OJK Central Java: Financial Inclusion and Literacy Remain Uneven

Semarang (ANTARA) – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) in Central Java has recorded a high level of financial inclusion in the province, but this has not been matched by public financial literacy.

Central Java OJK Head Hidayat Prabowo said in Semarang on Sunday that the gap posed a challenge for the authority as it sought to improve the public’s understanding of how to use financial products and services.

He said financial inclusion in Central Java had reached 95%, while financial literacy stood at only 72.8%.

He said the high level of financial inclusion needed to be matched by adequate financial literacy. This would ensure that people not only had access to financial products and services, but also understood their benefits, risks and proper use.

He added that financial knowledge was also important in protecting the public from various risks, including fraud and illegal online lending. People were urged to ensure that any borrowing matched their needs and ability to repay.

“What we need to do is pair greater access to the financial sector with a better understanding among the public. That is why synergy and collaboration to improve literacy must continue to be strengthened,” he said at the peak event of Financial Inclusion Month (BIK) 2026.

The event served both to recognise achievements and to strengthen collaboration among OJK, the financial services industry, local government and other stakeholders in expanding access and improving public understanding of the financial sector.

Taufik Andriawan, OJK Central Java’s Director of Supervision of the Conduct of Financial Services Businesses, Education, Consumer Protection and Strategic Management Services, urged the public not to be tempted by investment or financial product offers promising implausible returns.

He advised people to check the legality of companies and financial products through OJK’s service on 157. As well as confirming that entities and products are registered with and supervised by OJK, people should assess whether the returns and risks on offer are reasonable.

“Do not look only at the returns. First check whether the company and its products are registered with and supervised by OJK. Then make sure the offer is reasonable,” he said.

He also highlighted the high level of online gambling activity in Central Java. Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) showed that the province had around 1.4 million online gambling users in 2025.

He said the use of borrowed money for such activity was also showing an upward trend. This should be a shared concern, he said, as online gambling could be linked to the use of illegal online loans.