Paying with QRIS Incurring Additional Fees? Here's Bank Indonesia Central Sulawesi's Explanation

The Bank Indonesia Representative Office (KPwBI) for Central Sulawesi continues to accelerate the digitalisation of the payment system, relying on the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Junior Analyst at KPwBI Central Sulawesi, Bintang Samudera, conveyed this during a Media Partner Capacity Building event in Ampana, Tojo Unauna Regency, on Monday (3/8).

Bintang corrected public misconceptions regarding QRIS transaction fees. He stressed that Bank Indonesia does not impose additional charges on consumers. The transaction fee, known as the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), applies only to merchants at a very low tariff. The religious institutions and social assistance sectors enjoy a 0% MDR rate. Meanwhile, the commercial sector pays a rate of only around 0.7%, a figure far cheaper than international payment cards, which can be three to four times higher.

"QRIS provides cost efficiency for business operators. This system simultaneously strengthens national payments through the National Payment Gateway (GPN)," Bintang stated. He assessed that cashless transactions add value for MSMEs, as consumers tend to choose shops that provide QRIS, potentially increasing sales turnover.

Beyond facilitating payments, QRIS aids business financial management. All transactions go directly into the owner’s account, minimising the risk of fund leakage or cash embezzlement. Bintang recounted a personal experience managing a cash-based business where an employee had embezzled funds. After adopting QRIS, all transactions became transparent and easy to monitor. Digital transaction records also help MSMEs build a financial track record, allowing banks to accurately assess business health through QRIS transaction history, thereby easing access to banking finance.

Bank Indonesia data shows QRIS users in Central Sulawesi grew by 27% up to mid-2026, a significant increase compared to 2025. However, BI noted three regions with the lowest QRIS adoption: Tojo Una-Una Regency, Banggai Islands Regency, and Buol Regency. Limited telecommunications networks are the main obstacle in these areas. Consequently, BI is encouraging collaboration with telecommunications service providers to strengthen network infrastructure so the public can easily access digital payments. Bintang also reminded that QRIS upholds the CEMUMUAH principles (Fast, Easy, Cheap, Safe, and Reliable). The system is integrated with BI-FAST, which operates 24 hours non-stop. Through the expansion of QRIS, BI hopes MSMEs in Central Sulawesi will become more professional, enabling business operators to expand their markets, tidy up bookkeeping, and obtain capital access more easily.