Prabowo Warns Himbara Chiefs: SME Loan Rates Must Be Lower Than Corporate
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the top executives of Himbara—Bank Mandiri, BNI, BTN, BRI, and BSI—to ensure that lending rates for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are lower than those for corporations. The directive was issued during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. Prabowo noted that he still finds MSMEs receiving higher lending rates than corporations.
“It is precisely these small and medium enterprises that sometimes receive higher interest rates than corporations, or are even at the same level, when they should be lower. This is so that it is truly felt by the public, especially MSMEs,” said Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and CEO of Danantara, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, during a press briefing at the Presidential Palace on Thursday evening, 18 June 2026.
During the same meeting, Rosan stated that President Prabowo also reminded the state-owned banks to maintain prudential principles in conducting their business. Furthermore, President Prabowo stressed that these banks are the “lifeblood of the Indonesian economy,” given that the total market capitalisation of the five state-owned banks reaches Rp1,100 trillion, equivalent to approximately 10 percent of the total value of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI).
Therefore, President Prabowo conveyed that the Himbara banks have a crucial role in ensuring the success of the government’s strategic programmes. Prabowo emphasised that the food sector, which is a key determinant of national self-sufficiency, must also receive special attention from the Himbara banks. He asserted that the most important aspect for the future national economy is to become a self-reliant economy, standing on its own feet with the support and assistance of the banking sector, particularly Himbara.
“Because, once again, Himbara banks have a very, very strategic role not only in financing, but also in economic growth and future national policy,” Rosan said, revealing the key points of President Prabowo’s briefing to the Himbara leadership. As is known, President Prabowo gave a special briefing to the top executives of the five state-owned banks, namely Bank Mandiri CEO Riduan, BNI CEO Putrama Wahju Setyawan, BRI CEO Hery Gunardi, Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) CEO Nixon L.P. Napitupulu, and Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) Chief Commissioner Muhadjir Effendy.