Meeting Maybank Islamic Malaysia Boss, Khofifah to Strengthen Bank Jatim Syariah

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa is strengthening Bank Jatim through collaboration with Maybank Islamic Berhad to develop sharia finance. Additionally, this involves the development of a halal ecosystem and remittance services for Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. “We welcome this cooperation initiative as part of a strategic alliance that is not only oriented towards commercial aspects but also strengthens inclusive, value-based financial services,” said Governor Khofifah in a statement received in Surabaya on Thursday (30/4/2026). Khofifah emphasised the importance of strengthening the institutional capacity of Bank Jatim, particularly the development of its sharia business unit supported by professional human resources in the field of Islamic finance. “We want the sharia business unit at Bank Jatim to be strengthened with human resources who truly have an educational background in Islamic finance, not just a transformation from conventional banking. This is important to ensure the quality and integrity of sharia financial services,” she said. She explained that this synergy will also strengthen Bank Jatim’s role in the Bank Business Group (KUB) scheme together with five other regional development banks to expand the captive market, inter-regional collaboration, and increase the scale of service economy. In addition, digital innovation through the development of the third-generation J-Connect is an important part in driving financial inclusion, including expanding access to services for the people of East Java in Malaysia. “This collaboration is expected to accelerate the transformation of Bank Jatim into an adaptive, competitive financial institution capable of reaching a wider society,” said Khofifah.