Prudential: Financial literacy must evolve alongside technological access
Ease of access to financial services and technology must be accompanied by the ability to understand benefits, recognise risks, and assess information critically, stated PT Prudential Life Assurance (Prudential Indonesia).
Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, Karin Zulkarnaen, Chief Customer & Marketing Officer of Prudential Indonesia, noted that financial literacy needs to evolve beyond basic money management as technological access accelerates. She emphasised that the current ease of accessing digital financial services has not yet been balanced by adequate financial understanding.
Data from the National Survey of Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK) shows that the public’s insurance literacy rate has only reached 45.45 per cent. A similar gap is evident in the 15 to 17 age group, where financial inclusion has surged to 89.13 per cent, yet literacy remains at only 56.04 per cent.
Zulkarnaen stated that these figures indicate rapid financial accessibility that lacks deep understanding regarding risks and financial protection. Simultaneously, 80 per cent of internet users in Indonesia interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) daily. This high level of adoption suggests that the ability to think critically, verify information, and use technology safely is becoming increasingly vital, especially when making financial decisions.
To address these challenges, Prudential Indonesia, in collaboration with GreatNusa, has introduced the ‘Smart Money, Healthy Life’ programme. This educational initiative integrates financial literacy, insurance literacy, and digital technology understanding to equip the productive-age population to make wiser financial decisions and build long-term financial resilience.
“Through our collaboration with GreatNusa, we want more people to have the confidence to make financial decisions that align with their needs and life goals,” said Zulkarnaen.
The ‘Smart Money, Healthy Life’ initiative is part of Prudential Indonesia’s ongoing commitment to supporting the National Financial Intelligence Movement (GENCARKAN), initiated by the Financial Services Authority (OJK).
Furthermore, to assist the public, particularly the younger generation, in continuing independent learning, Prudential Indonesia has also introduced Levela, a free financial education application. The app provides practical learning materials in an accessible format relevant to the needs of today’s youth.
“Therefore, we are providing education that does not stop at basic financial knowledge, but also helps the public understand the importance of protection and using technology responsibly,” Zulkarnaen concluded.