Purbaya to Increase SAL Fund Placement; BSI Chief Seeks Rp 10 Trillion

Jakarta — PT Bank Syariah Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BSI) is awaiting an increase in government fund placements to state-owned banks (Himbara) totalling Rp 100 trillion.

BSI Chief Executive Anggoro Eko Cahyo stated that the bank expects to receive approximately Rp 10 trillion from this total. This amount equals the Surplus Budget Account (SAL) funds previously provided by the government to BSI in September 2025.

Anggoro revealed that the additional SAL fund placement would subsequently be distributed as financing to the retail segment. “We want to distribute it as financing, focusing on consumer retail,” he said.

This responds to the government’s plan to increase fund placements in banks by Rp 100 trillion to strengthen financial system liquidity whilst maintaining credit growth.

“There may be another Rp 100 trillion that could flow in and out. This means it will not be provided as a long-term deposit, but rather as a shorter-term and more flexible placement,” said Purbaya at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Friday (6 March 2026).

Purbaya explained that the funds originate from unrealised government budget expenditures. The government has chosen to place them in banks so they can be utilised to strengthen financial system liquidity and encourage credit distribution.

“This comes from our own money that has not yet been spent, placed there,” he said. “Rather than placing it with Bank Indonesia, the banks would have no access,” Purbaya added.

Beyond increasing fund placements in Himbara, the government has also extended the tenor of existing fund placements in Himbara. This extension applies to the remaining Rp 200 trillion in SAL funds, after part of it was withdrawn by the government in early 2026 for state expenditure.

The SAL funds placed in September 2025 were originally scheduled to mature in March 2026. However, the government has extended the tenor to September 2026.