financial services ecosystem to help entrepreneurs grow and scale up. Empowering women is vital for strengthening family economies and driving inclusive economic growth,’ Dhanny concluded.